Sales Representative

AkzoNobel; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading paints and coatings company in Johannesburg seeks a Frontline Sales Person to achieve sales and profitability targets. This role involves managing customer relationships, developing new business, and providing sales support. Ideal candidates must have a university education, relevant industry experience, and excellent communication skills. Both native Italian and fluent English are required. The position offers a dynamic work environment and the opportunity to be part of a dedicated team.

Qualifications

• Some years of relevant experience in paint or other manufacturing business.
• Some technical knowledge of coatings.
• Fluent in English (oral and written).

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of customers, executing the sales plan.
• Identify and develop new customers as per targets.
• Monitor sales against targets and implement necessary actions.

Skills

Customer focused

Strong results orientation

Good communication skills

Analytical approach to problem solving

Good influencing skills

Education

University-educated or Diploma level

Tools

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

SAP

Job description

About AkzoNobel

Since , we’ve been supplying the innovative paints and coatings that help to color people’s lives and protect what matters most. Our world class portfolio of brands – including Dulux, International, Sikkens and Interpon – is trusted by customers around the globe. We’re active in more than countries and use our expertise to sustain and enhance the fabric of everyday life. Because we believe every surface is an opportunity. It’s what you’d expect from a pioneering and long-established paints company that’s dedicated to providing sustainable solutions and preserving the best of what we have today – while creating an even better tomorrow. Let’s paint the future together.

Akzo Nobel N.V. All rights reserved.

Job Purpose

Frontline sales person responsible for the execution of agreed sales and profitability target established by the BU A&SC Automotive within the assigned sales area by acquiring new business and maintaining existing customers

Key Accountabilities

Proactively informs the upper management about the required sales support level (including marketing, technical, logistics and control) and cooperates in and coordinates the implementation of the defined activity.

• Systematically up-dates CRM with valid, accurate and complete customer-related information
• Has expert knowledge on the features and benefits of available products / services.
• Cooperates with technical representative in educating customers on technical requirements of available product lines, IT support tools and non-paint assortment.
• Advises upper management on training types, recruits participants for relevant courses and gains commitment for customer attendance.
• Monitors and reports on the status of formal customer complaint procedure handling.
• Gets familiar with all applicable corporate as well as site policies / procedure with regards to personal conduct / HSER standards and acts in compliance with all regulations.

Key Activities

Manage a portfolio of customers, in a designated area, to execute sales plan.

Systematically screen customer base for new opportunities, generates leads and maintains pipeline.

Identify, plan and develop new customers in line with business development plans / targets.

Provide appropriate and agreed level of contact, service and support to ensure sales target are met.

Monitor sales against agreed targets on a regular basis to ensure they are met and where necessary the need for remedial actions are identified, reported and implemented

Plans own visit schedule in line with agreed customer service levels for that customer segment

Manage sales support activities in designated area.

Collects, reports and analyzes the customer feedback / information on present as well as future marked trends in the context of possible further market penetration.

Identifies, targets and implements the approved sales strategies in the assigned marketplace.

Coordinates own visit schedule with the assigned Technical Representative.

Plans, executes and reports on the sales activities in the assigned sales area.

Promotes the positive company image and develops long-term relations with the customers.

Identifies business opportunities, pinpoints and tries to resolve existing and / or potential problems and requests support from the upper management.

Delivers periodical progress reports and proactively submits recommendations regarding the improvements in the approach to the marketplace.

Cooperates with the other departments in the implementation of approved SMU service solutions.

Works in close contact with Assago sales and technical teams.

Additional / possible technical tasks

Previous experience as technical representative in liquid plastic coatings markets could be a plus.

Cooperate with the technical department in handling complex technical issues and claims and in educating customers on solutions.

Supports in new projects a technical pre-analysis (with Sales and Technical Manager) and implement project action plan and follow up (internal and external).

Requirements

University-educated or “Diploma” level

Knowledge of the market (Liquid coatings) and the products (liquid paints for plastic substrates) and of Automotive segment (as a plus)

Some years of relevant experience in paint or other manufacturing business

Some technical knowledge of coatings

Native Italian language

Fluent English (oral and written)

Good Knowledge of Office (Word, Excel, SAP) systems

Customer focused

Strong results orientation

Strategic mindset

Good influencing skills

Good communication skills

Ability to manage multiple deadlines

International spirit and culturally aware

Good team worker

Analytical approach to problem solving

Ability to understand technical concepts

basic knowledge relating to health and safety matters under the current Italian legislation

At AkzoNobel we are highly committed to ensuring an inclusive and respectful workplace where all employees can be their best self. We strive to embrace diversity in a context of tolerance. Our talent acquisition process plays an integral part in this journey, as setting the foundations for a diverse environment. For this reason we train and educate on the implications of our Unconscious Bias in order for our TA and hiring managers to be mindful of them and take corrective actions when applicable. In our organization, all qualified applicants receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age or disability.

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