Key Account Manager - National Retail Chains

Placements24; East London; On-site; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary with bonus

Medical aid

Retirement fund

Relocation assistance

Professional development

Team-oriented environment

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a seasoned Key Account Manager for East London, Eastern Cape, to manage relationships with major national retailers in the FMCG sector. You will drive product placement, promotions, and sales performance with top partners.

The role requires a Bachelor's degree, at least five years in key account management within FMCG, strong negotiation and analytical skills, and the ability to travel as needed to meet partners.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing or related field.
• 5+ years in Key Account Management or National Sales within FMCG.
• Proven track record with major national retailers.
• Excellent negotiation, presentation and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical skills and understanding of retail operations.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic account plans to maximize sales with national retail partners.
• Build and maintain long-term relationships with buyers and decision-makers.
• Negotiate trading terms, promotions and product assortments.
• Analyze sales data and market trends to identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with marketing, supply chain and finance to execute plans.
• Present proposals, forecasts and reviews to partners and management.
• Manage promotional calendar and budget for key accounts.
• Resolve issues promptly to maintain customer satisfaction.
• Stay updated on FMCG industry developments and best practices.

Skills

Negotiation skills

Presentation skills

Relationship-building

Analytical capabilities

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business or Marketing

Tools

MS Office

Excel

PowerPoint

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent player in the FMCG sector, is actively seeking a dedicated and experienced Key Account Manager to manage relationships with major national retail chains. This role is based in the bustling city of East London, Eastern Cape . You will be responsible for nurturing and expanding business with our client's most important retail partners, ensuring optimal product placement, promotional activity, and sales performance. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional negotiation skills, a deep understanding of the retail landscape, and a proven history of successfully managing key accounts within the FMCG market. This position offers a unique opportunity to work with leading retailers and contribute significantly to the sales success of our client in a challenging and rewarding environment. We are committed to building strong, mutually beneficial partnerships.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic account plans to maximize sales and market share with key national retail partners in East London and across their respective store networks.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with buyers and decision-makers within key retail accounts.
• Negotiate trading terms, promotional plans, and product assortments to achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.
• Analyze sales data, market trends, and competitor activity to identify growth opportunities and address challenges within accounts.
• Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, supply chain, finance) to ensure seamless execution of account plans and promotions.
• Present product proposals, sales forecasts, and performance reviews to retail partners and internal management.
• Manage the promotional calendar and budget for key accounts, ensuring effective deployment of resources.
• Resolve customer issues and queries promptly and effectively, maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.
• Stay abreast of industry developments and best practices in key account management within the FMCG sector.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in Key Account Management or National Sales roles, specifically within the FMCG industry .
• Proven track record of successfully managing and growing business with major national retailers.
• Exceptional negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong analytical capabilities with the ability to interpret sales data and market insights.
• Excellent understanding of retail operations, merchandising, and promotional strategies.
• Proficiency in MS Office Suite, particularly Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel as required to meet with retail partners across the region.
• Based in or willing to relocate to East London, Eastern Cape .

Benefits

• Competitive salary and attractive commission/bonus structure.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund.
• Opportunity to manage some of the biggest names in South African retail.
• Professional development and training programs.
• A supportive and results-oriented team environment.
• Relocation assistance may be considered for the right candidate.