Solar Panda Careers

About Solar Panda

Solar Panda is a high-growth, clean-tech company providing home solar systems and appliances to customers in Kenya without access to electricity. Our pay-as-you-go model allows families to afford reliable electricity and life-changing appliances that can drastically improve their lives. Over 1 billion people in the world lack access to electricity, and we believe that access to electricity should be a right for everyone, everywhere.

Solar Panda is the fastest growing company ever in this industry and in less than 5 years is bringing light to over 1,000,000 Kenyans and adding hundreds of new customers each day. We have 37 shops throughout Kenya, 300 full-time employees and over 1000 commission-based field agents. And we are just getting started with plans to add new products and expand to additional countries. Solar Panda is led by a small team of Canadian tech entrepreneurs with a track record of success. Find us at www.solarpanda.com.

About The Role

We are seeking an experienced individual to join our management team in Nairobi, Kenya to oversee the strategy, execution and analysis of Solar Panda’s customer financing business. Since Solar Panda finances almost all sales to customers, it is critical that we achieve high repayment rates from these customers. The Credit Manager will be responsible for managing multiple strategies to ensure the creditworthiness of new customers, drive programs to encourage strong repayment from existing customers and analyze overall company performance. The position will be based in Nairobi, Kenya, reporting directly to the CFO.

To be successful at this job, a candidate must:

• Help Solar Panda determine the creditworthiness of all new customers: analyze our existing creditworthiness process, identify improvements and make recommendations for new programs.
• Work with our sales team to ensure practices are adhered to and sales are being made to creditworthy customers.
• Work with Collections Team, Field Sales Team and Fraud Team to implement and improve customer repayment programs.
• Analyze Solar Panda’s repayment data to derive insights and identify opportunities.
• Provide frequent and insightful reports to the Senior Management Team and external stakeholders.

The right candidate must have the following traits:

• Ability to analyze and interpret data for reasonableness and insights: must "own" the repayment data and understand what it means (not just read numbers) and what actions should be taken to make improvements.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills to work in a fast-paced environment and manage multiple deadlines and priorities as well as demonstrated ability to adapt well to changing priorities.
• Be self-motivated: operate well in an independent culture where the candidate will have significant autonomy and high expectations.
• Superior verbal and written communication skills sufficient to manage conversations with executives within and outside of Solar Panda on a regular basis.
• Believe in the company's mission of improving the lives of millions of off-grid customers in Africa.

Qualifications:

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in credit management (experience in consumer financing in Africa is preferred).
• University degree in Accounting, Mathematics or another business-related field.
• Solid knowledge of Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Impressive track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals.

How to apply

If this position sounds like a good fit for you, please submit your cover letter and CV to [email protected], before 30th November 2022. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Kindly reference the job title in your application.

Solar Panda is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, or disability.

Solar Panda does not charge any fees on recruitment.

Duties and responsibilities

• Develop and refine sales training curriculum for Field Sales Managers and commission-based Field Sales Agents.
• Develop and refine sales training content for sales training programs, including the design of dynamic and interactive training modules.
• Design and implement training programs for effective delivery of the training content to Field Agents.
• Training delivery
• Training Needs Analysis (TNA): Conduct frequent surveys and analyses to identify training needs and priorities in the sales force.
• Supervise, manage and lead regional sales trainers to ensure effective deployment and excellent execution of training programs across the regions.

Academic Qualification & Work Experience

• A bachelor’s degree in any Business-related field.
• Five years of experience in sales training management including leading a team of sales trainers.

Personal Attributes

• Exceptional leadership and people management skills
• Professional sales training is an added advantage
• Excellence in team building and motivational skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good planning and organizational skills.

Method of Application

If this position sounds like a good fit for you, please submit your cover letter and CV to  [email protected] on or before 9th September 2022. Only shortlisted candidates will  be contacted. Kindly reference the job title in your application.

Solar Panda Kenya Limited is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from  qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, or disability.

