General Manager

African Sales Company (ASCO); Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,200,000 - 2,400,000; Full time

Job summary

African Sales Company (ASCO) seeks a senior leader to manage the assigned business unit in line with the company strategy, driving profitability and market share. You will oversee Sales, Marketing, Demand Planning, POS visual merchandising and team training to meet targets.

Key responsibilities include developing and executing BU strategies, managing budgets, and delivering on brand and retail partnerships across online and offline channels.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing or Business.
• Postgraduate degree in Marketing or Business (MBA preferred).
• 5–10 years Marketing and Sales Management experience.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage BU strategies and action plans.
• Lead marketing, digital and traditional campaigns.
• Oversee HR processes and team development.
• Monitor targets and report progress to Management Committee.
• Build and maintain relationships with key retailers and suppliers.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Marketing and sales management

Data analysis

Communication skills

E-commerce management

Education

Bachelor's degree

Postgraduate degree in Marketing or Business

MBA

Tools

Microsoft Office

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

E-commerce platforms

Job description

To effectively manage the assigned business unit in accordance with the Company’s strategy, ensuring profitability and market share objectives achievement. Responsibilities include accountability for strategically developing and managing the Sales, Marketing, Demand Planning, POS visual merchandising and training objectives of the Business Unit

Key objective is to achieve sales, marketing / brand equity, market share and organizational targets and create a sustainable profitable business both online and offline

Key Performance Areas

• Business Planning & Reporting
• Marketing Management
• Management of Human Resources

Business Planning & Reporting

• Develop, drive, and manage Business Unit strategies, action plans or objectives aligned to the Company strategy
• Make contributions in respect of identified opportunities towards the development of ASCO business growth and development plans
• Regularly monitor overall strategy to achieve desired return and growth for the assigned business unit
• Prepare and submit comprehensive and accurate presentation reflecting the Business Units progress against targets, objectives, and indicators to Management Committee meetings

Marketing Management

• Formulate and implement brand strategies, business plans and policies for digital and traditional advertising, e-retail, public relations, sales and marketing plans in consultation with Brand, Sales, Visual and Planning Management teams.
• Directing the development of initiatives for new products, marketing, and advertising campaigns.
• Conducting Bi-annual marketing and sales strategy meetings with retail partners.
• Approving and effectively managing Brand sales objectives to ensure in store target dates are met.
• Project Management of all launches / promotions for new products to ensure achievements of targets.
• Review and approve sales forecasts for launches based on an analysis of market trends.
• Market and competitor trends analysis and implementation of identified insights / opportunities
• Compile brand Sales, Purchase and A&P annual budgets within Supplier Fiscal Year cycle, within the stipulated deadlines and reviewing monthly / quarterly.
• Organising and controlling sales activities by setting product mix, geographical sales areas and customer service standards.
• Analyse and incorporate identified market and competitor trends insights into Divisional and/or brand strategies.
• Identifying and incorporating customer requirements and needs in service level agreements & sales and marketing strategies.
• Implementing and monitoring sales related policies, procedures, and programs to enhance sales and ensure optimal service delivery to suppliers and customers.
• Maintaining regular contact with key clients to promote long term relationships.
• Identify Customer requirements and incorporate needs into service level agreements & sales and marketing strategies.
• Attend to customer and supplier requests within stipulated deadlines or within 72 hours of the request being made.
• Develop healthy working rapport and relationships with suppliers and retail partners.
• Attend to complaints and resolve without delay in accordance with company policies and guidelines.
• Maintain regular contact with key clients to promote long term relationships
• Annually compile sales, structure, store, marketing, and purchase budgets within the Company fiscal year cycle for the assigned business unit within stipulated deadlines and review monthly/quarterly.
• Achieve the assigned business unit’s budgeted and /or forecasted sales turnover, profits, and growth objectives.
• Managing and agreeing on Price structures, pricing strategies and exchange rates with the assigned suppliers.
• Effectively control Advertising and Promotion spend, ensuring spend is within agreed parameters and the return on investment for suppliers is maximised.
• Effectively control Publicity spend and Retailer / Supplier contributions are within the agreed parameters and the return on investment for suppliers is maximised.
• Ensure Operational expenses are in line with budget and / or meet agreed turnover / expenseratios.
• Approve Payroll costs in line with budget and / or meet defined turnover / payroll ratios

Management of Human Resources

• Ensure direct team embody high performance, results orientated and self-motivated ethos with a common divisional vison/objective and collaborative relationships.
• Ensure new appointments meet the requirements of the job specification and preference is given in terms of employment equity goals.
• Monitor and review performance at stipulated times (PPPS).
• Identify, plan for and implement training or development needs of direct reports.
• Identify succession candidates and implement agreed development plans.
• Ensure professionalism, aligned to company values is maintained and consistently applied in accordance with company procedures.
• Practice effective communication with other Brand divisions, BI, Operations, HR, IT, Finance & Admin departments.
• Ensure HR and people management policies and procedures are in place and complied with within the Business Unit

Requirements

• Bachelors’ Degree and Post Graduate degree in Marketing or Business ideally MBA
• 5 – 10 Marketing and Sales Management Experience
• 5 – 10 years’ experience at a senior management level
• Buying or Merchant experience an added advantage
• Experience in ecommerce management, visual merchandising and demand planning and forecasting
• Experience within the luxury retail, with good knowledge of trends and designers
• Knowledge of the RSA market
• Willingness to work extended hours
• Good organizational skills and a high degree of accuracy is required
• Strongly numerate and comfortable manipulating data sets.
• Good communicator, comfortable with showing what data means how we can act.
• Ability to work under pressure, use initiative and take ownership of tasks
• Self-motivated with a strong drive & desire to achieve outstanding business results.
• Excellent communication and analytical skills & the ability to multi-task are necessary.
• Highly motivated and professional.
• Superior relationship management
• Commitment to deliver first class work every time.
• Diligence and attention to detail and reporting.
• Ability to work under pressure and prioritize in a fast-paced environment.
• Microsoft Office, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word at an advanced level