Traditional Trade Field Sales Manager

Colgate; Midrand; Hybrid; ZAR 700,000 - 1,000,000; Full time

Job summary

Colgate-Palmolive is seeking a Regional Field Sales Manager to lead field operations in a Midrand territory, overseeing 3rd party agents and driving distribution, volume growth and market share. Travel approx. 50% and a hybrid work setup are required as part of the role.

The role focuses on building relationships with store managers, conducting business reviews, and executing customer plans to maximize sales and exposure of Colgate products in the Traditional Trade sector.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5+ years in regional field operations within FMCG.
• Experience in indirect/traditional trade including buying groups, wholesalers, cash & carries, distributors.
• Valid driving license.

Responsibilities

• Build relationships with key store managers and provide objective analysis to ensure Colgate products have optimal store exposure.
• Conduct regular business reviews and follow up on sales activity, new products, customer service, receivables and claims.
• Develop and execute customer plans to profitably increase sales, distribution and market share.
• Coordinate with logistics to forecast needs and ensure on-time delivery while prioritizing product availability.
• Monitor store-level activity and share competitive and product insights to drive strategy.
• Track KPIs and take actions to improve performance.

Skills

5+ years regional field ops

FMCG experience

Indirect Trade (Traditional Trade)

Negotiation

Valid driving license

Job description

Established in 1806 as a small soap and candle business in New York City, Colgate-Palmolive is now a truly global company with products sold in over 200 countries and territories under such internationally recognised brand names as Colgate, Palmolive, Softsoap, Irish Spring, Protex, Sorriso, Kolynos, elmex, Tom's of Maine, Sanex, Ajax, Axion, Soupline, Haci Sakir, Suavitel, PCA SKIN, EltaMD, Filorga and Hello as well as Hill's Science Diet and Hill's Prescription Diet.

Colgate-Palmolive is a leading consumer products company that serves hundreds of millions of consumers worldwide with brands and products across four core businesses – Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care and Pet Nutrition. We are committed to offering products that make lives healthier and more enjoyable, and programmes that enrich communities around the world.

Every day millions of people trust our products to care for themselves and the ones they love. Our goal is to use our technology to create products that will continue to improve the quality of life for our consumers wherever they live.

A career at Colgate-Palmolive is an excellent opportunity if you seek a global experience, constant challenge, and development opportunities in an environment that respects work/life effectiveness.

Job Title: Traditional Trade Field Sales Manager

Travel Required?: Travel - 50% of time

Posting Start Date: 21/10/2026

Hybrid

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 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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