Area Sales Manager at MECS (Pty) Ltd

Area Sales Manager, Crop Protection and Seed. 3 positions.

Limpopo, Mpumulanga and Eastern Cape

A client has 3 positions available for Agricultural Sales Managers. They are for the following regions: Southern Limpopo, Mpumulanga and Eastern Cape. There are 3 positions available - one for each region. Commercial sales experience in agriculture (crop protection and seed) is ESSENTIAL for this role.

Responsibilities:

• Drive business growth for crop protection products, and create demand for corn/maize seed products and Digital Farming offering.
• Enable the Commercial Sales Strategy:
• To actively shape the area strategy from a sales and customer point of view with the territory sales manager and other relevant functions.
• To define and implement a differentiating area sales strategy fully consistent with country / marketing / customer strategy.
• To optimize use of commercial policies (Market funding) and channel partner/ agent programs.
• To build relationships and shape his or her channel partners, exceeding the relevant benchmarks in customer satisfaction.
• To develop capabilities of his or her channel partners according to requirements of future Go to Market strategy, benchmarks, customer satisfaction expectations.
• To develop and implement an ambitious and consistent sales plan in line with country objectives as well as legal and compliance rules and obligations.
• To ensure delivery of forecasted results according to sales plan utilizing superior operative sales planning, forecasting, and monitoring (incl. price and product flow) mechanisms and KPIs, and taking timely and matching corrective actions in case of deviations from plan.
• To closely follow up, actively share with corresponding functions, esp. marketing, and dynamically respond to opportunities, issues, market changes incl. competitor moves, adjusting tactics as required.
• Ensure implementation of corporate guidelines and compliance policies 

Experience & Qualifications

• Degree in Agriculture and/or Business Administration or equivalent years of experience.

Skills & Knowledge

• Solid agricultural knowledge and understanding of local market environment.
• Track record in leadership positions and seed sales.
• Previous operational experience in customer facing positions.
• Ability to collaborate/communicate with and develop internal and external partnerships.
• Ability to work well across both commercial and smallholder farmer markets.
• Good Microsoft Skills (Excel / Powerpoint / Word) a prerequisite.
• Highly motivated, creative, dynamic and well organized.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.