How to apply for Commercial Manager- Mozambique

About PULA

Pula is an insuretech and data services firm that designs and executes agriculture insurance, specializing in index-based products. Since 2015 it has provided climate insurance to 22 million smallholder farmers across 19 markets in Africa and Asia, and has unlocked over $2.22 billion of capital from insurance markets. It is backed by top-tier VC investors who have invested more than $25 million.

About the role

The commercial manager for Mozambique is not a typical sales role. You will be responsible for building and managing commercial relationships and insurance partnerships in Mozambique. The role is remote and full-time, and it directly supports Pula's work insuring smallholder farmers against climate risk.

A typical day

A typical day might involve calls with insurers, agricultural partners, or Pula's team across different time zones. You would work on commercial proposals, track partnership performance, and report on results. Since the role is remote and the team is multicultural, you would need to manage your own schedule and communicate clearly in writing and on calls.

Who PULA is looking for

• Experience in commercial or business development roles in insurance, agriculture, or financial services in Mozambique or similar African markets.
• Understanding of index-based insurance or agricultural insurance products.
• Ability to work remotely and manage relationships with insurers, partners, and clients across Mozambique.
• Fluency in Portuguese and English, and familiarity with the Mozambican agricultural sector.

Tips for this application

• Highlight any experience you have with index-based insurance or agricultural insurance in Mozambique or similar markets.
• Quantify your commercial results: deals closed, revenue generated, partnerships signed, or clients managed.
• Show that you understand Pula's model: smallholder farmers pay an average of $6.8 per season, and Pula has paid out $40.8 million to farmers since 2015.
• Explain how you would build commercial relationships in Mozambique's insurance and agriculture sectors, since the role is remote.
• Demonstrate alignment with Pula's culture: obsession with results, ability to connect the dots, can-do attitude, and having each other's back.

What to cover in your cover letter

Emphasize your commercial experience in Mozambique or similar markets. Explain why you want to work on climate insurance for smallholder farmers. Show that you can work remotely and deliver results. Mention any experience with insurance partnerships or agricultural value chains.

Research before applying

• Read Pula's website and any public reports about their work in Mozambique and other markets.
• Research index-based insurance and how it works for smallholder farmers.
• Find out who the main insurers and agricultural partners are in Mozambique.
• Look up Pula's investors and funding history to understand their growth stage.

Likely interview topics

Based on the job description, expect questions about:

• How would you build commercial partnerships with insurers and agricultural organizations in Mozambique?
• Describe your experience with index-based insurance or agricultural insurance products.
• How do you manage remote work and stay accountable for commercial targets?
• Give an example of a commercial deal you closed in Mozambique or a similar market.
• Why do you want to work at Pula, and how do you fit its culture of results and feedback?

Common mistakes to avoid

• Treating this as a generic sales role and not showing understanding of insurance or agriculture.
• Ignoring the Mozambique context and not mentioning local market knowledge or language skills.
• Failing to show how you work remotely and deliver results without close supervision.