Account Manager: Spar

Diageo; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Diageo in Johannesburg, South Africa is seeking an Account Manager: Spar to own customer relationships and drive the commercial agenda across assigned accounts. This role focuses on delivering breakthrough business performance with strong cross-functional collaboration inside Diageo and with customers.

You will manage NSV targets, develop world-class partnerships, interpret data like Nielsen, and forecast demand. A relevant degree and 6–10 years FMCG sales experience are expected.

Qualifications

• Degree required in a relevant field.
• 6–10 years’ experience in commercial roles.
• Experience across National Accounts, Key Accounts and Field Sales.
• Proven track record in FMCG and alcoholic beverages.

Responsibilities

• Own, develop and drive customer relationships and the commercial agenda.
• Develop strategies with customers across channels to grow NSV.
• Lead end-to-end account planning and KPI implementation.

Skills

Account management

Negotiation

Forecasting

Cross-functional collaboration

Data-driven decision making

Category strategy

Education

Relevant degree

Job description

Johannesburg, South Africa

Full time

JR

Job Description

Job Title: Account Manager: Spar

About us

With over 200 brands sold in nearly 180 countries, Diageo is home to some of the world's most iconic drinks. From Johnnie Walker and Guinness to Tanqueray, Smirnoff and Don Julio, we craft brands chosen for life's moments - from everyday connections to landmark celebrations.

Bring your talent, curiosity and ambition, and strive for your personal best alongside people who challenge, support and learn from each other. Together, as one outstanding team, we keep learning, improving and raising the bar for our brands, our business and each other.

Join us and play your part in making life's moments mean a little more.

Functions

Sales is where our brands meet the real world.

This team builds the relationships that bring our products to life, partnering closely with customers across markets, channels and occasions to make sure our brands are part of moments that matter everywhere.

It's a dynamic, people-focused environment where curiosity, commercial thinking and strong relationships make the difference. You'll have the opportunity to grow your network, develop your skills and see the direct impact of your work every day.

Purpose of the Role

The Account Manager will own, develop and drive customer relationships and the commercial agenda. This is first and foremost a customer-facing role, responsible for developing strong customer management capability and delivering breakthrough business performance across the assigned account base.

Experience / skills required

• Develop world-class collaborative customer partnerships and strategies.
• Manage profit and NSV targets, taking full ownership of the numbers.
• Motivate sales teams behind clear, simple and powerful customer strategies.
• Develop and orchestrate end-to-end relationships through a cross-functional network within Diageo and the customer base.
• Drive the highest standards of execution across specified channels.
• Use facts and data to drive excellence in planning, decision-making and performance measurement, taking corrective action where required.
• Contribute to shopper and category insights to develop powerful and breakthrough category strategies.
• Develop and coordinate tailored brand activity by channel and major customer.
• Interpret Nielsen data and develop appropriate corrective action plans.
• Develop accurate forecasting through demand planning resources.
• Monitor, evaluate and provide recommendations on brand/customer volumes, trends and dynamics.
• Create and develop world-class account plans.
• Implement and develop appropriate KPIs.

Key Competencies

• Strong knowledge and demonstrated delivery in challenging trading environments, including an understanding of channels, pricing, negotiations and strategy development.
• Experience resolving complex and conflict-filled situations.
• Strong negotiation and conflict-resolution capability when dealing with powerful customers.

Qualifications and Experience Required

• Relevant degree.
• 6-10 years' experience across commercial and other functions; cross-functional experience is an advantage.
• Experience in cross-functional integration and coordination.
• Joint Business Planning knowledge and experience at a strategic level.
• Exposure to different channels and different levels of customer sophistication, including National Accounts, Key Accounts and Field Sales.
• Proven track record of success within highly demanding FMCG sales organizations and the alcoholic beverages industry.

Worker Type

Regular

Primary Location

Waterfall

With over 200 brands sold in more than 180 countries, we're the world's leading premium drinks company. Every day, over 29,000 talented people come together at Diageo to create the magic behind our much-loved brands. From iconic names to innovative newcomers - the brands we're building are rooted in culture and local communities. Our ambition is to be one of the best performing, most trusted and most respected consumer products companies in the world.

Our founders, such as Arthur Guinness, John Walker, and Charles Tanqueray, were visionary entrepreneurs whose brilliant minds helped shape the alcohol industry. And through our people, their legacy lives on. Join us, and you'll collaborate with talented people from all corners of the world. Together, you'll innovate and push boundaries, shaping a more inclusive and sustainable future that we can all be proud of.

With diversity at our core, we celebrate our people's unique passions, commitments and specialist skills. Because when varied voices, mindsets, and personalities come together, great ideas are born. In our supportive culture, your voice will be heard and you'll be empowered to be you. Just bring your ambition, curiosity and ideas, and we'll celebrate your work and help you reach your fullest potential.

DRINKiQ

What's your DRINKiQ? Take our quiz to understand how alcohol is made and explore the effects of drinking. You can discover everything you need to know at DRINKiQ (