Senior Business Developer Packed Palm Oils - West Africa

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world.

Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 19,000 people globally.

Overall purpose: the incumbent will be responsible for delivering the packed oil business strategy in the West Africa region, engaging closely with customers, internal commercial and research teams, to drive LDC’s markets shares and insights in the region.

Your main missions will be as follows:

• Contribute to internal and external reporting and communications, management presentations, internal/external training materials, with a focus on Packed Palm Oil to customers in West & Central Africa.
• In line with marketing strategies to develop and implement sales & growth within the assigned region to ensure optimum achievement of set sales target and growth potential.
• Work with the Origin team to have sales in the destination market & to look at the opportunity to source from WAF for the ECOWAS region.
• Reporting of local supply and demand, with a key focus on imported market pricing dynamics across the region, including understanding the costing of transport/duties.
• Reporting and managing of clientele risk exposures.
• Assist in hedging of EUR currency with LDC’s forex desk.
• Assist in contract trade entry and monitoring.
• Contribute to long term strategic projects involving (but not limited to) the distribution of packed oil.

Interactions: Africa/Global palm container commercial & bulk teams, as well as related functions of execution, risk and finance.

Job Challenges: Remote team collaboration with international teams, field-level collaboration with business partners involving travel on a weekly/monthly basis.

Experience:

• Minimum 5 years of experience in the agricultural trading industry within West Africa.
• Sales of packed Palm oil is advantageous.

Knowledge:

• Strong knowledge of FMCG business within West Africa.
• Strong business acumen and understanding of pricing/economics and corporate strategy.
• Understanding of risk mitigation techniques is key, particularly of trade finance tools/applications.
• Understanding of consumer branding and its role in the downstream sector is required.

Education:

• Bachelor’s degree in agricultural engineering, agronomy, economics, or a related field.
• Post graduate degree is ideal.

Languages:

• French (fluent in both oral and written).
• English (fluent in both oral and written).
• Any other language is advantageous.

Systems:

• Proficient use of Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint.
• Knowledge of Power BI and CRM is ideal.
• Programming skills (R, Python…) are advantageous.

Technical and Functional Skills:

• Solid research and analytical skills; data savvy (interpretation, visualization, management).
• Excellent communication and engagement skills with various external stakeholders, ranging from strategic partners/customers to field-level engagement tank and/or SMA operators.

Soft skills:

• Willingness to perform in a high pressure & dynamic environment to deliver on the business strategies.
• Problem Solving: Ability to navigate diverging opinions to form a consensus.

Additional Information for the job

What We Offer

We provide a dynamic and stimulating international environment, which will stretch and develop your abilities and channel your skills and expertise with outstanding career development opportunities in one of the largest and most solid private companies in the world.

Our Benefits

• Competitive salary and benefits​​​​​​
• Hybrid work available (not applicable to all roles)
• Pension contributions
• Access to Training and Development 
• Access to Concierge Partnerships

Diversity & Inclusion

LDC is driven by a set of shared values and high ethical standards, with diversity and inclusion being part of our DNA. LDC is an equal opportunity employer committed to providing a working environment that embraces and values diversity, equity and inclusion.

LDC encourages diversity, supports local communities and environmental initiatives. We encourage people of all backgrounds to apply.

Sustainability

Sustainable value is at the heart of our purpose as a company.

We are passionate about creating fair and sustainable value, both for our business and for other value chain stakeholders: our people, our business partners, the communities we touch and the environment around us