Sales Manager / Business Development Manager – Food Safety & Compliance

Position Overview
Our client is a leading provider of food safety, compliance auditing and training services and is looking for an experienced Sales Manager / Business Development Manager to drive new business growth across the South African market.

This is a highly client-facing role suited to a commercially driven sales professional who understands the food safety and compliance environment and has a proven track record of developing new business, building strong client relationships and converting opportunities into revenue.

You will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, developing a strong sales pipeline, engaging with senior decision-makers and growing the organisation's client base across targeted industries.

Key Responsibilities and Duties:

• Develop and execute business development strategies to achieve sales and revenue targets.
• Identify, prospect and secure new clients across targeted industries.
• Build and maintain a strong, measurable sales pipeline and provide accurate sales forecasts.
• Develop relationships with new and existing clients and identify opportunities for growth.
• Conduct client meetings, understand business requirements and present appropriate food safety and compliance solutions.
• Sell food safety audits, compliance services, training and related solutions.
• Prepare proposals, quotations and commercial presentations.
• Manage the sales process from initial prospecting through to contract conclusion.
• Negotiate commercial terms while protecting profitability.
• Identify cross-selling and account-development opportunities.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and ensure disciplined pipeline management.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and emerging opportunities.
• Attend industry events, networking opportunities and client meetings to generate new business.
• Work closely with internal technical and operational teams to ensure client requirements can be effectively delivered.

What we are looking for:

• A relevant tertiary qualification in Business, Sales, Marketing, Commerce or a related field will be advantageous.
• Proven experience in B2B sales and business development.
• Experience selling within the food safety, compliance, auditing, certification, inspection or training environment is highly advantageous.
• A strong track record of new business development and achieving sales targets.
• Experience selling professional, technical or compliance-related services.
• Strong understanding of consultative and solution-based selling.
• Experience engaging with senior decision-makers and managing longer B2B sales cycles.
• Strong commercial negotiation and presentation skills.
• Proven ability to build and manage a sales pipeline from prospecting through to conversion.
• Strong CRM and sales forecasting skills.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel to clients.

Advantageous Experience

• Food safety
• Food compliance
• Food safety auditing
• Compliance auditing
• Certification
• Inspection and testing
• Food safety training
• HACCP
• ISO standards
• Quality management
• SHEQ
• Regulatory or compliance services
• Professional or technical services

Why this opportunity

This is an opportunity to join an established business operating in a specialist and growing sector, where you will have the opportunity to make a direct impact on new business growth, client acquisition and market development.

If you have a strong B2B sales background and experience within food safety, compliance, auditing, certification or related services, we would like to hear from you.