Commercial Operations Lead

Our client is a trusted provider of alternative clean energy solutions, serving both household and commercials client across Sub-Saharan Africa. They specialise in delivering end-to-end solar solutions through scalable and cost-effective platforms, positioning them as a leading provider of solar home systems and energy services in the region.

Role Summary

The Commercial Operations Lead will lead Asolar's nationwide commercial and operational engine. This is a dual-mandate role: drive revenue growth through a disciplined, data-led field sales and agent network, while ensuring the operational infrastructure that supports it, logistics, procurement, PAYG fulfilment, and after-sales, runs to the highest standard. This person will manage Regional Sales Managers, oversee a network of agents and dealers across Nigeria, own PAYGO performance metrics, and serve as the operational execution partner for the Chairman and MD. They must be equally comfortable in a room with a banking partner and in the field with a Regional Sales Manager troubleshooting a distribution problem.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the nationwide recruitment, activation, and productivity of agents, dealers, and distribution partners across Nigeria. This is the single most critical driver of Asolar's growth

• Lead and coordinate all Regional Sales Managers across Asolar's territories: Abuja/FCT, Lagos, Kano, Kaduna, Benue, Ilorin/Ekiti, Calabar/AkwaIbom, and new territories as the network expands

• Set, track, and enforce monthly and quarterly sales targets per region; hold RSMs accountable for performance

• Recruit, onboard, develop, and performance-manage a field sales force of 50+ personnel nationwide

• Build and maintain a live, accurate database of all agents, dealers, and mini-distributors, location, performance, payment status, and contact details

• Design and implement agent commission structures, incentive programmes, and performance management frameworks

• Identify underperforming regions, diagnose root causes, and implement turnaround plans

• Expand the agent and dealer network into new territories in line with Asolar's growth strategy

• Own Asolar's PAYGO portfolio performance, customer acquisition rates, repayment performance, Portfolio at Risk (PAR), and collections efficiency

• Work closely with the Call Centre Manager to align outbound collections activity with field visit schedules

• Monitor repayment performance by region and agent; intervene early on emerging PAR issues

• Understand and continuously improve the full PAYGO customer journey, from acquisition through activation, repayment, and renewal

• Ensure agent commission structures incentivise not just sales volume but repayment quality

• Receive strategic proposals and partnership briefs from the Chairman or MD and develop clear, time-bound execution plans

• Oversee procurement, warehousing, and distribution of solar products across Asolar's network, coordinating with the Warehouse Manager

• Develop and maintain SOPs for all key commercial and operational processes

• Lead operationalisation of Asolar's ANGAZA platform across all functions, ensuring data accuracy and full utilisation

• Define and track operational and commercial KPIs, reporting to the MD weekly

• Manage after-sales, warranty, and installation coordination in partnership with the Support Operations function

• Accompany the Chairman or MD to meetings with banking partners, government bodies, and institutional clients when required

• Support the development of B2B, B2G, and B2I proposals from a commercial feasibility perspective

• Build and maintain relationships with NGOs, microfinance banks, cooperatives, and rural enterprise networks relevant to Asolar's distribution strategy

• Represent Asolar at trade fairs, exhibitions, and sector events

Education, Qualification and Experience

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Engineering, Economics, or related field

• 7+ years in commercial or operational leadership

• Proven track record managing nationwide field sales teams of 50+ personnel

• Direct experience managing Regional Sales Managers reporting to the C-suite

• Experience building and managing agent, dealer, or distributor networks at scale

• Strong understanding of PAYGO, instalment sales, or last-mile financing models

• Fluency in Portfolio at Risk (PAR) metrics and collections performance management

• Data-driven, works from dashboards and KPI-driven accountability

• Willing and able to travel extensively across Nigerian states

Strongly Preferred

• PAYG solar, off-grid energy, or energy access sector, most valuable profile

• Experience in microfinance distribution, fintech lending, or FMCG last-mile delivery

• Familiarity with ANGAZA or a similar PAYGO CRM/operations platform

• Existing agent or dealer network relationships in Nigeria

• Experience in B2B or institutional sales alongside B2C field operations

• Prior exposure to banking, DFI, or government partnership meetings

• Fluency in Hausa, Yoruba, or Igbo is a strong advantage for field and agent engagement