At a Glance
- Tasks: Drive new business by securing sponsorships and exhibitions for top tech brands.
- Company: Join Informa Festivals, a leader in innovative B2B events and part of the FTSE 100.
- Benefits: Enjoy flexible working, generous leave, and opportunities for personal and professional growth.
- Other info: Collaborative culture with a focus on diversity, inclusion, and community engagement.
- Why this job: Be at the forefront of Africa's tech scene and make impactful connections.
- Qualifications: 3+ years in sales with a proven track record of closing high-value deals.
The predicted salary is between 63000 - 77000 £ per year.
Informa Festivals marks an exciting new chapter in B2B events, bringing some of the world's most influential creative, technology and business festivals together. We’re combining prestigious events like Cannes Lions, Black Hat, Money20/20, GDC, and London Tech Week with cutting-edge marketing intelligence platforms and advisory services to deliver unmissable experiences and insights. Our festival-led approach reimagines traditional B2B events, creating powerful, immersive experiences that drive innovation and industry advancement. Building on decades of expertise and powered by Informa's international reach, we're shaping the next generation of business festivals.
Africa Tech Festival, part of Informa Festivals, is the continent’s leading technology event, bringing together 15,000+ attendees and 300+ partners each year. We are hiring a pure new business hunter to accelerate sponsorship and exhibition revenue from enterprise and blue-chip technology brands. This role is about winning new logos. You will be highly proactive, commercially driven and comfortable building opportunities from scratch — owning the full sales cycle and closing meaningful, high-value deals.
What You’ll Do
- Identify, target and win new business sponsorship and exhibition partners
- Build and execute outbound strategies into enterprise technology accounts
- Own the full sales cycle: prospecting, discovery, solution design, negotiation and close
- Sell high-value, ROI-led partnerships across live events and digital products
- Close 5–6 figure deals with senior decision-makers at global and regional tech brands
- Build and maintain a strong, self-generated pipeline
- Forecast accurately and deliver consistently against revenue targets
- Operate at pace within a high-energy, high-performance sales team
- Use social selling and Salesforce to manage pipeline and activity
What We’re Looking For
- 3+ years’ experience in new business sponsorship, exhibition or solution-based sales
- Proven track record as a hunter, winning new logos in a competitive B2B environment
- Demonstrable success closing 5–6 figure deals, ideally with blue-chip or enterprise brands
- High-agency, resilient and proactive — comfortable opening doors and creating momentum
- Strong commercial instincts with confident, value-led selling skills
- Experience using CRM systems for pipeline, forecasting and activity logging
Additional Information
We believe that great things happen when people connect face-to-face. That's why we work in-person with each other, or with customers and partners, three days a week or more. When you’re not spending time together in one of our offices or other workplaces – like at an Informa event – you get the flexibility and support to work from home or remotely.
We work hard to make sure Life at Informa is rewarding, supportive and enjoyable for everyone. Here’s some of what you can expect when you join us.
- Great community: a welcoming culture with in-person and online social events, our fantastic Walk the World charity day and active diversity and inclusion networks
- Broader impact: take up to four days per year to volunteer, with charity match funding available too
- Career opportunity: the opportunity to develop your career with bespoke training and learning, mentoring platforms and on-demand access to thousands of courses on LinkedIn Learning. When it’s time for the next step, we encourage and support internal job moves
- Time out: 25 days annual leave, rising to 27 days after two years, plus a birthday leave day and the chance to work from (almost!) anywhere for up to four weeks a year
- A flexible range of personal benefits to choose from, plus company funded private medical cover
- A ShareMatch scheme that allows you to become an Informa shareholder with free matching shares
- Strong wellbeing support through EAP assistance, mental health first aiders, a healthy living subsidy, access to health apps and more
- Recognition for great work, with global awards and kudos programmes
- As an international company, the chance to collaborate with teams around the world
We’re not solely focused on a checklist of skills. We champion energy and ambition and look for colleagues who will roll their sleeves up, join in and help make things happen. If it sounds like a match and you have most – although not all – of the skills and experience listed, we welcome your application.
