Job Description

Job Title: Sales Head Department: Sales Location: South Africa Reports To: Business Head Supervises: Sales Managers Education: Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field Job Summary
The Sales Head will lead the commercial strategy and execution for the organization's key brands across South Africa, driving profitable growth, market development, and in-store excellence. This role requires a strong understanding of sales operations, market dynamics, and customer relationships, combined with the ability to build, motivate, and manage a high-performing team.
The incumbent will set short, mid, and long-term business objectives, allocate resources efficiently, and ensure alignment with the company's strategic priorities. The role demands strong collaboration with internal stakeholders such as regional and global sales teams, supply chain, category management, and external partners including key clients and distributors. Key Roles and Responsibilities
1. Strategic Planning & Execution
Develop, agree, and implement a clear, detailed, and focused sales strategy aligned with business goals.
Define short and long-term plans to deliver revenue and profit targets.
Ensure effective communication of goals and objectives across all levels of the organization.
2. Market & Customer Orientation
Foster a strong market and consumer-oriented culture focused on customer satisfaction and service excellence.
Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer needs to identify growth opportunities.
3. Business Development & Expansion
Identify and execute opportunities for business expansion, channel diversification, and portfolio development.
Strengthen the organization's market position through innovative and customer-centric sales initiatives.
4. Organizational Leadership
Build, lead, and motivate a high-performing sales team committed to achieving business objectives.
Promote a positive and performance-driven culture aligned with the company's values.
Ensure the organization is equipped to meet expansion targets through the right structure, processes, and talent.
5. Stakeholder Management
Serve as an ambassador for the company in interactions with key external stakeholders, including distributors, trade partners, and regulatory bodies.
Build and maintain strong commercial relationships with senior members of the trade and distribution network.
6. Operational Excellence
Oversee sales operations, ensuring optimal in-store execution, compliance, and trade performance.
Implement best practices in sales planning, coverage expansion, and promotional execution.
Drive digital transformation and process improvements across sales systems and reporting tools. Qualifications and Experience
Proven experience in a results-oriented FMCG or consumer goods environment with a strong focus on quality and innovation.
Demonstrated success in senior sales leadership roles driving profitable growth and business expansion.
Strong background in Key Account Management and Distributor Management.
Financial acumen with a clear understanding of P&L management.
Graduate with an additional business qualification preferred.
High energy, result-oriented leadership style with strong planning and organizational skills.
Strategic thinker with excellent market understanding and executional capability.
Strong interpersonal, influencing, and communication skills with experience working in matrix and multicultural environments.
Proven ability to build, develop, and lead high-performing teams.
International experience and mobility preferred.
Fluency in English is essential; knowledge of local languages is an advantage.

Skills Required