Based in Nairobi, Kenya, the Business Development and Account Manager at Thales will be responsible for growing the Thales business in Eastern Africa and manages all aspects of customer relationships, with a primary focus on Aerospace, Defense and Security markets. This role involves developing strategic partnerships, understanding customer procurement requirements, and aligning customer needs with the appropriate Thales Business Lines.
Key responsibilities:
- Grow Thales business in the Eastern African countries;
- Comprehensive, up to date knowledge of Thales product portfolio offerings to prospects and Government customers;
- Understand customer missions, operational environments and priorities, broadens their understanding of Thales solutions in connection with their missions, and provides customer/market information to relevant GBU’s/BL’s;
- Promotion of Thales products portfolio to Government customers and end-users;
- Promoting Thales’ Aerospace, Defence & Security products, systems, and solutions, while effectively communicating the company’s vision and value proposition;
- Conduct business development activities and identify growth opportunities within the customer landscape;
- Develop and maintain long-term partnerships with key customers and strategic partners;
- Define, implement, and monitor account objectives and performance targets;
- Prepare, maintain, and execute Capture Plans;
- Ensure a high level of customer satisfaction and long-term engagement;
- Act as a key interface between customers and internal stakeholders across Thales Business Lines.
Requirements:
- Bachelor or Master in sales, marketing or business administration
- 5-10 years of international experience in a comparable role within the aerospace, defence, security, or related industry;
- Experience working with public procurement entities (military or civilian);
- Strong understanding of the Aerospace and Defence and Security markets;
- Demonstrated customer focus with the ability to understand operational needs and translate them into business opportunities;
- Results-oriented, self-driven, and highly disciplined professional;
- Strong analytical, communication, and stakeholder management skills;
- Proven ability to build partnerships and lead cross-functional collaboration;
- Fluent English (C2 level, both written and spoken).
Skills Required
- Bachelor or Master in sales, marketing or business administration
- 5-10 years of international experience in a comparable role
- Experience working with public procurement entities
- Strong understanding of the Aerospace and Defence and Security markets
- Fluent English (C2 level, both written and spoken)
Thales Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Thales and has not been reviewed or approved by Thales.
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Retirement Support — Retirement plans with employer contributions and matches, profit sharing, and share purchase opportunities are emphasized across multiple regions. These elements are positioned as competitive components of total rewards.
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Leave & Time Off Breadth — Generous PTO that increases with tenure, paid holidays, and paid military, maternity, and paternity leave are described. This breadth supports work–life balance across locations.
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Flexible Benefits — Hybrid work options, flexible schedules, and parental supports such as childcare benefits and leave for sick children are available in several markets. Flexibility is presented as a core part of the employee experience.
Thales Insights
What We Do
Thales is a global high technology leader investing in digital and “deep tech” innovations – connectivity, big data, artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and quantum technology – to build a future we can all trust, which is vital to the development of our societies. The company provides solutions, services and products that help its customers – businesses, organisations and states – in the defence, aeronautics, space, transportation and digital identity and security markets to fulfil their critical missions, by placing humans at the heart of the decision-making process.
