Senior Manager: Sales and Marketing

MAIN JOB FUNCTION

The incumbent is responsible for the promotion and maintenance of sound relationships with both licensors and customers, for developing strategies respective to securing company growth and profitability whilst ensuring that the company marketing activities ensure a profile of the highest level of recognition.

Key responsibilities

• Fulfil the functional and Senior managerial role.
• Establishment of new core business at OE customers including that of relationship enhancement.
• Develop Marketing Strategies respective to individual customers.
• Sales and production projections supporting group forecasting.
• Liaison and development programs with licensors and development of business proposals under cover of technical and commercial agreements.
• Lead business meetings, development & functional operations, of the sales and marketing division.

Customer Satisfaction:

• Maintain sound relationships with OE, OES, and internal customers.
• Position Smiths Manufacturing as a supplier of choice and a credible business partner.
• To react upon the results of Customer Surveys (OE).
• Liaise between customers, licensors, and Internal Divisions.
• Lead business meeting discussions with the aim of directing desired outcomes.

Current Business Contracts:

• Promote the maintenance of current business contracts.
• Manage OEM supply agreements.
• Control over business strategies including non-delivery and exist strategies.
• Negotiate the respective contracts pertaining to OE related business.
• Interface with Overseas business partners including suppliers and licensors.
• Management and steering of projects in line with customer expectations.

Monitoring and Reporting on Market Trends:

• Undertake relevant activities to understand and manage technical and commercial changes whose action may create risk within the business.
• Customer staffing, industrial action issues and customer specific requirements.
• Identify competitor changes and developments.
• Identify OEM market share changes.
• Confirm volume reporting data accuracy.
• Develop budgeting and forecast models for respective client bases.

Develop strategies to obtain new Core Business thereby maximizing Smiths Marketing Share:

• Protection of Company liability through decisions on marginal business and compromised profitability expectations.
• Identify and disclose potential new market opportunities.
• Plant visits – Showcase Smiths capabilities and market capabilities.
• Development of business proposals and technical reporting support.
• IRR and costing guidance and preparation in conjunction with Finance.

Functional operation of the sales and marketing division:

• Set company budgeting and forecast projections.
• Pricing and exchange rate programs in conjunction with Finance
• Departmental efficiency and CRM programs.
• Ensure that company profitability requirements are met.

Executive Reporting:

• Ensure that sales statistics & customer effects are reported comprehensively.
• Monthly Executive Reporting
• Quarterly report preparation

MINIMUM QUALIFICATION AND EXPERIENCE

• Relevant Engineering Degree with commercial acumen.
• MBA will be an added advantage.
• 10 years’ experience within the business/technical/sales environment aligned to the automotive component industry in South Africa.

PERSONAL SKILLS

• Strategic Thinker
• Familiar with performing in a demanding environment
• Self-managed with an ability to make decisions
• Good commercial understanding and negotiation skills
• Ability to influence and pull cross-functional teams together
• Resilient

Good project management and planning skills