Head of Business Development - Composites - Africa

  • Red Chilli Recruitment
  • May 09, 2026
Full time Sales & Marketing

Job Description

Head of Composite Sales Africa (FRP / Composites)

Location: Africa (flexible travel required)

Industry: Advanced Materials / Composites / Infrastructure

Salary: Competitive + bonus + benefits

The Opportunity

We are partnering with a leading global manufacturer of FRP (Fibreglass Reinforced Plastic) solutions who are expanding their commercial footprint across Africa.

This is a high-impact leadership role focused on driving market adoption of FRP as a superior alternative to traditional materials such as steel, concrete, and timber across infrastructure, rail, utilities, and construction sectors.

You ll take ownership of commercial strategy, key accounts, and revenue growth across a diverse FRP product portfolio.

Key Responsibilities

Commercial Strategy & Growth

  • Define and execute the African commercial growth strategy for FRP products
  • Drive revenue across key product lines including:
  • FRP Manholes
  • Roofing Sheets
  • Water Tanks
  • Pipes
  • Rail & Transport Components
  • Stadium Seating
  • Identify and penetrate markets where FRP offers clear technical and commercial advantages

Key Accounts & Business Development

  • Build and manage relationships with:
  • Government bodies
  • Infrastructure clients
  • OEMs
  • Tier 1 contractors
  • Lead major tenders, RFQs, and framework agreements
  • Develop long-term strategic partnerships across Africa

Pricing, Margin & Value Selling

  • Own pricing strategy and margin performance
  • Promote life-cycle cost selling vs traditional price-based approaches
  • Work closely with engineering teams to deliver value-engineered solutions

Market Expansion & Innovation

  • Identify new applications and industries for FRP adoption
  • Support the commercialisation of new products and innovations
  • Translate market challenges (corrosion, theft, maintenance costs) into commercial opportunities

Cross-Functional Leadership

  • Collaborate with marketing on positioning and lead generation
  • Align with operations to ensure scalable delivery
  • Contribute to investment and capacity planning decisions

Requirements

Degree in Business, Engineering, or related field

8 12+ years sales/business development leadership experience in:

  • Composites / advanced materials - FRP
  • Infrastructure / rail / construction
  • Manhole covers a bonus!
  • Industrial or engineered products
  • Proven track record of selling technical solutions (not commodities)

Strong experience with:

  • Contract negotiation
  • Pricing strategy
  • Tender management

Strong understanding of African market dynamics

Strategic, results-driven mindset with a growth focus

Why This Role?

  • Be at the forefront of material disruption in infrastructure
  • Lead the adoption of FRP across major African markets
  • High autonomy, strategic influence, and strong earning potential