Sales Manager: Africa

• 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.