If you would like to request reasonable adjustments or accommodations to assist your participation in the hiring process and, or in the advertised position, please inform the appropriate Talent Acquisition Partner for the role once they have been in touch. Your request will be reviewed and considered in confidence. At Informa, you'll find inclusive experiences and environments where all perspectives and backgrounds are welcomed. As part of this approach and our diversity and inclusion commitments, we are also formally an Equal Opportunities Employer. This means we base decisions on relevant qualifications and merit and do not discriminate on the basis of key characteristics and statuses, including all of those protected by law.
Business Development Manager, AfricaTech employer: Informa Connect
At Taylor & Francis, we pride ourselves on being an exceptional employer that champions a flexible working culture and prioritises work-life balance. Our Milton Park office, soon relocating to the vibrant Oxford city centre, offers a collaborative environment where diverse ideas thrive, alongside generous benefits such as 25 days of annual leave, private medical insurance, and opportunities for professional growth. Join us in fostering human progress through knowledge while enjoying a supportive and inclusive workplace that values your unique contributions.
StudySmarter Expert Advice🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager, AfricaTech
✨Get to Grips with Data Visualisation Tools
If you're aiming for a full-time role in business intelligence, brush up on your skills with popular data visualisation tools like Tableau or Power BI. Showcasing projects where you've transformed raw data into clear visual insights can give you a real edge.
✨Join Local Business Intelligence Meetups
Look for local business intelligence meetups or analytics conferences in your area. These events are not just great for learning but also for networking with industry professionals who could lead you to opportunities at companies like Informa Connect!
✨Engage with Online BI Communities
Join online forums or communities focused on business intelligence—think LinkedIn groups, Reddit threads, or even dedicated Slack channels. Engage actively by sharing your insights and asking questions; this can help you build visibility and connect with potential employers.
✨Leverage Your University’s Career Support
If you're a recent graduate, definitely tap into your university's career services. Many have connections with companies in need of full-time BI specialists, and they can guide you on how to pitch yourself effectively—don't miss out on that!
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager, AfricaTech
Some tips for your application 🫡
Highlight Your Analytical Skills:In the business intelligence field, showcasing your analytical skills is a must. Make sure your CV includes relevant experience with data analysis tools, programming languages like SQL or Python, and any projects where you've interpreted complex data sets to drive business decisions.
Showcase Your Business Acumen:Don't just focus on data; show us how you can apply your insights to real-world business problems. Highlight projects where you made a tangible impact on company performance, and be prepared to explain your thought process in your cover letter.
Tailor Your Documents for Us:When applying for a full-time role at Informa Connect, tailor your CV and cover letter to reflect our organisational goals and strategies. Mention specific tools and methodologies that align with what we do—this shows you’ve done your homework and are genuinely interested in our mission!
Include Relevant Certifications:Certifications like Google Data Analytics or similar qualifications can really make you stand out in business intelligence. Include these in your application, as they demonstrate your commitment to the field and your willingness to stay current with industry standards.
How to prepare for a job interview at Informa Connect
✨Show off your analytical skills
In a business intelligence role, you're going to need to demonstrate your analytical prowess. Be prepared to discuss specific tools you've used, like SQL, Tableau, or Power BI. Have real-world examples ready where you’ve turned data into actionable insights – this is what makes us shine in interviews!
✨Practice your technical know-how
Expect some technical questions during the interview that dive deep into your understanding of data modelling and analytics frameworks. Brush up on your knowledge of data warehousing concepts and be ready to tackle any real case scenarios they might present. They’ll want to see how you approach problems using your BI toolkit.
✨Portfolio of Projects
Since it's a full-time role, having a strong portfolio is key! Compile case studies demonstrating your previous projects, preferably showing how your insights led to business improvements. This can help us display how you think through complex datasets and your problem-solving process, which is what employers are keen on seeing.
✨Know their business model
Get familiar with Informa Connect’s business model and recent data-driven decisions. Be prepared to discuss how your skills can specifically support their objectives or challenges. Understanding their landscape shows that you’re not just a data buff, but you’re also genuinely interested in how BI can impact their bottom line.