Like any other industry, Solar also needs marketing and sales professionals to acquire new customers, retain existing customers and hence aid in company’s financial growth. Generally, a Business Development or sales Manager builds key customer relationships, identifies business opportunities, negotiates and closes business deals and maintains extensive knowledge of current market conditions.

Solar is becoming an increasingly competitive industry and hence requires a mix of strategy, branding, reach and relationships to achieve fast growth. There is a good amount of demand for business development and sales positions in the solar industry especially in the rooftop segment.

Solar Business Development/Sales Job Summary

A Solar business development/sales job involves generating business leads, prospecting, following-up and closing the deal for solar rooftop/captive power projects. In the case of Government solar projects like large scale utility projects, following up with Govt bids/tenders, liasing and applying to them could form a significant responsibility.

Job Description

At its core, a business development/sales job focuses on 3 main activities:

1. Customers – Find new ones and derive more value from existing ones
2. Markets – Figure out where new customers live (in terms of both geography and buying mindset) and find a way to reach them
3. Relationships – Build and leverage relationships founded on trust and integrity to facilitate opportunities

Depending on the specific position and role, your job will involve some or all of the following:

• Collate the estimates of existing regional market potential for rooftop/captive solar projects
• Prepare sales/revenue forecast and implement strategies to achieve sales, revenue, profit, and market-share objectives of the company and deliver on annual and quarterly sales/revenue/profit plans.
• Analyse sales and industry data, market trends, and impact of changes in external and review sales plan as necessary.
• Manage the sales process for tenders and direct sales analyse margins or reasons for lost orders.
• Create a roadmap for new product business development, initiate actions for generating sales.
• Provide/ organize sales support, monitor status, and ensure achievement on a sustained basis.
• Ensure prompt follow -up with customers for orders, commercial terms, payments, approvals, problem resolution, etc.
• Work with partners, vendors, company’s engineers and program managers to ensure customer’s needs are met.
• Collate the estimates of existing regional market potential for rooftop/captive solar projects
• Prepare sales/revenue forecast and implement strategies to achieve sales, revenue, profit, and market-share objectives of the company and deliver on annual and quarterly sales/revenue/profit plans.
• Analyse sales and industry data, market trends, and impact of changes in external and review sales plan as necessary.
• Manage the sales process for tenders and direct sales analyse margins or reasons for lost orders.
• Create a roadmap for new product business development, initiate actions for generating sales.
• Provide/ organize sales support, monitor status, and ensure achievement on a sustained basis.
• Ensure prompt follow -up with customers for orders, commercial terms, payments, approvals, problem resolution, etc.
• Work with partners, vendors, company’s engineers and program managers to ensure customer’s needs are met.

Typical Qualifications Expected

Educational qualification and experience needed for the solar installation engineer job depends on each company’s requirements. Many companies prefer Engineering plus MBA candidates.

Companies prefer candidates with some minimum experience, in handling solar PV power projects

Skills Expected

• Networking and relationship management with clients
• Negotiation skills
• Good communication skills
• General Solar PV technology and market knowledge

Other Requirements & Expectations

• Should be willing to travel
• Self-motivated, fast paced
• Ability to work in a demanding environment