Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) at Cape Town International Convention Centre

Job description

The Chief Commercial Officer (CCO) is primarily responsible for designing, developing and approving the company’s commercial strategies and plans. As part of this work, the CCO takes the lead in preparation of sales plans, marketing, profit and loss estimations and budgets, using market demand, corporate goals, and historical figures to achieve this.

The CCO is usually informed about the financial condition of the organization, and their job is to make sure that all departments bring substantial profits, by making sure that the business provides products and services that meet the customers’ needs.

The position requires a devoted professional who would embrace the challenge of planning complex strategies to bring notable earnings, stimulate the business growth and increase in the market share, while maintaining good relationships between internal departments and external customers.

Reporting to: Chief Executive Officer

Subordinates:

• Head of Sales
• Head of Marketing
• Revenue Manager
• PA to the Chief Commercial Officer

The right CCO will bring the following benefits to the company:

• Building a strong brand. The CCO will help build the company’s brand and make it stronger to develop emotional connection with customers and drive demand.
• Increased sales. The CCO will help improve sales in various ways, by implementing strategies to boost the company’s revenue and meet customers’ needs.
• Improved decision-making process. The CCO will analyse data coming from several sources and cooperate with multiple teams, to help make smart business choices.
• Enhanced customer focus. The CCO will help better understand customers’ needs and ways to meet them. They will create a positive customer experience and make clients feel heard.

DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Develop and implement long-term commercial strategies which align with the organization’s mission and budget.
• Increasing brand and product awareness,
• Maintaining relationships with key stakeholders to accelerate business growth,
• Setting budgets and developing financial plans,
• Implementing corrective actions when sales go below budget,
• Product pricing and positioning.
• Interact with customers in order to provide them with the right offer.
• Be in constant contact with customers and closely cooperate with product development teams. This helps to design and market products with the most desirable features.
• Conduct cost-benefit analyses, evaluate customers’ requirements.
• Analyzing data: reviewing data and reports to understand the best way to help the company meet its objectives.
• Monitoring financials: present financial reports, specifically related to sales, to the other members of the Exco team.
• Managing employees: overseeing a team of employees.
• Overseeing procedures: provide guidance and input when teams or departments are designing new processes or procedures for conducting work.
• Assisting with employment decisions: give input in the hiring and termination decisions for their teams.
• Leading launches of new product or service.
• Assessing customer satisfaction: use customer feedback to help establish new practices for the sales and marketing departments.
• Analysis of activity within the company’s industry to develop the best and most effective business plans and establish realistic and meaningful KPIs.
• Provide financial and revenue support to the rest of the company’s team of executives.
• Researching and analyzing industry trends,
• developing effective business plans based on commercial opportunities,
• Managing sales teams to improve KPIs,
• Motivating and developing new talents within the organization,
• Manage the commercial and sales team while being heavily involved in the motivation, drive and development of new talent within the organisation.
• Implementing and maintain sales processes designed to achieve specific sales objectives.

Job requirements

QUALITIES AND SKILLS:

• Communication: ability to clearly present information to board, stakeholders, customers, executives and team members. Strong verbal and written communication skills.
• Decision-making: ability to make big picture decisions and knowing how to appropriately review data and come to the most appropriate and beneficial conclusions.
• Problem solving: solving problems and challenges in constructive and creative ways.
• Expert product knowledge: must have profound knowledge concerning products or services and know how to pass information to potential clients.
• Reflection and Innovation: lead the launch of new products and later assess the customer satisfaction in order to come up with new practices for the sales departments.

Qualifications and experience:

• 7 years practical managerial experience with a proven track record of operating effectively within a sales & marketing and customer service focused environment, which is strongly target driven.
• A relevant post graduate tertiary qualification (i.e., Hospitality Management, Event Management or similar) equivalent at the minimum of an NQF level 8.
• A minimum of 10 years recent and relevant work experience, of which at least 7 years is at a middle-to-senior management level with well-developed leadership and management skills, and exposure to relevant aspects of finance and accounting. This includes Conference / Hospitality experience as an Executive Manager.
• A broad knowledge and understanding of finance and budgeting as it relates to hospitality management including business development and marketing plans.
• Attention to detail, report writing, good presentation skills and an uncompromising attitude to meeting deadlines without sacrificing quality.
• Ability to multi-task, prioritize work appropriately, work under pressure and to work independently and accurately with minimal supervision.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills coupled with sound interpersonal skills.
• Proven computer literacy in the use of MS Office.
• Proven high level analytical and interpretive abilities.
• An ability to interact successfully with individuals across various levels, within and external to the organisation.
• A commitment to the provision of excellent client service in a cross-cultural environment.
• Possess a high level of honesty and integrity in all spheres.