Traditional Trade Field Sales Manager

Colgate-Palmolive Company; Gauteng; Hybrid; ZAR 600,000 - 900,000; Full time

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive Company in Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa, invites a seasoned Regional Field Sales Manager to lead field operations and direct third‑party sales resources to achieve net sales, distribution, volume growth and market share targets.

You will build strong relationships with store managers, develop customer plans, coordinate with logistics, and monitor KPIs to continuously improve performance in a fast‑moving FMCG environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent; honours preferred.
• 5+ years in regional field operations within FMCG.
• Experience with indirect trade and negotiating with buying groups, wholesalers, cash & carries, distributors.
• Valid driving license.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with store managers and key contacts to ensure optimal exposure for Colgate products, at store level.
• Conduct regular business reviews on sales activity, new products, customer service, receivables and claims.
• Develop and execute customer plans that profitably increase sales, distribution and market share.
• Coordinate with logistics to forecast customer needs and ensure on-time delivery.
• Monitor in-store activity and relay competitive insights to marketing and management to inform strategies.
• Track KPIs and drive performance improvements.

Skills

Relationship building

Negotiation

Customer analysis

KPIs tracking

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Honours degree preferred

Job description

No Relocation Assistance Offered

Job Number #176578 - Midrand, Gauteng, South Africa

Who We Are

Colgate-Palmolive Company is a global consumer products company operating in over 200 countries specialising in Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, Skin Care, and Pet Nutrition. Our products are trusted in more households than any other brand in the world, making us a household name!

Join Colgate-Palmolive, a caring, innovative growth company reimagining a healthier future for people, their pets, and our planet. Guided by our core values—Caring, Inclusive, and Courageous—we foster a culture that inspires our people to achieve common goals. Together, let's build a brighter, healthier future for all.

Job Summary:

This person is responsible for managing the field sales operations in a territory or geographic region as well directing the activities of the 3rd party sales and merchandising provider’s resources in order to deliver our net sales, distribution, volume growth, forward share and market share targets.

The Regional Field Sales Manager plays an extensive role in driving customer and shopper demand through two key areas of focus:

Main Responsibilities:

• Building relationships with key contacts (e.g. Operations & store managers) and providing customers with objective and trustworthy analysis of their business in order to ensure that Customers carry an appropriate portfolio of Colgate products that receive optimal exposure at store level
• Conducting regular business reviews and follow-up on sales activity, new products, customer service, receivables, and claims.
• Developing and executing customer plans that profitably increase sales volume, distribution and market share
• Working with logistics to plan, analyze, and forecast customer(s) needs, to follow up on orders to ensure on time and complete delivery, and to prioritize customer requirements when product is unavailable.
• Monitoring activity at store level and communicating competitive, category, and product (e.g. pricing, product assortment, promotion and placement) information impacting sales results to customer marketing and Customer management so that they can proactively respond with new strategies and tactics.
• Tracking KPIs and taking action to improve performance.

Required Qualification:

• Minimum requirement of Bachelors degree or equivalent qualification, Honours degree preferred,
• Minimum work experience of 5+ Years in Regional field Operations within FMCG Industry
• Noteable experience with working in Indirect Trade (Traditional Trade) with strong ability to negotiate with Buying Groups, Wholesalers, Cash & Carries and Distributors.Previous experience in managing a field sales team & 3rd party Sales Agent
• Valid driving license

Our Commitment to Inclusion

Our journey begins with our people—developing strong talent with diverse backgrounds and perspectives to best serve our consumers around the world and fostering an inclusive environment where everyone feels a true sense of belonging. We are dedicated to ensuring that each individual can be their authentic self, is treated with respect, and is empowered by leadership to contribute meaningfully to our business.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Colgate is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, national origin, ethnicity, age, disability, marital status, veteran status (United States positions), or any other characteristic protected by law.

Reasonable accommodation during the application process is available for persons with disabilities. Please complete this request form should you require accommodation.

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