Sales Manager: Africa

SUMMARY:
Role is within the agricultural industry. The Sales Manager: East and West Africa is accountable for delivering profitable, sustainable growth across the African markets. Extensive travelling into Africa.

POSITION INFO:
Key responsibilities Develop and execute the Africa sales and market-development strategy in line with the overall growth objectives, with clear priorities by country, segment, channel and customer. Personally own the identification and opening of new African markets. Assess market attractiveness, customer potential, competitive dynamics, route-to-market options, regulatory or operational barriers, and the commercial case for entry. Act as a senior business developer in the field and personally pursue high-value prospects, strategic accounts and new-market opportunities. Take overall accountability for achievement of regional sales, gross profit and customer-growth targets, ensuring that individual team plans support the regional plan. Build senior relationships with strategic and key customers and establish the company as a long-term partner and advisor. Develop account plans that protect existing business, identify cross-sell and growth opportunities and increase share of customer spend. Prepare and manage the regional sales plan, budgets, forecasts and activity priorities, with accountability for delivery against agreed targets and expense budgets. Monitor sales performance, gross profit, pipeline conversion, customer retention and new-business contribution and take corrective action where required. Continuously improve sales processes and regional ways of working to increase speed, accountability and customer responsiveness. This is an Africa-based field leadership role with extensive travel as an essential and non-negotiable requirement. The incumbent must be willing and able to spend a minimum of two weeks out of every month away from home, travelling and working within the assigned African territory; travel may exceed this level when business priorities require it. Education, Experience & Skills Relevant Bachelor's degree. An Honours degree is advantageous; a BSc in Animal Science or a related technical\/commercial field is desirable. Demonstrated success in developing business across multiple African markets, territories or countries. Proven track record of personally winning new customers and opening new markets, not only managing an established sales team or inherited customer base. Excellent working knowledge of Microsoft Office and CRM systems; valid passport and ability to travel extensively are essential.