Area Sales Manager – Corporate

The role will be based in Gauteng and report to the Regional Sales Manager
The successful incumbent will need Corporate Retail Trade exposure and experience in Managing People/ Teams.

Minimum Requirements

• Degree in management, business administration and/or marketing
• Valid Code EB drivers license
• 3 to 5 years’ experience in a marketing and sales function that includes coordinating sales teams and managing complex and/or significant customer relationships
• FMCG experience is essential

Duties & Responsibilities

Sales Management

• Develop and execute the area sales strategy as aligned to the regional strategy.
• Generate leads regarding prospective contract opportunities and, together with the Regional sales Manager, drive deal closure.
• Drive the area contribution to strategic and operational target achievement.
• Contribute to accurate area sales (volume and product) forecasting and ensure alignment to and input into the regional and national planning processes.
• Track area competitor activity and performance.
• Develop, implement and manage area marketing objectives.
• Drive horizontal and vertical growth opportunities.
• Constantly analyze statistics regarding the number of sales made in a given time period, the resulting profits, and the need for new clients and products.
• Coordinate sales team promotional activities across the area.

Customer Relationship Management

• Maintain and expand the customer base by building and maintaining good relationships with key customers and recognising new customer opportunities.
• Understand key customers’ operations and strategies as well as their requirements and trends.
• Gather area market intelligence on national accounts and key regional accounts.
• Manage and coordinate area resources in line with customer plans in order to achieve strategic objectives (call planners etc).
• Ensure the customer service policy is rigidly implemented and maintained.
• Resolve escalated customer queries and issues professionally and in the best interest of all parties.

Supply Chain and Distribution Management

• Address area stock availability issues with depots.
• Oversee the area order taking process.

Budget Management

• Drive the achievement of the area sales budgets in terms of volume.
• Control area sales costs.

Area Team Management

• Ensure the sales team creates demand pull.
• Plan and schedule team training and monitor impact on performance.
• Organize and direct the area team towards the achievement of its targets and together with the team, identify sales goals, create and implement strategies, and evaluate performance.
• Accomplish area sales goals by orienting, instructing, assigning, scheduling, counselling and disciplining staff.
• Address the job expectations of staff.
• Plan, supervise, evaluate job contributions and provide regular feedback.
• Manage staff leave and general time management issues in line with organizational deliverables and standards.
• Ensure the accurate recording and maintenance of all employee information.
• Manage delivery against talent management action plans.
• Clarify roles and responsibilities for subordinates.
• Complete skills and competency matrices for all subordinates.
• Formulate/update job profiles for all subordinate jobs.
• Coach and mentor subordinates and potential successors.
• Develop and drive the training strategy.
• Develop and drive progression and career paths for subordinate.

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