How to apply for Commercial Manager- Angola

About PULA

Pula is an insuretech and data services firm that designs and executes index-based agriculture insurance. It has reached 22 million smallholder farmers across 19 markets in Africa and Asia, with 41% women, and has unlocked $2.22 billion in capital from local and international insurance markets. The company is backed by top-tier VC investors with more than $25 million invested.

About the role

The commercial manager for Angola is not a typical sales role. You will build and manage relationships with insurers, banks, agribusinesses, and other partners to expand Pula's climate insurance into Angola. You will design and execute commercial deals that bring index-based insurance to smallholder farmers and help the company meet its growth targets in the region.

A typical day

A typical day might involve calls with potential insurance or bank partners in Angola, internal meetings with Pula's product or data teams, and preparing proposals or contracts. You would also track progress against targets and adjust your approach based on feedback from partners and the team. Since the role is remote, you would manage your own schedule and communicate frequently with colleagues across different countries.

Who PULA is looking for

• Experience in commercial or business development roles in Angola or similar African markets, ideally in insurance, agriculture, or financial services.
• Proven ability to negotiate and close deals with insurers, banks, or agribusinesses, and to manage long-term partner relationships.
• Understanding of index-based insurance or willingness to learn quickly about climate risk and smallholder farming.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English, with strong communication skills for a multicultural, remote team.

Tips for this application

• Show concrete examples of deals you have closed in Angola or comparable markets, including the partner type, deal size, and outcome.
• Explain how you would approach Angola's insurance and agriculture sectors, naming specific potential partners or regulatory considerations if you know them.
• Mention any experience with smallholder farmers or climate risk, even if not in insurance, to show you understand the customer.
• Use your cover letter to describe how you work remotely and across cultures, since Pula is a fast-paced, multi-cultural team with a remote role.
• Avoid generic sales language. Pula wants results and professionalism, so focus on measurable achievements and how you connect different customer needs to solutions.

What to cover in your cover letter

['Your track record of building commercial partnerships in Angola or similar markets, with specific results.', 'How you would identify and convert partners like insurers, banks, and agribusinesses to distribute index-based insurance.', 'Your understanding of the smallholder farmer customer and why climate insurance matters for them.', 'Your ability to work independently in a remote, fast-paced environment and collaborate with a multi-cultural team.']

Research before applying

• Pula's business model: how it designs index-based insurance, who pays, and how it reaches farmers.
• Pula's existing markets and any presence in Angola or nearby countries, to understand the starting point.
• Angola's agriculture sector, smallholder farming, and insurance regulation to speak knowledgeably about the market.
• Pula's investors and funding history to understand the company's stage and growth expectations.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How you would build a commercial pipeline for Pula in Angola from scratch, including target partners and first steps.
• A time you negotiated a complex deal with an insurer, bank, or agribusiness and how you handled objections.
• Your understanding of index-based insurance and how it differs from traditional insurance.
• How you would work with Pula's team across different countries and time zones to close deals.
• How you measure success in a commercial role and examples of results you have delivered.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating this as a standard sales job and focusing only on closing deals, without showing interest in climate resilience or smallholder farmers.
• Failing to research Angola's market or Pula's model, and giving generic answers about expanding into new regions.
• Not providing specific examples of commercial results, which Pula expects given its focus on performance and results.