About Kivu Choice:

Kivu Choice is Rwanda’s largest protein producer and one of the fastest-growing aquaculture companies in Africa. Founded in 2022, Kivu Choice is the sister company to Victory Farms, East Africa’s leading aquaculture platform based in Kenya. The company operates a fully vertically integrated aquaculture model, encompassing hatchery operations, cage-based grow-out, processing, distribution, and sales. Kivu Choice is also one of the country’s largest employers, with over 850 employees, and plans to grow to 1,200 employees within the next three years, reflecting its strong commitment to job creation and inclusive economic development. Over the next five years, Kivu Choice aims to scale into Africa’s largest and most sustainable protein producer, producing and distributing 30,000 tons of fish annually for the Rwandan market and for export across the region.

Location: Goma or Bukavu
Department: Sales & Commercial
Reports to: Sales Manager
Employment Type: Full-time

Job Purpose

The Cross-Border Sales Lead will be responsible for developing new business and expanding Kivu Choice’s network of fish traders in their assigned market.
The primary objective is to recruit, onboard, and develop new traders who generate incremental sales volume, while contributing to growth in total market sales. This is a field-based, results-driven role for someone who enjoys building relationships, identifying opportunities, and converting them into measurable commercial results.
The successful candidate will combine strong business development skills with disciplined execution, market knowledge, and a focus on sustainable customer relationships.

Key Responsibilities

1. Trader Network Development

• Identify and map potential fish traders in the assigned market.
• Proactively recruit new traders to expand Kivu Choice’s distribution and customer network.
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective traders.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with traders and understand their business needs.

2. New Trader Onboarding and Growth

• Guide new traders through the onboarding process, including registration, ordering procedures, payment requirements, and product availability.
• Monitor new traders’ performance and identify opportunities to increase order frequency and volume.
• Resolve customer issues promptly and coordinate with internal teams to ensure reliable service.

3. Sales Volume Growth

• Deliver monthly targets for productive new traders and incremental sales volume.
• Contribute to growth in total sales volume across the assigned market.
• Work with the wider sales team to ensure new business creates incremental growth rather than simply shifting sales between existing customers.

4. Market Intelligence and Reporting

• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of prospective, newly onboarded, and active traders.
• Track trader activity, order volumes, repeat purchases, and sales performance.
• Provide regular updates on market conditions, competitor activity, customer feedback, and sales opportunities.
• Use sales data to identify underperforming traders and develop appropriate growth plans.
• Submit timely and accurate sales reports and forecasts.

Collaboration and Execution

• Work closely with existing sales representatives and the sales manager to coordinate customer coverage and market development.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Distribution, Finance, and Customer Service to ensure traders receive reliable service.
• Follow company policies and procedures relating to customer onboarding, pricing, credit, payments, and sales reporting.
• Represent Kivu Choice professionally and uphold the company’s values and reputation in the market.

Key Performance Indicators

Performance will be assessed primarily on measurable commercial outcomes, including:

• Number of productive new traders successfully onboarded.
• Incremental sales volume generated by new traders.
• Growth in total sales volume across the assigned market.
• Repeat-purchase rate and retention of newly onboarded traders.
• Quality and accuracy of trader records, sales reporting, and market intelligence.

Required Qualifications and Experience

• A bachelor's degree in business administration, sales, marketing, economics, or a related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in sales, business development, distribution, or customer acquisition.
• Experience working with traders, wholesalers, distributors, or informal retail networks is an advantage.
• Experience in fast-moving consumer goods, food distribution, agriculture, or other high-volume products is desirable.
• Strong understanding of the local commercial environment in Goma or Bukavu.
• Fluency in French and Swahili is required; knowledge of English or Kinyarwanda is an advantage.
• Familiarity with basic sales reporting and digital tools, including Excel or mobile-based sales applications.

Experience

• Minimum of 2–3 years of relevant experience in sales, business development, or commercial operations.
• Experience in cross-border sales, market development, or international trade is an added advantage.
• Proven experience in customer relationship management, sales negotiations, and achieving sales targets.

Required Skills and Competencies

• Strong prospecting, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Highly results-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Comfortable working in the field and spending significant time visiting traders.
• Ability to identify commercial opportunities and convert them into sales.
• Strong communication, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a wider sales team.
• Honest, reliable, and disciplined in handling customer and sales information.
• Resilient, adaptable, and motivated by performance-based compensation.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to help expand access to affordable, high-quality fish across the region.
• A dynamic, entrepreneurial environment with significant opportunity for growth.
• Private health insurance.
• The opportunity to build a strong commercial network and develop a career in sales and business development.

• Identify and map potential fish traders in the assigned market.
• Proactively recruit new traders to expand Kivu Choice’s distribution and customer network.
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective traders.
• Build trusted, long-term relationships with traders and understand their business needs.
• Guide new traders through the onboarding process, including registration, ordering procedures, payment requirements, and product availability.
• Monitor new traders’ performance and identify opportunities to increase order frequency and volume.
• Resolve customer issues promptly and coordinate with internal teams to ensure reliable service.
• Deliver monthly targets for productive new traders and incremental sales volume.
• Contribute to growth in total sales volume across the assigned market.
• Work with the wider sales team to ensure new business creates incremental growth rather than simply shifting sales between existing customers.
• Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of prospective, newly onboarded, and active traders.
• Track trader activity, order volumes, repeat purchases, and sales performance.
• Provide regular updates on market conditions, competitor activity, customer feedback, and sales opportunities.
• Use sales data to identify underperforming traders and develop appropriate growth plans.
• Submit timely and accurate sales reports and forecasts.
• Work closely with existing sales representatives and the sales manager to coordinate customer coverage and market development.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Distribution, Finance, and Customer Service to ensure traders receive reliable service.
• Follow company policies and procedures relating to customer onboarding, pricing, credit, payments, and sales reporting.
• Represent Kivu Choice professionally and uphold the company’s values and reputation in the market.

• Strong prospecting, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Highly results-oriented, with a strong sense of ownership and accountability.
• Comfortable working in the field and spending significant time visiting traders.
• Ability to identify commercial opportunities and convert them into sales.
• Strong communication, organization, and follow-through.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with a wider sales team.
• Honest, reliable, and disciplined in handling customer and sales information.
• Resilient, adaptable, and motivated by performance-based compensation.
• Familiarity with basic sales reporting and digital tools, including Excel or mobile-based sales applications.
• Fluency in French and Swahili is required; knowledge of English or Kinyarwanda is an advantage.

• A bachelor's degree in business administration, sales, marketing, economics, or a related field is preferred.
• Demonstrated experience in sales, business development, distribution, or customer acquisition.
• Experience working with traders, wholesalers, distributors, or informal retail networks is an advantage.
• Experience in fast-moving consumer goods, food distribution, agriculture, or other high-volume products is desirable.
• Strong understanding of the local commercial environment in Goma or Bukavu.
• Experience in cross-border sales, market development, or international trade is an added advantage.
• Proven experience in customer relationship management, sales negotiations, and achieving sales targets.