Sales Manager - Sub Saharan at BillerudKorsnäs

Job Description

BillerudKorsnäs is looking to employ a Sales Manager who will play a significant role in driving the company’s sales and revenues in Eastern and Southern Africa mainly in the packaging paper business segment targeting BillerudKorsnäs customers in Food Processing and Industry. He/she will be responsible for managing existing client markets as well as for acquiring new customers and developing new market value chains.

The position will be based in Nairobi with frequent travel in Eastern and Southern Africa and the person will report to the Sales Director based in Sweden.

Key duties and responsibilities

• Maximise revenue and margin generation by turning business offers into sales
• Answer for and fulfil the sales plan for customers according to strategy and business plan
• Responsible for the establishment of commercial agreements with customers according to the company’s policy
• Responsible for identifying and developing the customer base within the identified sales area
• Initiate, maintain and develop existing and new customer, agents and partner relations
• Identify prospects and develop new business opportunities
• Plan and execute activities to meet targets for volume, margin and customer satisfaction
• Monitor and provide market intelligence on market trends and competitor activities
• Providing prompt and regular communication of activities (visit reports, project status updates etc.)
• Adhere and support company processes with appropriate document/form submissions (expenses, trial orders, complaints, etc.)
• Participate in trade fairs and exhibitions as part of business development efforts
• Other duties depending on workload, experience and conditions: Key account responsibility, mentorship to junior colleagues, driving marketing and sales development projects

Preferred Qualifications and Experience

• Bachelor’s degree; engineering, business discipline or other relevant equivalent
• At least 7 years hands-on experience in technical sales
• Solid and relevant experience in global and/or regional B2B sales
• Experience in the sugar industry or flour milling industry is preferred
• Proven leadership skills
• Ability to learn and retain product specific information
• Aged 35 years and above

Knowledge and Expertise

• Excellent understanding of the value chain for dry food packaging and paper sacks for industry including those of producers and converters, including knowledge of customers’ needs and requirements
• Good knowledge of the overall speciality paper industry in Sub-Saharan Africa and the competitor landscape of the targeted sectors
• Good key account management skills: ability to respond to customers queries and concerns in a timely fashion and maintain good relationships
• Good working knowledge of the business cultures in the various Eastern and Southern African countries
• Good network of contacts in the company’s targeted market segments and ability to use these for back selling
• Hardworking, driven, energetic and able to work independently
• Demonstrated problem solving skills
• Ability to manage timelines and resources within company budgets and policies
• Computer literate with good working knowledge of all Microsoft Office Applications
• Fluency in English and Kiswahili is essential

Other

• Driving license
• Ability to travel frequently and on short notice

What the position offers

• Compensation: remuneration will be market based with additional bonuses based on company and individual performance
• Training and mentoring opportunities in a value driven work environment