Lead Business Development Manager BESS (d/f/m)

Job Title

Lead Business Development Manager BESS – Central Europe

Position Summary

The Lead Business Development Manager BESS represents the highest individual contributor level within the BESS commercial organisation. The role is responsible for originating, developing, negotiating, and securing strategic Battery Energy Storage System opportunities while driving market creation, business expansion, and strategic partnership development across the assigned region.

Operating as a recognised commercial expert, the role combines direct commercial ownership with significant influence on regional market development, commercial priorities, and organisational growth. Lead Business Development Managers are expected to shape commercial direction, support capability building, mentor colleagues, and serve as senior representatives of the BESS business while remaining individual contributors without formal people leadership responsibility.

Reporting Line

Reports to Vice President Europe or Regional Sales Director BESS

Major Responsibilities

Strategic Business Development

• Develop and execute regional business development strategies aligned with European BESS growth objectives.
• Identify, originate, and secure strategically significant BESS opportunities across utility-scale and C&I markets.
• Build executive-level relationships with developers, utilities, IPPs, investors, EPCs, consultants, and other key market participants.
• Support market entry initiatives and expansion into priority customer segments and geographies.
• Partner with PV commercial leadership to maximize BESS opportunities across existing customer channels.
• Support and enable PV commercial teams in identifying, qualifying, and converting BESS opportunities.

Opportunity & Sales Management

• Lead and manage the complete commercial lifecycle of strategic BESS opportunities.
• Develop commercial acquisition strategies for high-value projects.
• Coordinate internal technical, commercial, legal, and finance stakeholders.
• Lead commercial negotiations and support execution of strategically important agreements.
• Maintain oversight of opportunity pipelines, forecasts, and strategic project development.
• Drive commercial execution and regional growth objectives.

Strategic Market Development

• Influence regional go-to-market strategies through market expertise, customer insight, and commercial recommendations.
• Identify emerging business models, regulatory developments, and strategic partnership opportunities.
• Provide expert market insights and commercial recommendations to regional leadership and Headquarters.

Commercial Leadership & Capability Development

• Support the onboarding, mentoring, and development of commercial colleagues.
• Share market intelligence, best practices, and commercial expertise across the BESS organisation.
• Support organisational capability development by contributing to recruitment, capability building, and continuous improvement of commercial practices.
• Act as a senior commercial advisor for complex opportunities and strategic customer engagements.

Market Representation

• Represent the company at executive-level customer meetings, industry events, conferences, and strategic market engagements.
• Act as a senior ambassador for the BESS business within the assigned region.

Performance Indicators

• Revenue and margin achievement vs. target
• Pipeline generation, quality, and conversion rate
• Number and value of contracts signed
• Forecast accuracy and CRM discipline
• New customer acquisition and strategic partnership development
• Development and conversion of BESS opportunities generated through existing PV sales channels and customer relationships
• Contribution to regional market expansion
• Development of strategic partnerships and market ecosystems
• Contribution to commercial capability building and organisational growth

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Management, International Business, Electrical Engineering, Renewable Energy, or a related field.
• Typically 10-15+ years of relevant business development, commercial, or sales experience within the renewable energy sector.
• Proven success in developing utility-scale BESS or renewable energy opportunities.
• Strong understanding of European energy markets, BESS technologies, market structures, and project development.
• Demonstrated ability to influence senior stakeholders and develop strategic partnerships.
• Fluent in English (C1); additional European languages are an advantage.
• Exceptional strategic commercial mindset
• Strong market creation and partnership development capability
• Executive-level communication and influencing skills
• Advanced commercial negotiation capability
• Strong stakeholder management and relationship-building expertise
• Ability to influence without formal authority
• Strong market analysis and commercial strategy capability
• Ability to mentor and support broader organisational development

Travel Requirement

About JA

JA Solar was founded in 2005 and is a leading global manufacturer of high-performance photovoltaic products. With 14 production sites, more than 20 subsidiaries and over 37,000 employees worldwide, JA Solar is one of the world's largest solar module manufacturers. The company's business includes module, wafer and cell production as well as the construction of solar power plants.

JA is listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange in China and has been included in the Fortune China 500 and Global Top 500 New Energy Enterprises for several consecutive years.

JA is an equal opportunity employer and we encourage applications from all qualified individuals.

By submitting your application, you declare that your application data will be saved at JA Solar GmbH, and only for internal purposes in the context of the upcoming application process. If there is no employment, the data will be deleted after six months. The application data are treated confidentially in accordance with the provisions of the Federal Data Protection Act and are not passed on to third parties. You can revoke your consent at any time, either by email or in writing by mail to the company address.