East Africa Sales Engineer-French Speaking

GENERAL DESCRIPTION:

Reporting to the Sales Director, the incumbent will be responsible for the promotion, sales and support of the companys products and services to key end-users and distributors in East African market.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES REQUIRED:

• Proven Technical Sales experience in Africa.
• Good command of presentation skills.
• Excellent computer skills
• Competency in Microsoft Excel, MS word, and PowerPoint.
• Experience in working on SAGE ERP system.
• Strong interpersonal, written, and oral communications skills.
• Ability to develop relationship with other stakeholders.
• Ability to eloquently communicate value proposition to customers.
• Ability to interact at all levels of the customer organisation.
• Ability to work independently, as well as part of a team.
• Good command of English language.
• Proficiency in Swahili language will be an added advantage.
• Sound theoretical and practical knowledge and experience with technical principles, specifically in the electro-mechanical field.

RESPONSIBILITIES OF JOB:

The core responsibilities will include, but are not limited to the following:

• Develop and promote sustained sales growth to achieve company sales objectives in East Africa.
• Achieve sales and profitability in line with individual sales targets and company objectives.
• Visit and meet customer regularly to understand their requirements and providing necessary solutions.
• Build relationship with key personnel (decision makers) within a customers organisation.
• Prepare presentations and proposals to communicate value proposition, including proper review of customer specifications and commercial requirements.
• Conduct market development plans and implement weekly activities aimed at growing the market share.
• Coordinate and resolve customer service issues in a manner that retains the customer and provides opportunity to additional revenue in the future.
• Assist the finance department in collecting unpaid debts.
• Co-ordinate and communicate with other departments within.
• Ensure completion of customer satisfaction reports
• Ensure that the ERP system is utilized to maximum possible extent.
• Maintain accurate customer database to ensure effective account management.
• Continuously acquire new skills to stay up to date to the latest best practices.
• Advise customers of product developments and special promotions
• Represent the company at exhibitions, events and demonstrations when required.

FORMAL TRAINING / EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• National Diploma or bachelors degree in technical programme and/or marketing/Sales from a recognized institution.
• Postgraduate qualification will be a big advantage.
• A minimum of 2 years relevant sales experience in the petrochemical and mining industry.
• Proven experience in complex sales requiring fair understanding commercial and legal terms.
• Proven experience in compiling complex commercial and technical proposals.
• Ability to manage complex sales with long purchase cycle, involving multiple stakeholders.
• Proven experience in B2B sales, at all levels of the customer organization.
• Ability to understand and grasp company Opti-MIM software functionalities and features.
• Ability to grasp new technological concepts, products, and systems in the ecosystem.
• A good appreciation of good governance principles, corporate practices, rules and procedures.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

• Required to travel to any customer in the African continent, with focus on East Africa.
• Be required to work during normal operating hours, 08:00 to 16:30 Monday to Friday.
• Some flexibility is allowed to fit in with the requirements of the employees Manager.
• Be required to work reasonable extra hours from time to time as circumstances dictate.
• Be prepared to travel during non-working hours sometimes to respond to customer requirements.
• Intensive travelling outside of South Africa.