Position: National Key Account Manager / FMCG
Department: Sales

Position Purpose:
To develop and deliver the National roll-out plan for the company’s FMCG brands by acquiring and managing National Key Accounts to achieve business objectives, sales and profit targets. This role will be the key contact for the entire brand portfolio internally and externally.

Key Accountabilities:
Sales, Strategy & Budgets:
- Acquires & manages National Key Accounts as part of the roll-out and maintenance for the entire portfolio of brands
- Develops & implements strategic customer initiatives for the company that achieve business targets & objectives
- Management of trade spend within the parameters of the agreed annual customer trade spend plan
- Ensure an accurate volume forecast is generated each month per Key Account
- Ensures the pricing and promotion strategy maximizes the ROI for the company
- Drives ‘over & above’ activities to increase sales and block competitors by identifying new business opportunities and incremental sales initiatives
- Promote collaboration by proactively partnering internally with marketing, operations and finance functions to build a successful customer business plan

Customer focus:
- Develop strong retailer relationships that assist in achieving business objectives
- To ensure promotional program effectiveness and efficiency in driving profitable growth
- Ensure all deadlines are met to customer for the category review timings

Communication:
- Act as the first point of contact towards all Key Account enquiries and requests

- Communication processes and timelines are adhered to which facilitates excellence in execution and customer satisfaction

- Communicate all relevant information about National Key Accounts to the board of directors

- Submit a comprehensive monthly sales report to the board of directors

Planning:
- Input into and be consulted on NPD concepts at initial stage, engage customer to share concept and develop customer proposal, outlining ideal execution plan and identifying any business risks with regard to customer acceptance
- Ensures timely planning and accurate forecasting of stock volumes with good service levels to the customer

- Manage claims efficiency to levels within criteria determined by the business

- Provides business intelligence, processes and systems to the supply & demand team that help facilitate accurate long and short term sales forecasts

Administration:
- Manages all business systems to ensure strong planning and good visibility of Sales, Trade Spend, Profit and Volume and provides regular feedback and analysis of the account performance
- Coordinate all external and internal Sales related communication and administrative tasks
- Handle and manage budgets related to external Merchandising service providers
- Organize and order product samples as required
- General administration and data entry tasks, including printing, binding, ordering etc.
- Coordinate and respond to all requests of customer related queries in a timely manner

Position Requirements:
Skills & Knowledge
- Ability to formulate, articulate and implement strategic plans to enhance business performance.
- Exceptional presentation and negotiation skills
- High level of computer literacy Microsoft Office (especially Power Point & Excel)

Experience
- Previous FMCG selling experience
- Ideally previous experience as a key account manager or equivalent role
- Category and/or Marketing experience a valuable asset

Education
- Bachelor degree in business, marketing or related fields

Personal Attributes & Characteristics:
- Strong strategic and commercial business acumen in order to exploit business opportunities.
- Results focused, highly driven and committed with the ability to achieve results in a competitive and fast paced environment
- Possess high levels of innovation, & creativity with a flexible approach to change
- Ability to adjust plans quickly when issues arise and make sure that priority issues are handled effectively to accomplish goals and objectives
- Strong financial awareness combined with excellent analytical skills
- Excellent interpersonal and collaborative skills with the ability to network and establish productive business relationships
- Act as a role model for our company values of commitment, resilience and integrity
- Professional conduct at all times with all stakeholders
- Is assertive and effectively controls interactions effectively