Technical Business Development Executive

DAV Professional Placement Group; Midrand; On-site; ZAR 600 000 - 900 000; Full time

Job summary

A recruitment agency is seeking a high-performing Technical Business Development Executive in Midrand, South Africa. The role focuses on developing new markets for labels and packaging solutions, requiring a minimum of seven years of sales experience in engineering or manufacturing, particularly in technical sales. Candidates must be comfortable with extensive travel and navigate long, consultative sales cycles to drive new business opportunities with multinational clients. This position involves close collaboration with production and technical teams to provide tailored solutions and manage the full business development lifecycle.

Qualifications

• Minimum of seven years' successful sales experience in engineering or manufacturing.
• Experience selling technical, industrial, or engineered products.
• Comfortable navigating long sales cycles.

Responsibilities

• Identify and develop new markets for pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeves.
• Engage manufacturers in their product development lifecycle.
• Translate customer challenges into technical proposals.

Skills

Technical sales

Market development

Consultative selling

Relationship management

Job description

Role Purpose

Our client, a well-established manufacturing company specialising in labels and packaging solutions, is seeking a high-performing, hunter-style Technical Business Development Executive. The ideal candidate will have a minimum of seven years' successful sales experience in engineering or manufacturing, with direct exposure to technical components and the ability to customise solutions for clients. This role focuses on developing new markets from the ground up rather than managing existing accounts. The successful candidate will be comfortable navigating long, consultative sales cycles and driving new business opportunities with multinational clients.

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, and qualify new markets, sectors, and applications for pressure-sensitive labels and shrink sleeves, building a new business pipeline from inception
• Engage manufacturers early in their product development lifecycle to understand needs and provide tailored solutions
• Translate customer challenges into technical, value-based proposals
• Collaborate with internal production and technical teams to ensure feasibility and delivery
• Develop and present data-driven market entry strategies supported by industry insight
• Manage the full business development lifecycle, from prospecting and technical evaluation through trials and conversion

Technical Sales Experience

• Proven experience selling technical, industrial, or engineered products, preferably in packaging, printing, or label solutions
• Candidates without direct packaging experience must demonstrate experience collaborating closely with production or technical teams

Role Outcomes

• Build a qualified and sustainable new-business pipeline
• Identify and validate new market segments
• Convert trials or pilot projects into long-term customers
• Establish credibility and trusted relationships with internal production and technical teams

Travel Requirements

This role requires up to 70% travel, including frequent local travel, regular Southern Africa travel, and occasional international trips