Key Accounts Manager
Position summary
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Job description
Job Specification / Job Description
Job Title: Key Accounts Manager – Exports Africa
Department: Exports Africa
Reports To: Sales Manager / Exports Sales Executive
Travel Requirement: Regular travel across African markets
Job Purpose
The Key Accounts Manager – Exports Africa is responsible for developing, managing, and growing key customer, distributor, wholesale and retail relationships across African export markets.
The role focuses on achieving export sales targets, expanding the company's presence across Africa, identifying new business opportunities, developing distribution channels and maintaining strong relationships with customers and distributors.
The role requires regular travel into African countries to visit customers, distributors and potential business partners, conduct market visits and support business development activities.
Key Responsibilities
Export Account Management
- Manage and grow assigned customer and distributor accounts across Africa.
- Build strong relationships with distributors, retailers, wholesalers, importers and key decision-makers.
- Develop country and customer account plans aligned with export sales objectives.
- Conduct regular customer and distributor business reviews.
- Maintain close contact with customers through regular market visits and travel.
African Market Development
- Identify and develop new business opportunities across African markets.
- Identify potential distributors, retailers and strategic business partners.
- Expand product distribution and market penetration in existing and new territories.
- Conduct in-country market visits to understand customer requirements, pricing, competitors and consumer trends.
- Support the introduction of products into new African markets.
Sales & Revenue Growth
- Achieve monthly, quarterly and annual export sales targets.
- Increase sales volumes, profitability and market share.
- Drive new product listings, promotions and product launches.
- Monitor customer and country performance and implement corrective actions where required.
Customer & Distributor Negotiations
- Negotiate pricing, promotions, margins, trading terms and annual agreements.
- Ensure commercial agreements support company profitability and growth objectives.
- Manage contract renewals and compliance with agreed commercial terms.
Forecasting & Planning
- Prepare accurate sales forecasts and demand plans by customer and market.
- Collaborate with Supply Chain, Production and Finance to support product availability.
- Monitor stock requirements and proactively address potential supply issues.
- Plan customer orders taking export lead times into consideration.
Market & Competitor Analysis
- Analyse African market trends, competitor activity and customer requirements.
- Identify opportunities for growth within existing and new markets.
- Monitor competitor products, pricing, promotions and distribution.
- Provide market insights and recommendations to management.
Travel & Customer Visits
- Travel regularly across African countries as required by the business.
- Visit distributors, retailers, wholesalers and key customers in-market.
- Conduct market visits and identify growth opportunities.
- Attend customer meetings, trade events, exhibitions and relevant industry events where required.
- Maintain professional representation of the company when travelling internationally.
- Must be comfortable with frequent cross-border travel and being away from home when required.
Reporting
- Prepare regular export sales and account performance reports.
- Monitor sales, profitability, margins, forecasts and market performance.
- Present country, customer and business development updates to management.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Work closely with Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Customer Service and Production.
- Coordinate customer requirements and export-related initiatives.
- Support new product launches and customer-specific projects within African markets.
Minimum Requirements
Qualifications
- Diploma or Bachelor's Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, Commerce or a related field.
Experience
- 5 years' sales experience, preferably within FMCG, consumer goods, manufacturing or a related environment.
- Minimum 3 years' Key Account Management experience.
- Previous Africa export sales, distributor management or cross-border sales experience strongly preferred.
- Proven track record of achieving sales and profitability targets.
- Experience negotiating with distributors, wholesalers and/or major retail customers.
- Experience developing new markets or territories would be advantageous.
Travel Requirements
- Must be willing and able to travel frequently throughout Africa.
- Must hold a valid passport and be able to undertake international business travel.
- Valid driver's licence.
- Flexibility to travel at short notice when business requirements demand it.
Technical Skills
- Advanced Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook.
- Strong sales forecasting and financial analysis skills.
- Ability to analyse sales, customer and market data.
- Strong commercial and negotiation ability.
Competencies
Business Skills
- African market and export sales orientation
- Business development
- Strategic thinking
- Commercial acumen
- Negotiation and influencing
- Distributor and customer relationship management
- Financial and analytical ability
- Territory planning and organisation
Personal Attributes
- Results-driven
- Strong communicator
- Relationship builder
- Comfortable working across different countries and cultures
- Adaptable and comfortable with frequent travel
- Problem-solving ability
- Resilient under pressure
- Independent and self-motivated
- High level of professionalism
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Achievement of Africa export sales targets
- Revenue and margin growth
- Growth of existing distributor/customer accounts
- New customers and distributors secured
- New African markets developed
- New product listings secured
- Customer retention and satisfaction
- Forecast accuracy
- Market share and distribution growth
- Successful execution of customer and country plans
Advantageous Experience
- FMCG export sales experience within African markets
- Existing experience dealing with African distributors and retailers
- Experience developing distributors in new territories
- Knowledge of African FMCG markets and distribution channels
- Category management and trade marketing exposure
- Experience with personal care, home care, beauty or consumer products
Minimum requirements
- 5 years’ sales experience, preferably in FMCG / consumer goods
- Minimum 3 years’ Key Account Management experience
- Experience managing distributors and key customers
- African export / cross-border sales experience advantageous
- Strong negotiation, commercial and business development skills
- Proven track record of achieving sales and profit targets
- Willing and able to travel frequently across Africa
- Valid passport and driver’s licence
- Relevant Degree/Diploma in Sales, Marketing, Business Management or Commerce