ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE (ZOLAi): Ai for Energy Equality
At ZOLA iNTELLIGENCE (ZOLAi), we are redefining what’s possible in emerging markets. More than an energy company, we are an AI technology platform embedding intelligence into energy, connectivity, and financial services infrastructure across the Global South. Our mission is bold: Energy Equality for All.
The challenge is immense: nearly 3 billion people still lack reliable, affordable energy—a barrier that has fueled inequality in income, healthcare, and education for centuries. We believe technology can finally close that gap.
Building on over a decade of experience scaling distributed energy (with roots as ZOLA Electric in Tanzania), ZOLAi now delivers the world's first Intelligent, AI-enabled enterprise technology platform for critical emerging market infrastructure. The entire platform—from hardware control to optimization software—is AI-enabled. We unite data with agentic hardware, control, and software layers to empower our Energy Service Provider (ESP) customers with the growth, efficiency, and financing necessary to deploy, manage, and optimize entire networks.
Already, our technology enables our Customers to power over 3 million people and businesses across 10 countries, transforming basic energy access into a foundation for connectivity, financial inclusion, and opportunity for generations to come. If you're ready to tackle a multi-generational challenge with cutting-edge AI, join us.
Always PAMOJA—one team, one mission.
The Opportunity: Enterprise Sales in MENA
We are seeking a high-performing Enterprise Business Development Manager to lead our expansion across the MENA market. This is a pivotal, revenue-generating role responsible for driving the adoption of ZOLAi's AI-enabled platform among the region's top energy service providers.
Core Responsibilities:
- Full Customer Journey Ownership: Oversee and manage the entire customer engagement lifecycle, starting from initial lead generation and qualification through to successful deal closure and long-term implementation.
- Proactive Market Sourcing: Proactively source and qualify new leads and high-value potential business opportunities specifically within the MENA region. This includes conducting target market assessments to identify and prioritize strategic prospects (ESPs, Telcos, Financial Institutions).
- Strategic Deal Development: Conduct thorough needs assessments for enterprise clients and develop tailored sales strategies focused on converting prospects into anchor customers, emphasizing the transformative power of ZOLAi's fully AI-enabled technology platform.
- Revenue Growth: Drive aggressive revenue growth and consistently achieve or surpass the company's financial targets for the MENA market.
- Customer Success: Foster strong, ongoing business relationships and act as a strategic partner to ensure the customer achieves their desired outcomes and maximum value from the ZOLAi platform.
Key Qualifications and Experience
1. Sales Performance & Business Acumen
- Proven Track Track Record: Demonstrated and quantifiable success in enterprise sales, with a track record of consistently exceeding or meeting multi-million dollar quotas and performance targets relative to plan.
- Value-Based Selling: Formal training and proven expertise in Value-Based Sales within a B2B context, specifically selling complex enterprise technology (SaaS, hardware, and software) solutions that address critical business process issues.
- Strategic Deal Management: Experience engaging with and successfully closing deals with senior executives (C-suite, Executive Vice Presidents, Managing Directors).
- Business Planning, Financial Modeling & ROI Analysis: Proven ability to develop customer-specific business plans (including detailed financial forecasts and Return on Investment (ROI) analysis) and articulate business models, leveraging ZOLAi technology to clearly align value creation, financial outcomes, and operational impact with the customer’s long-term strategy.
- Lead Generation: Successful track record of sourcing, engaging, and qualifying a minimum of 5 new high-quality business leads per month.
2. Domain & Technical Expertise
- AI-Curiosity & Technology Sales: Must be intellectually curious about Artificial Intelligence and possess demonstrated success selling complex enterprise workflow software, with a strong preference for experience with AI-enabled solutions that span hardware and software layers.
- Industry Knowledge (Preferred): Experience selling solutions related to Energy Network Management, Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), Solar, Consumer Financing, or PAYGO models is highly preferred. General experience selling complex technology into emerging market infrastructure or financial services is also valuable.
- Market Expertise: Strong understanding of the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) business landscape, energy sector, or complex infrastructure operations.
3. Behavioral & Operational Requirements
- Startup Mindset: Experience with New Product Introduction (NPI) in a disruptive, agile, hardware and enterprise software startup environment. This role requires a missionary sales approach, strong work ethic, and demonstrated commitment to customer success, often with limited resources.
- Collaboration: Proven ability to work cross-functionally across teams to deliver exceptional outcomes for customers and partners.
- Remote & Global Work: Proven ability to work remotely, effectively manage travel and expense budgets, and collaborate seamlessly within distributed, global teams.
- Travel: Willingness and ability to travel extensively across Africa and the Middle East.
- Communication: Exceptional communication, negotiation, and presentation skills in English (Arabic and/or French is a strong plus).
4. Education
- Bachelor's degree required.
- Master's degree or MBA preferred.
Compensation Package (Base Salary + Commission): USD $120,000–$175,000 (varies by location and experience) + potential equity.
If you’re looking to make a direct impact with an organization dedicated to eradicating energy inequality, we’d love to hear from you!
