Sales Manager Export

ARCS; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 1,800,000 - 3,000,000; Full time

Job summary

ARCS in Midrand, South Africa, seeks a senior sales leader with deep analytical-instrumentation expertise to drive regional growth across Africa. You will manage a sales team, forecast and budget, and navigate multi-million tenders while maintaining exceptional customer service.

The role requires 5–10 years in technical sales, 3–5 years in management, and proven success in meeting quotas. Fluency in English is essential; working French and Kiswahili are advantageous for Madagascar and nearby

Qualifications

• Honours or Master’s degree in Chemistry/Analytical Science or related scientific discipline (essential).
• A tertiary qualification in Business Management, Marketing or Sales (preferred).
• 5–10 years in technical sales of analytical instrumentation with a proven track record in high-end technologies (chromatography, MS, spectroscopy).
• 3–5 years in formal management leading a sales team and achieving targets.
• Experience with forecasting, budgeting and multi-million quotas.
• Experience with tenders and managing high-value Tier-1 accounts; donor-funded projects advantageous.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a sales team to achieve regional revenue targets.
• Forecast, budget and plan territory activity to meet quotas.
• Manage key accounts and navigate complex tender processes across Africa.
• Provide executive reporting on sales performance and pipelines.
• Collaborate with principals and cross-functional teams to optimize pricing and margins.

Skills

Technical sales

Sales leadership

Forecasting

Budgeting

Territory planning

CRM Salesforce

English fluency

French working

Kiswahili

Travel willingness

Donor funding experience

Account management

Multi-market sales

Education

Honours or Master's degree in Chemistry/Biochemistry/Analytical Science (essential)

Business Management/Marketing/Sales qualification (preferred)

Tools

Salesforce CRM

MS Excel

MS Office

Job description

Qualifications:

• An Honours or Master's degree in Chemistry, Biochemistry, Analytical Science or a related scientific discipline (essential).
• A tertiary qualification in Business Management, Marketing or Sales (preferred), to support the strategic and financial aspects of the role.

Experience:

• Typically 5–10 years in technical sales of analytical instrumentation, with a proven track record in high-end technologies such as chromatography (LC/GC), mass spectrometry and spectroscopy.
• At least 3–5 years in a formal management role leading a sales team, with a proven track record of developing people and achieving team targets.
• A proven track record of achieving sales goals and delivering customer service excellence.
• Direct experience in sales forecasting, budgeting and territory business plans that meet or exceed multi-million quotas.
• Experience implementing and managing key performance metrics for the sales process.
• Experience managing high-value Tier-1 accounts and navigating complex B2B and institutional tender processes. Experience with donor- or development-funded projects is advantageous.
• Prior experience working with or for a major principal such as Agilent Technologies, particularly in managing discount requests and technical liaison (a significant advantage).
• Experience selling across multiple African markets, ideally East Africa and/or the Indian Ocean Islands.

Knowledge and skills:

• A solid working understanding of all products sold, distributed and serviced, including chromatography, mass spectrometry and spectroscopy, or the proven ability to build this quickly.
• Strong funnel management skills and advanced CRM skills in Salesforce (essential), plus advanced. Fluency in English (essential). Working French (strongly advantageous, given Madagascar, Réunion, Mauritius, Seychelles, Rwanda and Burundi). Kiswahili (advantageous).
• A valid driver's licence and passport, with the ability to travel freely across the territory. MS Office skills, especially Excel for data analysis.
• Strong commercial acumen: budgeting, forecasting, pricing and margin management.
• Clear, confident reporting to executive level.

Working conditions:

• Frequent regional travel, including multi-day trips and occasional weekend travel to meet customer, tender or event schedules.
• Flexibility to work across time zones and with customers and colleagues in South Africa, Kenya and the islands.
• Remuneration, benefits and travel arrangements will be discussed with shortlisted candidates.