Business Development Manager (BDM) job at The Depo Limited

ABOUT THE ROLE

THE DEPO LIMITED is a distributor of premium and budget building materials, serving contractors, real estate developers, consultants (architects, quantity surveyors, engineers), artisans, and retail customers. We are looking for an experienced Business Development Manager with a strong background in the construction / building materials industry to lead our project-hunting, key-account, and field-sales effort across both the DEPO Premium and FOSTER Builders Warehouse brands.

This is a senior, target-driven, revenue-generating role responsible for growing and diversifying our sales pipeline – reducing over-reliance on a small number of large one-off deals and building a sustainable, repeatable base of construction-sector business.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT & SALES GROWTH

• Identify, prospect, and secure new business from contractors (small, medium, and large), real estate developers, government parastatals, embassies, NGOs, and their consultants.
• Build and manage a pipeline of construction projects from early design/specification stage through to procurement and delivery.
• Drive sales across both market segments: the high-end/premium market (DEPO Premium) and the budget/mass market (FOSTER Builders Warehouse).
• Own and deliver quarterly and annual sales targets by product category (roofing systems, doors/boards/kitchens, bathroom & plumbing, water storage, wiring accessories, tiles, hardware, tools, and related solutions).

RELATIONSHIP & ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT

• Build and maintain strong relationships with architects, quantity surveyors, engineers, and their professional bodies, as key sources of specification and referral business.
• Develop relationships with artisans and technicians (roofers, plumbers, electricians, welders, tillers, interior designers, gypsum/stone fitters) who influence purchasing decisions on site.
• Manage and grow key accounts, ensuring repeat business and long-term customer loyalty.

FIELD SALES LEADERSHIP

• Lead, coach, and grow the field sales team; recruit and onboard additional field staff as the function scales.
• Set individual and team prospecting targets; track visit activity. leads generated, and conversion rates.
• Represent the company at site visits, trade meetings. and project briefings.

MARKET & PRODUCT STRATEGY

• Support showroom and project-hunting strategies for DEPO Premium’s display/showroom model.
• Identify opportunities to grow underperforming product lines and reduce dependence on any single product or project for revenue.
• Provide market intelligence on competitor activity, pricing. and emerging construction projects/tenders.
• Work with management on promotional campaigns and advertising initiatives to build brand awareness and generate consistent lead flow.

REPORTING & COLLABORATION

• Provide regular sales pipeline, forecast, and performance reports to the MD/GM.
• Work closely with the Finance & Administration function on quotations, credit terms, and customer deposits/payment schedules.
• Coordinate with stores/procurement to ensure product availability aligns with confirmed and forecast orders.

REQUIREMENTS

EXPERIENCE

• Minimum 5 years’ experience in business development, sales, or key account management within the construction, building materials. or related industry (e.g., roofing, hardware, tiles, plumbing, steel, or similar).
• Proven track record of winning and managing construction projects and meeting/exceeding sales targets.
• Experience selling to and through contractors, consultants (architects/QS/engineers), and artisans is strongly preferred.
• Experience managing or mentoring a field sales team is an advantage.

SKILLS & COMPETENCIES

• Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and closing skills.
• Solid understanding of construction project cycles – from design/ specification through procurement to site delivery.
• Commercial and financial acumen: able to read margins, discounting impact, and pipeline value.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Self-driven, target-oriented, and comfortable with significant field/site time.
• Proficient with CRM tools, MS Office/Excel, and basic reporting.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing. Building/Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• A professional sales/marketing qualification is an added advantage.
• Valid driver’s license required.

• Identify, prospect, and secure new business from contractors (small, medium, and large), real estate developers, government parastatals, embassies, NGOs, and their consultants.
• Build and manage a pipeline of construction projects from early design/specification stage through to procurement and delivery.
• Drive sales across both market segments: the high-end/premium market (DEPO Premium) and the budget/mass market (FOSTER Builders Warehouse).
• Own and deliver quarterly and annual sales targets by product category (roofing systems, doors/boards/kitchens, bathroom & plumbing, water storage, wiring accessories, tiles, hardware, tools, and related solutions).
• Build and maintain strong relationships with architects, quantity surveyors, engineers, and their professional bodies, as key sources of specification and referral business.
• Develop relationships with artisans and technicians (roofers, plumbers, electricians, welders, tillers, interior designers, gypsum/stone fitters) who influence purchasing decisions on site.
• Manage and grow key accounts, ensuring repeat business and long-term customer loyalty.
• Lead, coach, and grow the field sales team; recruit and onboard additional field staff as the function scales.
• Set individual and team prospecting targets; track visit activity. leads generated, and conversion rates.
• Represent the company at site visits, trade meetings. and project briefings.
• Support showroom and project-hunting strategies for DEPO Premium’s display/showroom model.
• Identify opportunities to grow underperforming product lines and reduce dependence on any single product or project for revenue.
• Provide market intelligence on competitor activity, pricing. and emerging construction projects/tenders.
• Work with management on promotional campaigns and advertising initiatives to build brand awareness and generate consistent lead flow.
• Provide regular sales pipeline, forecast, and performance reports to the MD/GM.
• Work closely with the Finance & Administration function on quotations, credit terms, and customer deposits/payment schedules.
• Coordinate with stores/procurement to ensure product availability aligns with confirmed and forecast orders.

• Strong negotiation, relationship-building, and closing skills.
• Solid understanding of construction project cycles – from design/ specification through procurement to site delivery.
• Commercial and financial acumen: able to read margins, discounting impact, and pipeline value.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills, both written and verbal.
• Self-driven, target-oriented, and comfortable with significant field/site time.
• Proficient with CRM tools, MS Office/Excel, and basic reporting.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing. Building/Construction Management, Civil Engineering, or a related field.
• A professional sales/marketing qualification is an added advantage.
• Valid driver’s license required.