Business Development Manager

Recruitment Matters Africa Pvt Ltd; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200 000 - 300 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading recruitment agency is seeking an energetic Business Development Manager to optimize their distribution partner network in Johannesburg. The candidate should have 5-8 years of FMCG distribution experience, with strong skills in negotiation, strategic thinking, and relationship building. You will be responsible for onboarding partners, monitoring performance, and driving sales growth. This full-time role offers an exciting opportunity to contribute to market expansion.

Qualifications

• 5-8 years of experience in FMCG sales and distribution.
• At least 2 years in a business development or distributor management role.
• Proven track record in appointing and scaling distributor networks.

Responsibilities

• Identify and appoint new distribution partners.
• Evaluate potential distributors based on capability.
• Onboard new partners and ensure alignment with business goals.

Skills

Business Development

Sales Experience

B2B Sales

Marketing

Cold Calling

Account Management

Territory Management

Salesforce

Affiliate Marketing

CRM Software

Negotiation

Lead Generation

Education

Bachelors degree in Business Sales or Marketing

MBA preferred

Tools

MS Office

Sales reporting tools

Job description

Our client is looking for an energetic and strategic Business Development Manager (BDM) to lead the expansion and optimization of their distribution partner network across key geographies. The ideal candidate will have strong experience in FMCG distribution including appointing onboarding and managing distributors while driving volume growth and market penetration.

Responsibilities

• Identify and appoint new distribution partners in line with market expansion plans.
• Evaluate potential distributors based on capability reach infrastructure and financial health.
• Onboard new partners and ensure alignment with business goals and operational standards.
• Analyze gaps in current distribution coverage and develop action plans to close them.
• Work with existing distributors to penetrate new markets or expand into underserved areas.
• Ensure consistent product availability visibility and execution at retail points.
• Set sales targets for distribution partners and support them with tools training and marketing initiatives.
• Monitor distributor performance against targets resolve operational issues and optimize route-to-market.
• Collaborate with Area Sales Managers (ASMs) and field teams to support secondary sales growth.
• Build strong working relationships with distributor owners and their teams.
• Conduct regular business reviews and support partners in business planning and ROI optimization.
• Ensure compliance with pricing credit policies and service level agreements.
• Track sales stock and financial metrics across distribution partners.
• Provide market intelligence on competitor activity pricing and market dynamics.
• Report regularly to leadership on progress challenges and recommendations.

Qualifications & Experience

• Bachelors degree in Business Sales or Marketing (MBA preferred).
• 5-8 years of experience in FMCG sales and distribution with at least 2 years in a business development or distributor management role.
• Proven track record in appointing and scaling distributor networks.
• Solid understanding of FMCG sales cycles primary and secondary sales management.
• Strong communication negotiation and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in MS Office and sales reporting tools.
• Willingness to travel extensively within assigned territory.

Key Competencies

• Strategic and commercial thinking
• Distribution management
• Negotiation and conflict resolution
• Channel development and relationship building
• Execution excellence and operational discipline
• Strong interpersonal and leadership skills

Key Skills

• Business Development
• Sales Experience
• B2B Sales
• Marketing
• Cold Calling
• Account Management
• Territory Management
• Salesforce
• Affiliate Marketing
• CRM Software
• Negotiation
• Lead Generation

Employment Type : Full-time

Experience : years

Vacancy : 1