Customer Relationship Manager

RMG Recruitment (Pty) Ltd; Durban; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 950,000; Full time

Job summary

RMG Recruitment (Pty) Ltd in Durban is seeking a Commercial and Customer Relationship Manager to lead key accounts and drive sustainable revenue growth for an automotive company. You will engage with senior leaders, identify opportunities, and collaborate cross-functionally to deliver competitive commercial proposals.

The role requires strong relationship building, strategic networking and excellent communication, with travel as needed. A high-energy, results-oriented candidate is preferred.

Qualifications

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Business Management, Commerce, Marketing, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 to 8 years commercial, sales, business development or customer relationship management experience.
• Proven experience managing key customer relationships.
• Demonstrated success in developing new business and/or growing existing customer accounts.
• Experience dealing with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers or large corporate customers would be highly advantageous.
• Strong MS Office and presentation skills.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel.
• The ideal candidate must be a high-energy, commercially minded relationship builder who enjoys being in front of customers and creating opportunities.
• They should be someone who can walk into a customer’s organisation, quickly establish credibility, understand the customer’s business and identify opportunities to create value.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain strong customer relationships and identify new business opportunities.
• Represent the company professionally to senior customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders.
• Lead and develop a small commercial team to support revenue growth.
• Conduct regular customer visits to maintain engagement and identify opportunities.
• Collaborate with engineering, operations, finance and project management on commercial proposals.
• Monitor market trends and competitor activity to stay ahead in the market.

Skills

Relationship management

Strategic networking

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Customer service orientation

Team leadership

Business acumen

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Management, Commerce, Marketing, Engineering or related

Tools

MS Office

PowerPoint

Job description

Customer Relationship Manager job vacancy in Durban.

We are seeking a Commercial and Customer Relationship Manager for a permanent position at an automotive company based in Durban.

Key Responsibilities:

• Responsible for building strong customer relationships, identifying new business opportunities and supporting sustainable revenue growth.
• Must be highly credible and commercially astute individual who can build strong relationships at multiple levels within customer organisations, develop an extensive professional network and act as a trusted commercial partner to our key customers.
• Must combine excellent interpersonal and communication skills with commercial acumen and have the ability to lead and develop a small commercial team.
• The position requires a highly visible, customer-focused individual who is comfortable engaging with senior management, customers, suppliers and internal stakeholders and who can represent the Company professionally in all interactions.
• Develop, maintain and strengthen strategic relationships with existing and prospective customers.
• Establish strong relationships at multiple levels with the customers, from purchasing teams through to senior management and executive stakeholders.
• Proactively identify customer concerns and ensure timely resolution through the appropriate internal support functions.
• Establish the Company as a trusted and preferred supplier/strategic business partner.
• Conduct regular customer visits to maintain strong customer engagement and networking.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities aligned with the Company’s strategic objectives and core competencies.
• Build and maintain a strong commercial and industry network.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, customer strategies and emerging opportunities.
• Work closely with engineering, operations, finance and project management to ensure commercial proposals are both competitive and executable.
• Understand product costing, pricing structures, margins.
• Participate in commercial negotiations with customers.
• Represent the Company at industry events, conferences, customer forums and networking platforms i.e, Naacam.
• Stay informed on industry developments, localisation opportunities, technology trends and changes in customer requirements.
• Ensure all written communication is accurate, clear, commercially appropriate and professionally presented.

Essential Skills Required:

• Exceptional customer & relationship management
• Exceptional interpersonal and relationship building skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong ability to establish trust and credibility quickly.
• Comfortable engaging with customers at senior management and executive level.
• Strong customer-service orientation.
• Ability to manage difficult customer situations professionally and constructively.
• Ability to communicate complex commercial issues clearly and concisely.
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills.

Minimum Qualifications & Experience:

• Relevant tertiary qualification in Business Management, Commerce, Marketing, Engineering or a related discipline.
• Minimum 5 to 8 years commercial, sales, business development or customer relationship management experience.
• Proven experience managing key customer relationships.
• Demonstrated success in developing new business and/or growing existing customer accounts.
• Experience dealing with OEMs, Tier 1 suppliers or large corporate customers would be highly advantageous.
• Strong MS Office and presentation skills.
• Valid driver’s licence and willingness to travel.
• The ideal candidate must be a high-energy, commercially minded relationship builder who enjoys being in front of customers and creating opportunities.
• They should be someone who can walk into a customer’s organisation, quickly establish credibility, understand the customer’s business and identify opportunities to create value.