Duties and responsibilities

• Build a strong field sales team by recruiting, motivating and mentoring.
• Develop sales strategies for the field sales team.
• Recruit, train, mentor, and supports Field Agents.
• Daily monitoring of Field Agents to ensure that they are actively selling the company’s products. • To act as the bridge between the Sales team and Area Sales Manager.
• Generate sales leads and develop local networks.

Academic Qualification & Work Experience

• Experience from working in rural areas is a requirement.
• Experience from managing sales teams is a requirement.
• A diploma or degree in an academic field is an added advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Excellence in team building and motivational skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good planning and organizational skills.

Method of Application

If this position sounds like a good fit for you, please submit your cover letter and CV to  [email protected] on or before 9th September 2022. Only shortlisted candidates will  be contacted. Kindly reference the job title in your application.

Solar Panda Kenya Limited is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from  qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, or disability.

The Company

Solar Panda is a fast-growing company that provides innovative solar power solutions for lighting and TV in rural communities in Kenya. Our pay-as-you-go model allows homes to have electricity for less than the daily cost of kerosene and mobile phone charging.

We have sales operations across Kenya, and we are expanding.

Role Profile

The Area Sales Manager is responsible for management and leadership of sales teams in the defined area. The key responsibilities are to meet customer acquisition and revenue growth targets and maintain target levels of customer loan repayment, as well as craft sales plans and justify those to upper management. The position is a full-time position reporting to the Head of Sales, with compensation composed of base salary and commission.

Duties and responsibilities

• Lead a team of Sales Managers, Assistant Sales Managers and Sales Agents in the defined sales area.
• Achieve growth and sales targets by successfully managing the teams in your area.
• Design and implement sales plans that expand the company’s customer base and ensures solid growth while maintaining target loan repayment rates.
• Work with the teams in your area to develop new sales channels.
• Train and mentor sales managers, paying particular attention to new recruits.
• Conduct regular field visits to retail shops to ensure that standards of performance, product knowledge, and customer service are met.
• Closely monitor the performance and integrity of all staff members in your area.
• Share with senior management shifts in the market and new market opportunities, and details of new products and competitive activity.

Academic Qualification & Work Experience

• Five years of experience in leading sales teams.
• Experience working in rural areas is a requirement.
• A degree in a business-related field.

Personal Attributes

• Exceptional leadership and people management skills.
• Professional sales training is an added advantage.
• Excellence in team building and motivational skills.
• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good planning and organizational skills.

The company places a high priority on personal integrity, hard work, and respect for customers and co-workers.

If this position sounds like a good fit for you, please submit your cover letter and CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted. Kindly reference the job title in your application.

Solar Panda Kenya Limited is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, or disability.

Solar Panda does not charge any fees on recruitment.

Retail Agent – In Western, Nyanza, North Rift and Eastern-Central regions

The Company

Solar Panda is a growing company that provides innovative and upgradeable solar systems in rural communities.  The company’s pay-as-you-go model allows homes and small businesses to have electricity for less than the daily cost of kerosene and mobile phone charging.

Solar Panda values personal integrity, hard work, and respect for customers and coworkers.  These qualities are considered essential for employment.

Job Purpose

The successful Retail Agent is to manage shop sales, provide information about products and services, troubleshoot and resolve customer queries, and support Field Sales Agents.

Duties and responsibilities

• Identify customer needs, clarify information, troubleshoot issues and provide solutions.
• Educate customers on products by explaining procedures, answering questions and providing information.
• Receive and handle stocks coming into shop and handle stock-taking activities.
• Allocate stocks to Field Agents.
• Handle shop walk-in sales.
• Handle replacement of items subject to warranty conditions.
• Build sustainable relationships and exceed customer expectations by going the extra mile.
• Ensure that shop is always clean and tidy.
• Maintain and improve quality results by adhering to standards and guidelines and recommending improved procedures.
• Identify and escalate issues to management.
• Recognize, document, and alert management team to trends in customer queries.
• Any other duty assigned by management.

