Retail Channel Manager – JHB

Head Office in Sandton
Negotiable Salary – market related

Leading financial services company is looking to expand its retail presence of an innovative product in South Africa. Your skills and experience are required to accelerate the planned retail channel strategy and build an effective sales team.
We require a Retail Channel Manager with a proven track record in sales and merchandising with experience with corporate/independent retailers and third party warehousing/distribution partners. This person will be the driving force behind the efforts to service Key Accounts in all business aspects and needs to demonstrate energy, enthusiasm and commitment to achieve the Company's vision and objectives.

Key account management experience – you will need to develop and grow key relationships across retailers, distribution agents and activation partner to achieve defined business objectives for realising retail ubiquity:
• Drive business development to increase sell-in of product
• Foster strong retail relationships with key decision makers
• Ensure in-depth knowledge and understanding of the attributes and benefits of the product, positioning and target market
• Conduct account planning reviews with all clients on a regular basis
• Deliver ongoing market analysis and assessment of competitors
• Ensure that contractual and commercial agreements are adhered to
• Identifying new opportunities for corporate accounts on a national and regional level

Trade marketing experience – you will need to work with the Marketing Executive to implement a trade marketing strategy to achieve defined business objectives for realising retail ubiquity:
• Development and delivery of new product development plans.
• Development, execution, and performance of all programmes designed to increase presence and ultimate sell-through.
• Management and monitoring of trade marketing and promotions to achieve maximum return.
• Establishing channel strategies and implementing the associated plans.
• Development of a trade promotional plan with key customers and channels.
• Working closely with key clients to provide category and shopper insights to drive performance.
• Co-ordination and communication of product, price and pack changes.

Channel management experience – you will need to develop and implement a retail channel strategy to achieve defined business objectives for realising retail ubiquity:
• Develop a criteria for signing up and grading retail players
• Ensure retail participants are equipped with product knowledge for consumers
• Ensure retail channel provides optimal merchandising
• Initiate promotional and advertising activities to achieve push and pull effects
• Implementation channel reward and recognition initiatives
• Ensure optimal territorial coverage by sales team
• Build and maintain relationship with formal and informal retailers and drive relationship building initiatives by sales team
• Ensure resolution of retailer queries and complaints
• Allocate sales targets and monitor performance
• Performance of channel demand planning for optimal product availability

Minimum requirements:
• Bachelor’s Degree in business related discipline
• 6 to 8 years’ experience in the FMCG sector
• Experience in managing a results driven sales team
• Strong interpersonal and negotiation skills
• Ability to promote cross functional effectiveness
• Budget management experience
• Organised and determined, adaptable and driven