Key Account Manager - Retail (FMCG)

Placements24; Gqeberha; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Incentives and commissions

Medical aid and retirement fund

Generous leave and holidays

Professional development

Remote work flexibility

Job summary

Placements24 is seeking a driven Key Account Manager in Port Elizabeth to lead strategic account plans with major retail partners and drive volume growth. You will build durable relationships with retail buyers, tailor solutions, and manage promotions and listings to maximise product placement.

The role requires a strong grasp of the South African FMCG landscape, expert negotiation, and the ability to collaborate with marketing, supply chain and finance teams to hit targets.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, or a related field.
• Minimum 5 years in Key Account Management or FMCG sales with a focus on retail accounts.
• Proven track record of achieving sales targets and growing key accounts.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong understanding of South Africa retail FMCG market.
• Proficiency in using CRM software.
• Willingness to travel as required.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic account plans for key retail accounts to achieve sales volume, market share, and profitability targets.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key decision-makers within retail organizations.
• Understand customer needs and develop tailored solutions to meet their requirements and maximize product placement and sales.
• Negotiate terms of business, promotions, and listings with retail partners.
• Analyze sales performance data, identify trends, and develop action plans to address underperformance and capitalize on opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, supply chain, finance) to ensure effective account management and timely execution of plans.
• Manage forecasting accuracy and inventory levels for assigned accounts.
• Present new product launches and promotional programs to retail buyers.
• Stay informed about competitor activities and market trends within the retail FMCG sector.
• Provide regular updates and reports on account performance to senior management.

Skills

Strategic account management

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

Presentation skills

Relationship building

Self-motivated

Willingness to travel

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business Administration/Marketing/Sales

Tools

CRM software

Sales data analysis tools

Job description

About the Role

Our client, a prominent name in the Fast-Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector, is actively recruiting a driven and strategic Key Account Manager to manage relationships with major retail partners. This role is based in Port Elizabeth, Eastern Cape, and is critical to ensuring the growth and success of our brands within key retail accounts. The Key Account Manager will be responsible for developing and implementing sales strategies, fostering strong partnerships with retail buyers, and achieving sales targets. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the retail landscape in South Africa, excellent negotiation skills, and a proven ability to drive volume and market share. This is an exciting opportunity to be a key driver of sales for a portfolio of well-known FMCG products in a dynamic market environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategic account plans for key retail accounts to achieve sales volume, market share, and profitability targets.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key decision-makers within retail organizations.
• Understand customer needs and develop tailored solutions to meet their requirements and maximize product placement and sales.
• Negotiate terms of business, promotions, and listings with retail partners.
• Analyze sales performance data, identify trends, and develop action plans to address underperformance and capitalize on opportunities.
• Collaborate with internal teams (marketing, supply chain, finance) to ensure effective account management and timely execution of plans.
• Manage forecasting accuracy and inventory levels for assigned accounts.
• Present new product launches and promotional programs to retail buyers.
• Stay informed about competitor activities and market trends within the retail FMCG sector.
• Provide regular updates and reports on account performance to senior management.

Requirements

• A Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Sales, or a related field.
• A minimum of 5 years of experience in Key Account Management or Sales within the FMCG industry, with a strong focus on retail accounts.
• Demonstrated success in achieving sales targets and growing key accounts.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Strong understanding of the retail environment and the dynamics of the FMCG market in South Africa.
• Proficiency in using sales data analysis tools and CRM software.
• Ability to build and maintain strong professional relationships at all levels.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving abilities.
• Self-motivated and results-oriented with the ability to work independently.
• Willingness to travel as required to meet with clients.

Benefits

• Competitive annual salary, commensurate with experience.
• Performance-based incentives and commission structure.
• Comprehensive medical aid and retirement fund benefits.
• Generous annual leave and paid public holidays.
• Opportunities for professional development and career progression.
• Remote work flexibility.
• A chance to represent leading brands in the South African market.
• Supportive and collaborative team culture in Port Elizabeth.