Academic Qualification & Work Experience

• A diploma in any academic field.
• 2 years’ experience in a similar role is an added advantage.

Personal Attributes

• Good written and oral communication skills.
• Good planning and organizational skills.

Solar Panda does not charge any recruitment fees.

Interested candidates should attach their cover letter and CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Solar Panda is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin or disability.

Field Sales Manager – North Rift, Western and Eastern-Central regions

The Company

Solar Panda is a growing company that provides innovative and upgradeable solar systems in rural communities.  The company’s pay-as-you-go model allows homes and small businesses to have electricity for less than the daily cost of kerosene and mobile phone charging.

Solar Panda values personal integrity, hard work, and respect for customers and co-workers.  These qualities are considered essential for employment.

Job Purpose

The successful Field Sales Manager will achieve their shop and area sales targets through the management and motivation of a highly effective sales team.  The key responsibilities are to recruit, monitor, train and support the field sales team.

Job Description

The position is a full-time position reporting to the Regional Sales Manager with compensation composed of base salary and commission.

Duties and responsibilities

• Develop sales strategies for the field sales team
• Actively recruit Field Agents
• Train, coach, mentor and develop Field Agents
• Monitor Field Agents on a daily basis to ensure that they are actively selling the company’s products.
• Act as the bridge between the sales team and Regional Sales Manager
• Be responsible for shop administration
• Generate sales leads

Academic Qualifications & Work Experience

• Experience working in rural areas is a requirement
• Experience managing sales teams is a significant advantage
• A diploma or degree in an academic field is an added advantage

Personal Attributes

• Excellence in team building and motivational skills
• Good written and oral communication skills
• Good planning and organizational skills

Solar Panda does not charge any fees on recruitment.

Interested candidates should attach their cover letter and CV. Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Solar Panda Kenya Ltd is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin or disability.

Solar Panda

Solar Panda is a fast-growing company providing innovative and upgradeable solar systems in rural communities.  Our lease-payment model allows homes and small businesses to have electricity for less than the daily cost of kerosene and mobile phone charging.

Solar Panda’s business philosophy highly values personal integrity, hard work, and respect for customers and co-workers.  These qualities are considered essential for employment.

Job Purpose

The successful Regional Sales Manager will achieve their regional sales targets through the management and motivation of a highly effective sales team.  Key responsibilities are to monitor, train and support existing sales staff and expand sales operations through hiring, coaching and training new sales staff and the opening of new shops.

Job Description

The position is a full-time position reporting to the Head of Sales with compensation based on a competitive salary plus commission.

Roles and Responsibilities:

Team Management

• Coach, mentor and develop a high performing and motivated sales force in the region.
• Ensure that personnel throughout the region have accurate and thorough knowledge of products and procedures.
• Work closely with HR in the recruiting of Field Sales Managers.
• Meet established sales targets.
• Closely monitor the performance and integrity of all personnel in the region
• Shadow and support sales agents to better understand the challenges they face and identify solutions.
• Identify market opportunities and devise action plans.
• Share experiences, insights and successes with other senior management.

Sales Administration

• Work closely with the Training and HR departments in the ongoing implementation and development of sales tools, processes and materials.
• Ensure that field staff follows procedures for digitally capturing accurate customer data.
• Instill a clear understanding on the part of field staff for the importance of customer loan repayment.

Personal Qualities

• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including English fluency.
• Good listening and negotiation skills.
• Excellence in coaching and passionate about mentoring.
• Very detail oriented with solid organizational skills.
• Honest, hard-working, respectful.

Requirements

• At least 5 years of experience in direct consumer sales.
• A university degree.
• Experience in solar home system industry is an added advantage.
• Knowledge of the local business environment in the region.

To Apply

To apply, please attach your CV and cover letter.  Only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.

Solar Panda is an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, religion, national origin, sexual orientation or disability.

Solar Panda does not charge recruitment fees.