Head of Sales

Job Title

Sales Head

Department

Sales

Location

South Africa

Reports To

Business Head

Supervises

Sales Managers

Education

Bachelors or Masters 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.

Employment Type

Full Time

Experience

Years

Vacancy

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