Business Development Associate

About Pula:  

We are an insuretech and data services firm that provides agriculture insurance design and execution services,  specializing in index-based insurance and is backed by top-tier VC investors who have invested more than $25 million in the business. Since 2015 we have provided climate insurance to 22  million smallholder farmers, 41% of which were women across 19 markets in Africa and Asia who pay an average of $6.8 per season to insure their crops. So far, we've unlocked over $2.22  billion of capital from local and international insurance markets for climate risks since we started in 2015 and paid out $40.8 million to our client farmers. 

Pula is a fast-paced company, constantly adapting to new opportunities and challenges. We  are made up of a high-performance, multi-cultural team. We expect our team to value  performance, results, and professionalism. 

At Pula, our culture is defined by our: 

• Obsession with results: We are responsible for our future and therefore we get things done!
• Ability to connect the Dots: We continuously identify different customer needs & business problems and build solutions that deliver value.
• Our Can-do Attitude! We dare to do things differently to make things work.
• Ability to have each other’s back: We look out for each other & we share high quality, timely feedback that makes us better.

Responsibilities 

• Lead Generation and Outreach: 
  • Identify and qualify potential clients through research, industry events, inbound leads, referrals, and market activity. 
  • Conduct outreach via email, phone, and meetings to introduce Pula’s solutions.
  • Maintain consistent weekly activity targets to support pipeline growth.
  • Track tender websites and identifying potential opportunities for the relevant teams
• Client-Facing Document Preparation: 
  • Proposal writing - 
    • Co-develop proposal concepts through understanding and researching company experience, ecosystem trends, and innovative solutions.
    • Write and provide quality control for concept notes,  proposals, and tender responses.
    • Prepare templated pitch decks, concept notes, and proposals with guidance from the team
  • Marketing Material Development: Coordinate the creation and improvement  of sales and marketing materials, such as brochures and presentations to  support business development efforts
• Client Relations Support
  • Attend introductory meetings alongside senior commercial managers. 
  • Manage follow-up actions, client requests, and general communication.
  • Build rapport with operational and technical teams supporting the client. 
  • Attend relevant workshops, conferences, and networking events to build relationships.
• Market Intelligence
  • Gather insights on competitors, partners, and emerging opportunities. 
  • Track key industry developments and report trends to the commercial team.
• Knowledge Management: 
  • Manage database of P&C knowledge to improve communication efficiency across the team and institutional knowledge. 
  • Keep CRM entries updated with accurate contact details, meeting notes, and pipeline stages. 
• Internal Coordination:
  • Work closely with marketing, operations, and product teams to align on commercial priorities. 
  • Support weekly team check-ins with updated activity reports. 

What you need to be successful:

• You are an effective communicator with strong writing skills, capable of synthesizing information, drafting compelling proposals, and communicating ideas across diverse platforms. 
• You are energized by networking events and thrive at building rapport and trust with partners. 
• Experience working with diverse actors from development, private sector, and the government. You listen and understand different perspectives and can connect the dots to build consensus.  
• Comfort working in fast-paced and ambiguous environments. 

• You are meticulous and highly organized in planning, executing, and monitoring multiple proposals under tight deadlines.
• You are a team player, you are able to get buy-in, input, and approval across internal teams as needed for proposals. 
• You are driven by impact. You are motivated by Pula’s goal of empowering smallholder farmers.

Qualifications: 

• University degree with First Class or Upper Second honors 
• 3-5 years of experience in business development, partner management, consulting, or related fields. 
• Experience in writing proposals, concept notes, and creating budgets in response to tenders.
• Understanding of agriculture and/or fintech sectors.
• Strong interpersonal skills, high motivation, ownership, and willingness to learn.
• Experience with Google suites, Excel, and CRM tools. 

Preferred Qualifications:

• Advanced qualifications or degree in Development, Agriculture Economics, Sociology, or related field.
• Project management experience
• Experience working in a startup or growth environment

Core Competencies:  

• Project Management: Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage complex,  multi-faceted projects effectively. 
• Communication Skills: Excellent verbal and written communication skills for interacting with various stakeholders and ensuring clarity in documentation. 

• Analytical Skills: Ability to track, analyze, and report on performance,  leveraging data for insights. 
• Tech Savviness: Proficient in using digital tools (CRMs) for pipeline management to  enhance team performance and operational efficiency. 
• Planning and Coordination: Exceptional planning skills for managing fast-paced and  changing logistics and activities. 

Behavioural Attributes:

• Proactive and Solutions-Oriented: Always looking ahead to anticipate issues and  resolve them creatively. 
• Detail-Oriented: Maintains high accuracy in work, ensuring quality and reliability in all  deliverables. 
• Independent and Reliable: Works autonomously with a strong sense of ownership  and accountability for tasks. 
• Customer-Focused: Demonstrates a professional attitude and approach in serving  both internal teams and external clients. 
• Relationship Builder: Establishes strong working relationships with stakeholders,  anticipating their needs and challenges effectively. 
• Fast learner: Demonstrates the ability to quickly absorb and apply new information,  adapting to changing circumstances and challenges with agility and confidence.

What Pula will bring to the table:

• Your work matters: At Pula, you’ll shape systems that give millions of smallholder farmers access to insurance for the first time. You’ll join a team that has already reached over 19 million farmers across Africa and Asia, and you’ll directly contribute to scaling this impact even further.
• Career development: You’ll be working in a high-performance environment with strong mentorship and leadership that values transparency, execution, and personal growth. As we enter our next phase of accelerated expansion, you’ll naturally gain opportunities to take on new responsibilities and grow your career.
• Global recognition:  Backed by top global investors and foundations;  Pula is a solid, well-funded organization. Our work is recognized globally (from winning the Singapore FinTech Festival Award to being featured in The Economist and TED Talks)  and you’ll be part of a brand that is respected in the industry.
• Purpose with Rewards:  Few opportunities combine career advancement with genuine purpose. At Pula, your work directly contributes to financial security for farmers in emerging markets, while also offering competitive pay, performance incentives, and an employee share option plan (ESOP) with equity upside.