National Sales Manager

• Create and implement effective direct sales strategies and lead nationwide direct sales personnel (sales team) toward achievement of corporate sales objectives.
• Develop short term, medium -term and longer-term Sales strategic plans along with the Key Account and Marketing Team.
• Supervise the execution of the plan and monitor progress in terms of sales and profitability.
• Develop competencies and processes needed to create an effective and efficient sales organisation.
• Supply leadership through effective communication of vision, active coaching, and development whilst matching sales results to goals and taking appropriate action to address this when necessary.
• Lead the sales force, undertake budget control, initiate, and embed compensation programs and incentive planning.
• Ensure effective hiring, orientation, training, development, and retention of sales team.
• Act as an Ambassador to engage with customers and promote the product offering and value proposition.
• Organise exhibitions and opportunities to showcase the basket of products.
• Develop business relationships with customers with the geographical areas using knowledge of the area and trends in the market.
• Arrange meetings with potential customers and market the products and network with various stakeholders.
• Keep up to date with trends and activities in the sector, being aware of competitor activities to remain ahead of the curve.
• Ensure that sales teams receive adequate training and induction to perform their roles.
• Act as the point of escalation for queries and issues that arise, especially those that have not been resolved at local area level

• Exploit changing marketing opportunities and respond to competitive activity and tactics by recommending changes and modifying plan.
• Prepare volume forecasts for financial year budget with the Sales and Marketing Team.
• Review and analyse market pricing and trends and recommend pricing and deal strategies for products.

• Monitor profitability achievements versus budget.
• Prepare departmental spend activities and proposals and implement once approved, control and manage departmental budget, spend funds effectively and efficiently, and reconcile monthly versus budget.
• Plan and administer the organisations Sales Operations budget with the Marketing Team.
• Support the development of regional Sales budgets
• Liaise with other departmental management to confirm budget forecast for presentation to the board.
• Ensure monthly and annual budgets are adhered to.
• Manage product ranges by analysing sales performance and motivate range extensions, rationalization, or improvements to the range with the Sales and Marketing Teams.
• Analyse costing and assess viability for NPD projects
• Prepare and monitor monthly forecasts with the Marketing and Sales Team.
• Monitor margin/pricing mandates by line item monthly
• Ensure that the Sales Team execute on the below activities and evaluate their results.
• Negotiate from time-to-time Agency commission structures.
• Liaise closely with agencies to ensure they have a clear understanding of objectives
• Identify areas where research will aid in the achievement of Sales objectives
• Mentor and motivate the Sales Team to align on the overall business goals.

• Support sales agents with organisational skills, account strategies, planning and administrative responsibilities to ensure that a high level of customer satisfaction is maintained.
• Manage performance and productivity of sales agents.

• Ongoing good communication and liaison with all Sales Managers, agents, and teams to ensure that the sales and key account support initiatives are being implemented
• Quarterly cycle brief meetings with all regional sales teams to present upcoming activities, review sales results, present new launches, drives, incentives, focus areas needed from Sales Team
• Quarterly Sales and Marketing meetings, discuss strategy, marketing plans, key account feedback & support ideas, review performance, feedback session both ways
• Meet with different local factories at least on quarterly basis

• Ensuring that subordinates have performance agreements (KPA's) and that are held accountable.
• Ensuring that performance management measures are implemented and that a culture of accountability and high performance is driven and achieved.

• University degree in a business-related field, preferably Sales or Marketing or Commerce
• At least 8 years' management experience in a similar portfolio
• Commercial acumen to enable quick interpretation of possible opportunities
• Experience of working in the FMCG / Packaging / Manufacturing sector
• Excellent sales and marketing skills

• Good people management and team engagement skills
• Outstanding organization and time-management skills
• Strong commitment to delivering a high level of customer service
• Reliable, self-motivated, and able to work independently as well as part of a team
• Able to work under pressure and meet deadlines.

• P & L formulations and analysis
• Computer literate - Microsoft Office (intermediate)
• Specifically, very sound on Excel and Computations
• Organizational skills (ability to plan, delegate and organize within defined timelines).
• Negotiation skills
• Strong inter-personal skills
• Good verbal and written communication skills
• Decision making and sound judgement
• Presentation skills and ability to engage executives professionally

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