BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

Location: Lagos, Nigeria

Employment Type: Full-Time

Reports To: Commercial & Business Development Manager

Compensation: Competitive 

Client Overview
Our client is a marine services business operating within the offshore marine logistics and oilfield services sector in Nigeria. The company operates within a dynamic commercial environment that requires strong relationships with clients, strategic partners, technical stakeholders, and relevant regulatory bodies.

Role Overview
The Business Development Officer is responsible for supporting the company commercial growth by identifying new business opportunities, developing client and stakeholder relationships, and converting qualified prospects into sustainable business within the offshore marine logistics, oilfield services, and energy sectors.
The role will manage business development activities across the opportunity lifecycle, including market intelligence, lead generation, client engagement, tenders, commercial proposals, contract coordination, and post-award relationship management.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Market Expansion (30%)

• Develop and maintain a pipeline of prospective clients, projects, contracts, and commercial opportunities.
• Identify new revenue opportunities across offshore marine logistics, vessel services, oilfield services, and related energy markets.
• Conduct market research to identify upcoming projects, procurement activities, customer requirements, and potential areas for business expansion.
• Build and maintain relationships with prospective and existing customers to increase business opportunities and repeat engagements.
• Develop effective prospecting and client acquisition strategies aligned with company commercial objectives.
• Monitor competitor activities, market movements, and industry developments to identify potential business opportunities.
• Support initiatives aimed at expanding the company's customer base, market presence, and service portfolio.
• Identify opportunities to introduce additional services to existing clients and increase account value.

• Establish and maintain productive relationships with clients, contractors, strategic partners, technical partners, and other industry stakeholders.
• Serve as a key commercial contact for assigned clients throughout the business development and engagement process.
• Conduct client meetings, presentations, follow-up discussions, and business reviews as required.
• Understand client requirements and coordinate internally to develop appropriate commercial solutions.
• Maintain consistent communication with clients regarding proposals, project requirements, commercial discussions, and service delivery.
• Gather customer feedback and communicate relevant insights to management and operational teams.
• Support client onboarding and prequalification activities by coordinating required documentation and information.
• Represent the company at relevant industry events, conferences, meetings, and networking opportunities.

• Identify and monitor relevant tender opportunities, procurement activities, and requests for proposals within the target market.
• Coordinate the preparation of tenders, quotations, expressions of interest, proposals, and other commercial submissions.
• Work with technical, operations, finance, legal, and other internal teams to obtain information required for accurate and competitive submissions.
• Ensure commercial submissions are complete, professionally prepared, and delivered within required timelines.
• Support commercial negotiations with clients and business partners to achieve commercially sustainable terms.
• Assist in reviewing and coordinating contracts, purchase orders, and other commercial agreements.
• Monitor contractual obligations, key milestones, renewal dates, variations, and potential additional scopes.
• Maintain accurate records of tenders, proposals, contracts, opportunity status, and commercial correspondence.

• Identify vessel-related and non-vessel commercial opportunities that align with company's capabilities and operational capacity.
• Coordinate with operations and relevant business units to assess the feasibility and availability of resources for prospective projects.
• Support the commercial process associated with vessel mobilization, deployment, demobilization, and related marine services.
• Track business opportunities from initial enquiry through award, mobilization, execution, and completion.
• Facilitate effective communication between commercial and operational teams to ensure client commitments are properly understood and delivered.
• Monitor project and contract performance and escalate commercial or operational issues requiring management attention.
• Support the identification of additional scopes and opportunities arising during project execution.
• Assist with coordinating documentation required to support completed work and subsequent billing.

• Maintain awareness of relevant Nigerian marine and oil & gas regulatory requirements affecting business development activities.
• Coordinate with regulatory and commercial personnel on documentation and submissions required for clients, tenders, and regulatory processes.
• Support engagement with relevant regulatory and industry bodies, including NIMASA, NPA, NCDMB, NUIMS, and other applicable stakeholders.
• Ensure required commercial documentation is properly prepared, maintained, and readily available.
• Coordinate the collection of timesheets, purchase orders, service confirmations, and other documents required to facilitate invoicing.
• Work with finance and operations teams to resolve documentation gaps that may delay billing or revenue collection.
• Monitor commercial deliverables and support timely completion of activities required for revenue recognition.
• Identify documentation, compliance, or contractual issues that could create commercial risk and escalate them appropriately.

• Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Marine Transport, Engineering, or a related discipline.
• A Master's Degree or MBA, either completed or in progress, will be an advantage.
• Professional training or certification in Business Development, Project Management, Supply Chain, Commercial Management, or a related field is desirable.
• Familiarity with Nigerian oil & gas local content requirements and marine industry standards will be an added advantage.

Experience

• Approximately 2–4 years of relevant experience in business development, commercial operations, client services, marine logistics, oilfield services,energy, or a related sector.
• Practical experience within an offshore oil & gas project environment and/or offshore vessel operations.
• Experience supporting tender preparation, commercial proposals, quotations, or bid submissions.
• Exposure to contract administration, client negotiations, and commercial project coordination.
• Experience developing relationships with customers, industry partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Working knowledge of the Nigerian oil & gas and marine business environment.
• Familiarity with NIMASA, NPA, NCDMB, NUIMS, and other relevant regulatory requirements is desirable.

• Strong proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, particularly Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Business development pipeline and opportunity tracking.
• Market research and commercial intelligence analysis.
• Tender and proposal preparation.
• Contract and commercial documentation.
• Client relationship and account management.
• Basic financial and commercial analysis.
• Understanding of lump-sum and reimbursable project commercial structures.
• Knowledge of relevant Nigerian marine and oil & gas regulatory requirements.

• Business Development & Revenue Generation
• Strategic Market Development
• Client & Stakeholder Relationship Management
• Commercial Negotiation
• Tender & Proposal Management
• Contract Administration
• Market Intelligence & Analysis
• Marine & Oil & Gas Industry Knowledge
• Regulatory & Compliance Awareness
• Opportunity & Pipeline Management
• Communication & Presentation Skills
• Leadership & Team Coordination
• Problem Solving & Decision-Making
• Planning, Organization & Execution
• Adaptability & Resilience
• Commercial Awareness & Value Creation