Technical Sales Manager Food Ingredients Distribution

GFIC Geiger Food Ingredients Recruitment & Consult.Ing; South Africa; Remote; ZAR 900,000 - 1,200,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive remuneration package

Performance-related commission

Company car

Job summary

An international food ingredients distributor is seeking a Technical Sales Manager in Johannesburg, South Africa. The successful candidate will lead business development for selected food ingredients and must have a Degree in Food Technology along with fluency in Italian and English. Responsibilities include market analysis, strategy development, and maintaining supplier relationships. The position is home-office based with regional and international travel required.

Qualifications

• Fluent in Italian and English (spoken and written).
• Valid driving licence.
• Experience working within an international team.
• Experience in an international team and lean structures.

Responsibilities

• Analyse market trends and identify new opportunities.
• Develop and implement market strategy for assigned product groups.
• Build and maintain relationships with suppliers and customers.
• Conduct customer visits and create value-proposition proposals.
• Manage projects in cooperation with Customer Service Manager.
• Manage projects with Customer Service Manager and Category Managers.
• Align sales strategies with country and supplier objectives.
• Execute sales budgets and forecast future performance.

Skills

Problem-solving skills

Communication skills

Negotiation skills

Analytical abilities

Collaboration

Willingness to travel

Team collaboration

Problem solving

Education

Degree in Food Technology

Job description

Technical Sales Manager Food Ingredients Distribution

For an international Food Ingredients Distributor operating in Europe and Africa, we seek a Technical Sales Manager to lead business development of selected food ingredients across the food and beverage industry. The position is home‑office based in South Africa with frequent travel.

Key Responsibilities

• Analyse market trends and product ranges to identify new opportunities.
• Develop and implement market strategy, purchasing, and sales plans for assigned product groups.
• Build and maintain close relationships with suppliers and customers.
• Conduct customer visits, assess needs, and create value‑proposition proposals.
• Participate in and coordinate production trials, both at customer sites and in our application kitchen.
• Manage projects in close cooperation with the Customer Service Manager and Category Managers.
• Align sales strategies with country and supplier objectives.
• Execute sales budgets and forecast future performance.
• Provide ongoing training and knowledge sharing internally and abroad.

Qualifications & Requirements

• Degree in Food Technology (Must have)
• Strong problem‑solving skills and passion for food product development.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and analytical abilities.
• High willingness to travel.
• Organised, reliable, and positive mindset.
• Fluent in Italian and English (spoken and written) (Must have)
• Valid driving licence (Must have)
• Experience working within an international team and lean structures.
• Ability to collaborate closely with market‑leading suppliers and deliver product training in our lab.
• Strong commitment to continuous learning in sales, project management, and technological know‑how.
• Competitive remuneration package, including performance‑related commission and company car.

Location

Johannesburg, Gauteng, South Africa (Remote home office with regional and international travel).

Seniority Level

Mid‑Senior level

Employment Type

Full‑time