Business Development Specialist - Inland at Astron Energy (Pty) Ltd.

To execute the Network Development strategy through the development and management of a healthy NTI/NTC pipeline, including a strong landbank portfolio.

• Responsible for planned actions related to network development, Investor
• Trade Class growth activities and processes.
• Growing sales revenue employing a targeted new site acquisition approach. Identifying market opportunities and sequencing requirements for New- To- Company and New To Industry Sites and being responsible for planned actions related to network development.
•  Ensure legal compliance of site development and site conversions proposals that pertain to any transactions including but not limited to 3rd
• Parties, Landlord, Retailers, Branded Marketers, training, development and maintenance of legal standards to all support staff, manage Conveyancingmatters, etc.
• Develops and ensures approval of business cases for site upgrades andknock down rebuilds (KDR).

Financial Perspective

• Assessing risk and financial viability of agreements with Landlords, operators, Agents &/ Property Owners.
• Developing profitable and sustainable deals by building sound financial deals that meet/exceed defined financial performance metrics, taking full accountability of all inputs.
• Tracks results and makes continuous improvements on total profitability. Ensure margins are achieved for the Retail portfolio for which they have responsibility.
• Understands deal making, costs, pricing exposure elements to suggest potential solutions in managing such costs and risks for maximizing profitability.
• Consistent application of economic analysis and asset valuation, and use of internal and external data as decision making inputs for the long-term economic valuation model.

Customer Perspective

• Manage the Growth of New business within the Retail Business (NTI’s and NTC’s).
• Negotiating Purchase, Lease and supply agreements with new customers and existing customers of Astron Energy.
• Monitor ongoing real estate market changes and competitive landscape to inform and update pipeline development as well as negotiations.
• Manage landbank portfolio including all requirements and obligations.
• Positive and sustainable customer relationships to ensure continuity and credibility of negotiation and engagements
• Conduit between Astron Energy and customer for all potential negotiations from inception to conclusion
• Stewarding successful completion of high priority projects intended to enhance efficient delivery of value proposition to retail investors
• Understanding of competitor environment and through Market Intelligence monitors key market forces such as market size, annual growth rate, profit margin, competitive intensity, regulatory environment, technological requirements, margin vulnerability and environmental impact.

Business Excellence

• Interfaces with Sales, Construction and Network Planning teams on a scheduled basis to develop and analyse network priorities and to grow the pipeline.
• Facilitate and coordinate with Finance for landlord financial instrument support [including Grants, DML, lease premiums, commissions etc.] to enhance retail service stations and secure lease and or supply agreements
• Facilitate and coordinate with Legal to ensure currency and validity of agreements in line with the class of trade as well as ensuring the terms and conditions of the commercial deal and captured in the relevant agreements.
• Responsible for seeing new deals through to the execution phase including the correct SOCA approvals.

People Management

• Management of relationships and influence with internal and external key stakeholders to meet terms of agreements and in a timely manner, and ensure all required activities are effectively completed. Proactively communicate issues and concerns that may hay have impact on the project to the appropriate leader/manager.
• Management of healthy Relationships with Landlords, Agents &/ Property Owners and other appropriate external stakeholders.

Professional Qualification and Certifications:

• Commercial business degree or equivalent.
• Financial degree or experience in finance will be advantageous

Work Experience:

• At least 5 years’ experience in developing a retail site portfolio and negotiating property deals and refurbishments preferably within the Petrochemical Retail industry
• Knowledge of the petroleum industry regulations including the Regulated Accounting System [RAS]; Lease and supply agreement negotiations experience is essential
• Commercially savvy Property negotiator with an in depth understanding of Commercial Property law and Finance.
• Business case development
• Independently leading Real Estate negotiations and some experience in town planning
• Relationships with local authorities will be an advantage.

Knowledge and skills:

• Strong Project management experience and the ability to understand and review legal documents
• Sound understanding of the South African oil industry Retail business
• Good communication skills at all levels
• High level of attention to detail
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, legal, financial, and analytical background, together with significant industry and trade-class-specific experience, as well as experience in the execution of complex cross-functional projects.
• Budget management
• Proficiency in Commercial negotiations with an understanding of property law and financial principles in the development of proposals.
• Must be highly networked and bring own social capital into the role.
• Influential skills a must
• Strong Presentation Skills with proven record of accomplishment in constructing differentiated customer value propositions. 
• Analyzes a problem and often resolves them with little assistance from supervisor or peers.
• Ability to build mutually beneficial and credible relationships in the Investor community. 
• Must understand and provide expert decision support on investor trade class programs, retail support offerings, and strategic portfolio decisions.