Key Account Manager at McCormick & Company

The purpose of the role is to support McCormick globally to maintain existing business and recognise and develop new business in Africa, including South Africa with both existing and new customers. The successful applicant will develop and manage a strong customer intimacy programme delivering sales and innovation delivery plans that profitably achieve volume sales and profit growth in line with the division and company objectives and strategies.
The role will be based within the McCormick South Africa office, but frequent travel within the region will be required.

 MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Design, align and implement rest of Africa strategy, country and account plans for the region based on growth forecasts, market opportunities, customer development potential and fit with overall business strategy to achieve overall delivery of sales and profit targets.
• Build and maintain customer networks and customer supplier networks ensuring effective relationships at operational level
• Visit customers within region on a regular basis to build relationships, generate growth and yield McCormick ROI
• Establish effective internal relationships and processes with Supply Chain, Manufacturing and Technical Departments in a variety of locations in order to maintain superior customer service levels
• Manage the successful introduction of new products into the supply chain, within McCormick processes and functions including the set-up of SAP and associated systems to process new customer orders
• Forecasting and ownership of Demand Accuracy
• Provide prices to customer as and when necessary, executing CPI where appropriate
• Design, maintain and provide customer with regular reports / updates
• Support the CCI team to achieve maximum savings
• Customer pricing negotiation, profit, margin, volume-value growth deliver accountability – dependent on customer base but with exposure to and support of high profile customers to build capabilities

CANDIDATE PROFILE

• A graduate in a Business or Food Science or related discipline
• Demonstrable Business development and commercial experience preferably within the Food Industry with relevant customer facing experience is essential – retail or B2B experience though with significant local and/or global customers
• Technical food experience would be useful but not essential, though motivation and ability to progress in a competitive commercial environment is critical
• An understanding of complex supply chain or manufacturing operation
• Understanding and sensitivity of different cultures is essential
• Understanding of the Sub-Sahara Africa region and market
• Excellent written and oral communication
• Good organisational skills
• Tenacious and enthusiastic
• Ability to work cross functionally and influence people who are not direct reports
• Proactive Self-starter
• Fluent English essential, other languages useful