Head of New Business Development at McCormick & Company

• The Head of Business Development will spearhead McCormick’s growth strategy in Africa, identifying and securing new business opportunities with B2B clients in the food and beverage sector.
• This role requires a strategic leader with a proven track record in sales, market expansion, and relationship building in dynamic, high-growth environments.
• In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to align business development efforts with the company’s strategic EMEA objectives, delivering measurable revenue growth and market share expansion.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Market Analysis & Strategy Development: Conduct in-depth market research to identify trends, customer needs, and competitive landscapes in Africa. Develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy to achieve sales and share growth targets.
• Client Acquisition: Identify, target, and secure new customers within food and beverage manufacturers, through prospecting, leveraging existing network and strategic outreach.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key stakeholders, decision-makers, and industry influencers to drive customer retention and repeat business.
• Sales Leadership: Lead the negotiation of high-value contracts, ensuring alignment with company pricing, profitability and service standards.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D, Marketing and Insights, Supply Chain, Finance and Quality to develop custom flavor solutions that meet customer and market requirements.
• Market Expansion: Identify and evaluate new market segments, distribution channels and partnership opportunities to expand the McCormick’s footprint within Africa.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor and report on KPI’s, such as sales growth, customer hits rates, and market penetration. Provide and manage regular updates to senior leadership.
• Compliance & Cultural Sensitivity: Ensure all business activities adhere to local regulations, cultural norms, and the company’s high ethical standards.
• Team management: Manage New Business Development team including Snr. Account Manager and Commercial Administrator, driving high performance.

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

• Bachelor of Commerce, Food Science, or related field.
• Acceptable driving record including valid driver's license required.
• 10+ years selling key ingredients to the health & nutrition product manufacturers and other custom food and beverage manufacturers.
• South Africa business to business sales experience preferred.
• Experienced using Salesforce or other similar CRM software.
• Integrated Business Planning (IBP) experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of technical aspects of products, i.e. nomenclature, applicability within customer's manufacturing process, substitution choices, new discoveries, etc.
• Developed and demonstrable critical thinking skills and business acumen.
• Highly developed written and verbal communications skills that are clear, concise, and appropriate in timing and directed to appropriate levels.
• Proven project management skills in a sales cycle from six weeks to eighteen months.
• Manage limited internal resources and prioritize appropriately.
• Ability to be innovative and take risks to drive new initiatives and new business.
• Travel is required for customer and business meetings within Africa.
• Highly motivated, self-starters who are forward thinking problem solvers with excellent contacts and strong work ethic.
• Working knowledge of technical aspects of products, i.e. nomenclature, applicability within customer's manufacturing process, substitution choices, new discoveries, etc.
• Developed and demonstrable critical thinking skills and business acumen.
• Highly developed written and verbal communications skills that are clear, concise, and appropriate in timing and directed to appropriate levels.
• Proven project management skills in a sales cycle from six weeks to eighteen months
• Manage limited internal resources and prioritize appropriately.
• Ability to be innovative and take risks to drive new initiatives and new business.