Sales Manager at Komaza Kenya

Job description

About The Team

In the Komaza Sales team we are responsible for taking the product to market and getting the best returns for our farmers’ hard work. We build long-term sustainable business relationships with different segments of customers, and go the extra mile to best meet their needs. As a team we also look at global and national trends and make sure we can anticipate future demand to be on top of the latest developments in the industry. Market research is done on a continuous basis to see where new opportunities may arise - be it in value-addition, processing, export or product diversification.

About This Role

The Sales Manager for Wood Products will build and lead Komaza’s Sales team to rapidly scale untreated and treated wood product sales in 2018, with further exponential sales growth forecasted in the years to come. As a Sales Manager, you will ensure smooth operations of the Sales department. You will explore and implement new sales channels as well as closely coordinate and manage the initiatives of a highly motivated and proactive Sales team. Additionally, you will personally manage key strategic accounts and close key deals to build Komaza’s reputation as a supplier of high-quality wood products in Kenya. Key for this position is that you are not afraid of taking risks, but at the same time know when to decide to change direction. The Sales Manager will spend significant time in the field, but also act as a thought partner for the Komaza management and Market Development team in order to design, build, pilot and continuously improve our offerings, systems and tools to support Komaza’s fast growth.

What You Will Do

• Coordinate Komaza’s Sales team’s initiatives by defining sales target, distilling targets into work plans, managing implementation of work plans, and monitoring & reporting progress
• Pursue key strategic accounts by identifying and cultivating relationships primarily along the Kenyan coast but potentially across the country
• Support Sales team with negotiations on prices and sales terms while balancing short-term targets and long-term profitability
• Oversee stockyard inventory management and direct sales
• Utilize sales pipeline CRM to monitor and evaluate leads conversion rates
• Conduct primary market research including interviewing B2C and B2B customers to support the design, testing and implementation of scalable sales & marketing systems

What You Have

• 2+ years of direct sales experience, preferably in Kenya and ideally in wood products (or comparable experience)
• Experience in successfully managing a Sales team of medium size
• Experience in developing and executing marketing and sales strategies, preferably of new products
• Strong organisational, critical thinking, and communications skills
• Fluent Kiswahili and English for relationship-building and business transactions

How You Work

• Communicate clearly and proactively
• Implement plans hands-on with a preference for first-hand experience
• Make connections with a wide range of people using a strong sense for relationship building
• Manage projects in a structured way using plans, budgets, and tools
• Leverage MS Office, GSuite, Asana, and CRM pipeline tools to optimize productivity

You’re Also

• Positive, flexible and adaptable with the ability to make changes in the Sales department as the commercial strategy develops
• Quick to grasp things, see relationships, and deduct insights from challenges and opportunities faced in the field
• Master of self-management; able to run with instructions independently while being trusted to deliver
• Self-directed and intellectually curious; you know how and when to seek feedback in the pursuit of continuous improvement
• Growth-obsessed with a strong desire for personal development
• A collaborative problem solver who seeks the opinions of other teammates and departments in the development of creative and sustainable systems

What We Expect

You are a good fit for Komaza if you want to make a meaningful commitment to this role for a minimum of 2 years. This role is based at our headquarters in Kilifi, Kenya. The role offers competitive salary and benefits with potential for further career growth.