Manager - Sales (North & Central Africa)

Zafco International; Dubai; On-site; AED 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Zafco International is seeking a Regional Sales Manager to drive growth across North & Central Africa from Dubai. You will build distributor networks, manage key accounts, and influence pricing to maximize profitability while expanding market share.

Travel across Africa is required; fluency in English is essential and French is highly preferred. You will collaborate with Supply Chain, Finance, and Marketing to deliver strong results and coordinate with regional leadership.

Qualifications

• Minimum 8+ years of experience in the tire industry.
• At least 4 years handling export / multi-country markets in Africa.
• Proven success in developing markets, appointing distributors, and growing existing business.
• Experience managing pricing, collections, credit risk, and profitability in export markets.

Responsibilities

• Develop and grow sales across North & Central Africa through distributors, dealers, fleets, and direct key accounts.
• Identify, appoint, and manage distributors/dealers to expand market reach and improve channel performance.
• Develop relationships with new and existing customers and provide product and commercial support to achieve sales targets.
• Drive sell-in and sell-out performance through regular market visits, joint customer calls, and distributor engagement.
• Explore new market opportunities, customer segments, and strategic business partnerships.
• Monitor competitor activities, pricing movements, market trends, and general business conditions across the region.
• Recommend pricing strategies aligned with market realities while protecting profitability and competitiveness.
• Ensure product positioning is aligned with market demand across PCR, TBR, OHT, and other tire categories.
• Maintain awareness of country-specific regulations, import requirements, and commercial practices across Africa markets.
• Build strong distributor relationships and support partners in achieving agreed business plans.
• Negotiate annual targets, pricing, commercial terms, marketing support, and growth plans.
• Manage key fleet, wholesale, and institutional accounts and close high-value commercial deals.
• Take ownership of sales targets, gross margin, and collection performance across assigned markets.
• Review receivables regularly and ensure collections are secured as per agreed payment terms.
• Manage customer credit exposure and proactively highlight commercial risks.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through pricing discipline and better product mix.
• Prepare monthly sales reports, forecasts, market intelligence, and business review presentations.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Finance, Technical, and Marketing teams to ensure business continuity and customer satisfaction.
• Report product performance, warranty issues, and customer feedback to relevant internal departments.
• Recommend and support regional marketing / brand-building initiatives.
• Conduct product, pricing, and market training sessions for distributors and customers.

Skills

Fluent English

French

Negotiation

Relationship Mgmt

Deal closing

Tire knowledge

Africa markets

Industry network

Ownership mindset

Travel readiness

Job description

Key Responsibilities

Sales & Market Development

• Develop and grow sales across assigned North & Central Africa markets through distributors, dealers, fleets, and direct key accounts.
• Identify, appoint, and manage distributors/dealers to expand market reach and improve channel performance.
• Develop relationships with new and existing customers and provide relevant product and commercial support to achieve sales targets.
• Drive sell-in and sell-out performance through regular market visits, joint customer calls, and distributor engagement.
• Explore new market opportunities, customer segments, and strategic business partnerships.

Regional Market Management

• Monitor competitor activities, pricing movements, market trends, and general business conditions across the region.
• Recommend pricing strategies aligned with market realities while protecting profitability and competitiveness.
• Ensure product positioning is aligned with market demand across PCR, TBR, OHT, and other tire categories.
• Maintain awareness of country-specific regulations, import requirements, and commercial practices across Africa markets.

Distributor & Key Account Management

• Build strong distributor relationships and support partners in achieving agreed business plans.
• Negotiate annual targets, pricing, commercial terms, marketing support, and growth plans.
• Manage key fleet, wholesale, and institutional accounts and close high-value commercial deals.

Financial & Credit Control

• Take ownership of sales targets, gross margin, and collection performance across assigned markets.
• Review receivables regularly and ensure collections are secured as per agreed payment terms.
• Manage customer credit exposure and proactively highlight commercial risks.
• Identify opportunities to improve profitability through pricing discipline and better product mix.

Reporting & Coordination

• Prepare monthly sales reports, forecasts, market intelligence, and business review presentations.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Finance, Technical, and Marketing teams to ensure business continuity and customer satisfaction.
• Report product performance, warranty issues, and customer feedback to relevant internal departments.

Brand Building & Training

• Recommend and support regional marketing / brand-building initiatives.
• Conduct product, pricing, and market training sessions for distributors and customers.

Key Requirements

Experience & Background

• Minimum 8+ years of experience in the tire industry.
• At least 4 years handling export / multi-country markets in Africa.
• Proven success in developing new markets, appointing distributors, and growing existing business.
• Experience managing pricing, collections, credit risk, and profitability in export markets.

Skills & Competencies

• Fluent in English mandatory. French highly preferred.
• Strong negotiation and relationship management skills across diverse cultures.
• Proven track record in closing high-value distributor and fleet deals.
• Strong understanding of tire categories: PCR, TBR, OHT.
• Knowledge of Africa market dynamics, customer behavior, and competition.
• Established network within tire / automotive trade in the region is highly preferred.
• Strong ownership mindset with go-getter attitude.
• Self-motivated and able to work independently with frequent travel.

Other Requirements

• Willingness to travel extensively across North & Central Africa.
• Valid passport with no travel restrictions.