Area Sales Manager – Paint Industry

About the role

Career Directions Limited (CDL) is hiring an Area Sales Manager for its Paint Industry department in Nairobi. Reporting to the General Manager of Sales & Marketing and leading a team of sales representatives, the role covers decorative, industrial and automotive coatings. The purpose is to achieve area sales, collection and profitability targets through sales management, customer development, institutional business development, project scouting and demand generation.

Key responsibilities

• Achieve sales, collection and profitability targets and develop sales plans to grow revenue and market share.
• Lead, supervise, coach and motivate the sales team and ensure regular customer, dealer and project visits.
• Develop relationships with dealers, distributors, contractors, painters, developers and key customers, and build a pipeline of opportunities.
• Develop institutional business with hotels, hospitals, schools, universities, embassies, government institutions and corporate organisations, and turn construction, renovation and maintenance projects into business.
• Identify industrial and automotive coating opportunities with industries, manufacturers, automotive dealers, garages and workshops.
• Drive demand generation through site scouting and visits to ongoing and upcoming projects, and plan promotional activities.
• Monitor sales, collections, stock and customer performance, revive dormant customers, and report accurately and on time.
• Work with Marketing and Technical teams on product launches, demonstrations and training, and handle major customer complaints.

Required profile

• Bachelor's degree or diploma in Business, Marketing, Sales or a related field; a professional qualification in Sales & Marketing is an added advantage.
• Minimum 5 years' sales experience, preferably in building materials or FMCG; experience managing a sales team is an added advantage.
• Proven track record of achieving sales targets.
• Valid driving licence is an added advantage.

Required skills

• Good knowledge of MS Office and sales reporting tools.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, planning and analytical skills.
• Ability to develop institutional, industrial and key-account relationships and to convert projects into business.