Sales Manager – Africa at Boardroom Appointments

Position Overview:

• An exciting opportunity exists for an experienced Sales Manager – Africa to lead and expand sales of specialised rubber products, with a strong focus on mill liners, across South Africa and the African continent. The successful candidate will be responsible for driving strategic sales growth, managing key customer relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and developing commercial strategies within the mining sector. This role requires a technically competent sales leader who understands mineral processing operations, mill liner applications, and the commercial dynamics of servicing mining customers across multiple African regions. Working closely with engineering, operations, technical support, and executive management, the Sales Manager will play a key role in expanding market share while delivering sustainable and profitable business growth. 

Key Responsibilities: Strategic Sales & Business Development

• Develop and implement the Africa sales strategy for rubber products and mill liner solutions.
• Drive sustainable sales growth across existing and new mining customers.
• Identify new business opportunities throughout Africa.
• Develop annual sales budgets, forecasts, and strategic business plans.
• Increase market share within target mining sectors.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities, and emerging opportunities.

Key Account Management

• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with mining houses, EPCM contractors, OEMs, and distributors.
• Conduct regular customer visits and business reviews.
• Understand customer operational requirements and propose value-added technical solutions.
• Negotiate commercial agreements, pricing, and supply contracts.
• Ensure high levels of customer satisfaction and after-sales support.

Technical Sales

• Promote specialised rubber products and mill liner solutions.
• Provide technical guidance to customers regarding product selection and application.
• Collaborate with engineering and technical teams to develop customised solutions.
• Support product trials, installations, and performance evaluations.
• Assist customers in improving equipment reliability and operational performance.

Commercial Management

• Achieve sales, revenue, and profitability targets.
• Prepare quotations, tenders, and commercial proposals.
• Monitor project pipelines and conversion rates.
• Manage sales budgets and commercial reporting.
• Ensure pricing strategies remain competitive while protecting profitability.

Leadership

• Lead and mentor the sales team where applicable.
• Foster a high-performance sales culture.
• Work collaboratively with internal departments including Operations, Engineering, Finance, Supply Chain, and Customer Service.
• Support succession planning and talent development.

Regional Travel

• Travel extensively in African countries.
• Build relationships with regional customers and distributors.
• Represent the business at mining conferences, exhibitions, and industry events.

Minimum RequirementsQualifications

• Technical tertiary qualification in one of the following disciplines:
• Mechanical Engineering
• Metallurgical Engineering
• Chemical Engineering
• Mining Engineering
• or a related technical qualification.
• A commercial or business management qualification will be advantageous.

Experience

• Minimum 10 years' experience within the mining industry.
• Minimum 3 years' experience in a sales management or leadership role.
• Proven experience selling rubber products and mill liners to the mining industry is essential.
• Demonstrated experience working with customers across African mining markets.
• Experience negotiating high-value commercial agreements and contracts.