Technical Specialist (Dairy)

De Heus; Klerksdorp; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 600,000; Full time

Job summary

De Heus Animal Nutrition in South Africa seeks an experienced Sales Representative to promote the Dairy range and provide technical support to customers and prospects. You will aim to achieve regional sales budgets and grow margins while maintaining strong customer relationships through regular visits.

The role requires a background in dairy nutrition, strong communication, and a proactive, tour-based travel schedule across the North West region, with a focus on top customers.

Qualifications

• B Agric / B.Sc. Agric or equivalent qualifications.
• Diploma in Agriculture (3 years) required.
• Registered Professional Nutritionist (SACNASP) preferred.
• Valid code 08/EB driver's license required.
• 3+ years in similar role with sales experience.

Responsibilities

• Promote and sell De Heus Dairy products to new and existing customers.
• Achieve monthly and annual sales budgets per customer and class by level.
• Build and maintain customer relationships with regular visits.
• Provide technical and product support to customers and TA’s.
• Capture market trends and report performance and margins.

Skills

Key account management

Relationship building

Communication skills

Problem solving

Attention to detail

Written communication

Education

B Agric / B.Sc. Agric

3 yr. Agricultural diploma

Registered SACNASP Nutritionist

Valid Code 08/EB driver’s license

Tools

MS Excel

MS Word

Outlook

Job description

De Heus Animal Nutrition is an international producer of a complete range of compound feed, premixes, concentrates and feed specialties. Their customers are small and large farmers, integrations and dealers. They provide them with nutritional concepts that ensure maximum animal health and optimal performance.

PURPOSE OF JOB

To promote the sale of our range of Dairy products, and to provide technical and product support as required by De Heus to De Heus TA’s, customers, and prospects. End goal is to achieve annual budgets / objectives for the region and to increase sales volume and margins

KEY PERFORMANCE AREAS

Selling

• The selling and supporting of De Heus Dairy range external to current clients and prospect clients.
• To achieve monthly & yearly sales budget per customer and 5 level classification
• The building and maintaining of customer relationships.
• To maintain a regular visit schedule with customers and potential customers in order to keep current monthly sales and grow sales with prospects.
• Monitor opposition trends on pricing. on a monthly basis
• To add value to the customers. Identify needs and goals from Top 10 clients in each area on a monthly basis and manage clients objectives by Key Account management principles
• To understand and keep abreast of the Dairy industry news and developments
• To train and assist the local dairy technical advisors

Technical

• To understand the principles of Dairy nutrition
• Monitor product performance / market trends
• Monitor and report as per objectives on Proof of Performance and margin monitoring and heifer costing models heifer
• Development of products in conjunction with Global and local dairy product manager
• To understand the fundamentals of forage production which will include dryland and irrigated pastures as well as other forage crops
• To maintain effective communication with customers and in-house personnel, writing of quarterly articles
• Monitor the performance of De Heus products, to gather production figures from client
• To play an active role in study groups & Trade shows.

Administration

• Registrations and legal aspects of Dairy products
• To handle the necessary administration and liaison with relevant key customers /customers/potential customers and in house personnel.
• Non-conformance reporting (External) and control thereof
• Accurate and on time reports to direct Superior and Product Manager – week reports, monthly sales reports
• Accurate and professional customer reports, in writing to clients after visits
• Compiling of and keeping dairy sector plan up to date – January & August of each year.
• Keeping to deadlines set for projects – these projects are identified as needed and focused on.

Standard

• Continually striving to improve through teamwork with other employees all related aspects of De Heus business.
• Using objective measurement, identifying problems within the company and subsequently identifying the "root cause" of problems.
• Ensuring always that corrective actions taken to resolve problems are, ultimately, permanent and preventative.
• Assisting, wherever possible, to ensure that all actions, functions and processes in De Heus’s business are conducted in a value-added manner.
• Complying, in line with the Policy Document, departmental procedures and practices.
• Ensuring that any subordinates reporting to you are effectively communicated to with regards to their responsibilities and authorities.
• Control of any company expenditure, which may be entrusted to you, in line with the overall company budget.
• To comply with any other work-related instruction which is relayed via a superior and which is deemed to be necessary and reasonable.
• The duties and responsibilities in this job description may be revised from time to time, by agreement, in line with the company’s overall Policy Documents and operational requirements.
• The company expects the employee to carry out his/her duties and responsibilities to the best of their ability and commits itself to empower the employee with the authority to meet these requirements.

Knowledge, Qualifications & Experience

• B Agric / B.Sc. Agric
• 3 yr. Agricultural diploma
• Possession of a valid code 08/EB driver’s license
• Registered Professional Nutritionist (SACNASP)
• 3 Years’ experience in similar role.
• Preferably have milling background experience
• Experience in selling and marketing
• Working knowledge with MS Excel, Word and Outlook

Skills

• Key account management
• Problem solving
• Conflict handling skills
• Communication Skills
• Relationship building skills
• Quality Awareness
• Computer skills (MS Office)
• Written communication skills
• Attention to detail

Behaviours

• Positive, pro-active, results-driven attitude
• Innovative
• Highly ethical and principle-driven
• Committed, dedicated, motivated
• Self-starter and follow-though
• Energy, drive, courage and tenacity
• Required to work with minimum supervision
• Ability to work under pressure with minimal supervision
• Ability to meet deadlines

Adverse Working Conditions

• Extensive travel for time to time

Closing date: 16 September 2026

Please note that only applicants who meet the stipulated minimum requirements will be considered. If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks of the closing date, kindly consider your application unsuccessful. De Heus reserves the right not to make an appointment to the post as advertised.