Technical Sales Manager – Food Ingredients

Chemelco International; Stellenbosch; On-site; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Career growth

Collaborative, international team

Job summary

Chemelco International in Stellenbosch, South Africa, is seeking a Technical Sales Manager - Food Ingredients to lead growth across Africa and Indian Ocean Islands. You will translate customer needs into ingredient solutions via visits, trials and demonstrations, and manage the full sales cycle from prospecting to close.

Applicants should have 3–5 years in technical sales within food ingredients, be fluent in English and Afrikaans, and willing to travel internationally.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemical Engineering (food-focused) or related.
• 3–5 years in technical sales, food applications, or customer technical support in food ingredients.
• Ability to interpret TDS, COA and SDS and understand formulations & regulatory requirements.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and customer relationship management skills.
• Ability to work independently with technical and commercial skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities and expand our customer portfolio across food categories.
• Provide technical sales support, translating customer needs into ingredient solutions via visits, trials and demonstrations.
• Manage full sales cycle from prospecting to deal closure and post-sales support.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and sales performance with accurate forecasts.
• Work with supply chain and logistics to ensure smooth order execution and CRM reporting.
• Represent Chemelco’s brand and ensure compliance with food safety regulations and governance standards.

Skills

Technical sales

Food knowledge

Customer relations

Negotiation

English fluency

Afrikaans fluency

Education

Bachelor’s in Food Tech/Science/ Chemical Eng

Tools

CRM systems

SAP

MS Office

Job description

Stellenbosch, South Africa | Full-time | Frequent travel

Location requirement: Candidates must currently reside in Stellenbosch or within reasonable daily commuting distance.

About Chemelco

Chemelco is an international food ingredients distribution company, serving customers across Europe, Central America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia.

We are looking for an experienced Technical Sales Manager - Food Ingredients to join our team in Stellenbosch, South Africa, managing existing customers and developing new business opportunities across Africa and the Indian Ocean Islands.

Key responsibilities

• Develop new business opportunities and expand our customer portfolio across food categories, including dairy, bakery, meat, beverages and confectionery.
• Provide technical sales support, translating customer needs into effective ingredient solutions through technical visits, trials and product demonstrations, while building long-term customer relationships.
• Manage the full sales cycle from prospecting to deal closure and post-sales support, preparing commercial proposals and achieving agreed sales targets.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and sales performance, maintaining accurate forecasts and pipeline reporting.
• Work closely with internal teams, including supply chain and logistics, to ensure smooth order execution, customer satisfaction, and accurate CRM reporting.
• Represent Chemelco's brand and values in all customer and industry interactions, ensuring compliance with food safety regulations, ethical sales practices, and corporate governance standards.

Profile & Requirements

• Bachelor's degree in Food Technology, Food Science, Chemical Engineering (food-focused), or a related discipline.
• 3-5 years of experience in technical sales, food applications, or customer technical support within the food ingredients industry.
• Ability to interpret technical documentation, including TDS, COA and SDS, and understand regulatory requirements, formulations and applications.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and customer relationship management skills.
• Ability to combine technical knowledge with commercial skills and work independently.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with CRM systems. SAP experience is an advantage.
• Willingness to travel internationally as required.
• Experience with starches and proteins, and an established network within the food ingredients industry would be an advantage.
• Fluency in English and Afrikaans. Additional languages are an advantage.

What we offer

• Career growth within an international company.
• A collaborative and international working environment.