Introduction
ENGINEERING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER / Lubrications Business Development Manager
COMPANY INTRODUCTION:
The Group is a maritime bunkering company with their core business in Africa. Their subsidiaries (Gabon, Congo, Angola, South Africa, Mozambique, and Namibia) and partners have been operating along the African coast since 1959. Our teams can meet all the requirements of vessels operating in the area, with reliability and responsiveness.
The Lubrications Business Development Manager will report to the B-tech Unit Managing Director and will be the lubricants expert. Based in Cape Town, South Africa, you will have regular business trips in Africa and Europe and will work closely with the sales teams in all their subsidiaries to grow the Lubrications department.
Duties & Responsibilities
The position will be responsible for the following:
Expert Customer Liaison:
Increase sales revenues and improve margins for the lubricants department
Develop the existing customer portfolio and prospect for new customers
Identify markets and product range niches to be developed
Promote the product ranges to current and new customers
Service customers according to their needs with suitable products while ensuring that margins are optimized
Implement analytical monitoring of activity and report to the Business Unit Manager
Expert Supplier Liaison:
Develop confidence with suppliers to ensure access to ranges which meet our customers' expectations
Set up a supplier benchmarking process and ensure optimal purchasing prices and value
Support suppliers to improve the quality of products and services delivered to clients
Manage contract relationship with suppliers
Expert Sales team liaison
Cooperate and liaise with the sales teams based in the African subsidiaries, providing technical expertise and support for prospecting and increased revenues with current customers
Participate in setting of revenues increase targets and support these teams to achieve these objectives
Desired Experience & Qualification
- BCom Degree within a relevant expertise in the Engineering field related to lubrication product (Engineering qualification – Mechanical or similar with Sales background will be considered first).
- Experience within Supply Chain, Sales, and Marketing, Cost and Finance Management
- Minimum of 5 years' experience in business development or supply chain sales environments.
- Proven experience & knowledge in lubricants market specificities and lubricant suppliers.
- Significant experience in international business development and sales.
- Relevant exposure to the Maritime, Shipping, or Oil & Gas industry will be a distinct advantage.
- Proven successful professional experience in Africa and/or international environments, or a keen interest to discover these continents and its diversity.
- Strong entrepreneurial spirit and enjoyment for acquiring new businesses.
- Proven experience in successful engagement with cross-functional teams, spread over several sites and countries.
Minimum Skills and Abilities:
- Result-oriented, agile and able to suggest innovative solutions
- Strong and proven record of good negotiation skills
- Excellent ability to build strong business relationships and install confidence with people.
- Ability to listen to and understand customer expectations and needs.
- Good analytical, problem-solving, and synthesis skills
- Ability to work independently
- Fully computer literate (MS Office including Excel & Power BI) and have already worked with various Information System Tools
- Excellent communication skills (speaking and writing)
- Fluent in English and French. (Some language proficiency in Portuguese will be an advantage)
- Willing and able to travel extensively
Authority Levels
- Engage with existing and prospective Clients
- May review and propose changes on supplier and client contracts
- May approve quotations to Clients independently
- May issue orders to Suppliers
- Finalise Invoices to Clients
#J-18808-Ljbffr
