Business Development Manager

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd; Boksburg; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd in Boksburg, South Africa, is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead sales and business development for the South African market within the Food Segment. The role emphasizes planning, directing and coordinating activities aligned with the company’s strategic objectives and growth plans.

The ideal candidate will manage supplier relationships, drive revenue growth, and oversee stock management with strong market analysis, strategic thinking and

Qualifications

• 5–10 years of relevant experience in sales, marketing or business development management.
• Proven experience in chemical raw materials industry is essential.
• Strong understanding of chemical trading and raw materials market.
• Demonstrated experience in supplier acquisition and relationship management.
• Proven track record in customer development and product portfolio expansion.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement sales strategies that support growth objectives.
• Develop business plans for raw material segments and regional markets.
• Conduct market research to identify development opportunities.
• Establish performance targets for regions and team members.
• Maintain up-to-date market knowledge across business verticals.
• Drive annual sales volume and revenue targets.
• Ensure product availability in line with procurement plans and targets.
• Negotiate commercial arrangements to support growth.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Influencing skills

Communication skills

Interpersonal skills

Strategic thinking

Leadership

Time management

Education

Marketing, Business Management, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering or related field

Tools

Zoho CRM

Job description

Red Ember Recruitment (PTY) Ltd | Full time

Business Development Manager

Boksburg, South Africa | Posted on 12/08/2026

Red Ember Recruitment is currently recruiting for anexperienced Business Development Manager for our client. The successfulcandidate will be responsible for planning, organising, directing, controllingand coordinating sales and business development activities in line with thecompany’s strategic objectives and business plan for the Food Segment.

The role will have overall responsibility for managingand growing the South African market , driving sales performance,profitability, business development, supplier relationships and stockmanagement.

Key Responsibilities

• Developand implement sales strategies that support the company’s broader businessgrowth objectives.
• Developbusiness plans for relevant raw material segments and regional markets.
• Conductmarket research and use industry insights to identify business developmentopportunities.
• Establishperformance targets for regions and individual team members.
• Maintainup-to-date market knowledge across current and emerging businessverticals.
• Driveachievement of annual sales volume and revenue targets.
• Ensureproduct availability in line with procurement plans and targeted salesvolumes.

Profitability & Commercial Management

• Managebusiness segments in line with strategic and growth objectives.
• Drivemonthly, quarterly and annual profitability against defined targets.
• Ensureachievement of sales and gross profit targets.
• Monitorcommercial performance and implement corrective actions where required.

Business Development

• Conductmarket reviews, product surveys and competitor analysis.
• Identifyopportunities for product portfolio expansion based on market trends,product quality and anticipated demand.
• Developlong-term customer contracts and bulk supply opportunities across relevantsegments.
• Supportthe team in structuring commercial offers for key and top-tier customers.
• Monitorcompetitor activities and develop appropriate counter-strategies.
• Identifynew markets, customers and revenue opportunities.
• Identifyand engage with potential suppliers in collaboration with local andinternational procurement teams.
• Buildand maintain strategic relationships with key suppliers and principals.
• Hostand engage with suppliers and principals when required.
• Maintainan accurate and comprehensive supplier database.
• Negotiatecommercial arrangements that support business growth and profitability.

Procurement & Stock Management

• Ensurestock availability in line with procurement plans and annual salestargets.
• Ensurebranch stock requirements are fulfilled within required turnaround times.
• Monitorand maintain optimal stock turnover ratios.
• Reviewageing and near-expiry stock and recommend appropriate actions.
• Coordinateregular sales and procurement stock-planning meetings.
• Alignstock planning with customer demand, market trends and sales forecasts.
• Conductweekly gap analysis between actual sales and budget.
• Coordinatewith Sales and Procurement teams to finalise monthly price lists based onstock availability and market conditions.
• Liaisewith Finance regarding debtor management and minimise bad debt exposure.
• Ensureeffective utilisation and maintenance of the Zoho CRM system inaccordance with company policy.
• Conductmonthly sales performance reviews and provide actionable insights tomanagement.
  

Requirements

Qualifications

• Relevanttertiary qualification in Marketing, Business Management, Chemistry,Chemical Engineering or a related field.
• AChemical-related qualification will be advantageous.

Experience

• 5–10years’ relevant experience in a similar sales,marketing or business development management position.
• Provenexperience within the chemical raw materials industry is essential.
• Strongunderstanding of the chemical trading and raw materials market.
• Demonstratedexperience in supplier acquisition and relationship management.
• Proventrack record in customer development and product portfolio expansion.
• Experiencemanaging sales targets, profitability and commercial performance.
• Previousleadership and team management experience.
• Strongstrategic thinking and decision-making abilities.
• Excellentcommunication and interpersonal skills.
• Strongcommercial and technical acumen.
• Target-drivenand customer-focused approach.
• Strongnegotiation and influencing skills.
• Understandingof supply chain and procurement principles.
• Strongbusiness development and market analysis capabilities.
• Self-motivatedand able to work independently with minimal supervision.
• Strongleadership and team management skills.
• Abilityto work effectively within a multidisciplinary environment.
• Proficientin written and verbal English.

Key Performance Areas

The successful candidate will be measured against:

• Salesrevenue and volume growth.
• Grossprofit and profitability targets.
• Newbusiness development and customer acquisition.
• Customerretention and product basket expansion.
• Stockavailability and stock turnover.
• Marketand competitor intelligence.
• Salesforecasting and budget performance.
• EffectiveCRM utilisation and sales reporting.