Technical Sales Engineer

Context: Landis+Gyr (Pty) Ltd is part of a global organisation and is engaged in the design, production and distribution of energy metering and energy management products. The Technical Sales Engineer will be responsible for the generation and development of new business opportunities, managing existing business relationships with L+G's key accounts, and developing a direct sales organisation to further and continuously grow the revenue and market share of Landis+Gyr South Africa. The role involves translating and explaining highly complex technical information to customers and clients, focusing on revealing how a product or piece of equipment can solve specific problems, as well as representing the technical aspects of the product and proposing how these aspects can benefit the customer. Sales engineers must have a strong technical understanding of the complexities of what the company supplies together with excellent sales skills. The Technical Sales Engineer is responsible for staying abreast of the latest developments and breakthroughs and can pass this vital knowledge on to others. This position is suited to a person who is 'sales hungry' and who can exploit their exceptional sales skills with effective and successful results. Areas of Responsibility / Tasks Develop and implement sales strategies in allocated regions or territories, in conjunction with the Sales Manager. Develop marketing plans per territory and drive their implementation, in line with overall strategies of Landis+Gyr EMEA, in conjunction with the Sales Manager. Selling and consulting on technologically and scientifically advanced products. Using technical skills to demonstrate to potential customers the usefulness of the product or service and how it may suit the customer better than competing products. Facilitate the attainment of the budgeted volume and margin targets per territory. Advising customers on how best to use the products or services provided. Provide sales forecasts timeously each month. Provide sales reports timeously each month. Monitor the efficient execution of orders per territory. Act as the point of contact per territory, both for sales channels and directly with customers. Promote and sell the full range of Landis+Gyr products, where applicable, in each region. Collaborate with the design, production, engineering, or research and development departments of the company to determine how products and services could be made or modified to suit the needs of the customer. Product/System Development By means of visit reports, formal workshops, and informal discussions, keep the Product and System Product Managers abreast of regional developments and needs, so that these can be evaluated for possible future developments. Detailed Functional Tasks: Sales/Marketing Activities. Provide first line technical support to customers in the region. Provide training to customers on the full range of products and services. Develop realistic annual budgets for territories. Manage operating costs within agreed budgeted levels. Develop plans per territory, which are realistic and in line with regional and product segment strategies. Seek out and identify preferred sales channels per territory (direct, via Landis+Gyr or via agents). In line with above, enter into distribution or agency agreements with selected partners, clearly defining the parameters of operation. Develop and implement a visit programme per territory based on the operating requirements and market potential of each territory and within the pre-agreed cost constraints, optimising visit schedules to spread costs across several territories, where possible. Ensure, at all times, that the company is covered for the risk of non-payment via prudent financial arrangements. Field all communications from the territory and ensure timeous responses. Maintain relationships with key contacts in each territory. Prepare and submit, or oversee, all quotations and tenders per territory, ensuring a timeous and suitable submission. Develop a suitable marketing communications programme per territory and ensure that all key stakeholders in each territory are kept abreast of Landis+Gyr, E460 AMI portfolio, Gridstream AIM/HES, and Suprima Vending System. Assist the Marketing function with information relating to marketing communications needs, including relevance and needs of regional exhibition/conference activities. Attend conferences and exhibitions where these are considered valuable to the business development activity. Ensure that all information relating to a territory is readily available in the event of non-availability of the assigned Business Development Manager or handover of the territory for any reason. Collect information relating to new product and system requirements, as well as customer needs and wants, and feed this information back to Product Management. Assist in conducting market surveys and completing customer questionnaires. Strategic Analysis of Territories Collect all macro market information related to a territory by scanning all available media on that territory, including country-specific news media. Identify risks, opportunities, and threats (economic and political) by territory and factor into market plans and territory strategies. Monitor the actions of competitors per territory and take appropriate action to neutralise threats, where possible. Provide detailed visit reports per territory and circulate to interested or affected persons in the company. Identify the key decision makers and influencers in each territory and track their progress and the emergence of new ones. Build and maintain relationships with them over time. Skills / Attributes Communication and interpersonal (Cross Functional & Cross Cultural). Presentation Skills. Planning and Organizing. Leadership and Supervision. Multi-tasking. Honest and ethical, with a high level of discretion. Goal-oriented, with high energy and commitment level, and a strong desire to win. Good listener, with analytical skills and sales professionalism. Strong commitment to customer service, and the need to deliver solutions to customers' problems rather than just meeting sales budgets at all costs. A self-starter, who is focused and disciplined, with a high level of initiative and innovation. The ability to project a professional image and communicate with high-level contacts. Methodologies / Technologies / Professional Knowledge Level Business relevance Future trend Basic Advanced Expert high medium low + 0 - Communication skills: verbal, written, PC X X X Project management and implementation X X X Strategic planning X X X Change management X X X Information management X X X Technical knowledge of products X X X Leadership skills X X X Negotiation skills X X X Interpersonal skills X X X Problem-solving ability X X X Customer orientation X X X Ability to plan, organise and control X X X Creativity X X X Qualifications: Minimum: National Diploma: N6 or T4 – Electrical Engineering, Sales and Marketing Qualifications will be advantageous. Desired: University degree – Electrical Engineering Degree. Professional Experience: Minimum: 5 years Metering Field Experience. Preferred: Sales Experience in a technical Environment and previous tender/quotation experience. Demonstrate understanding of selling revenue management services to utilities and municipalities. Experience in selling water meters. Experience in selling EV chargers. Working and managing CRM systems. Able to conduct site audits and configure ICG meters. Experience in helping to build exhibition stands to showcase products, e.g. Enlit, AMEU, and SARPA conventions. Leadership Experience: Demonstrated experience of defining goals and objectives and leading/driving a team to achieve desired results. Intercultural Experience: Demonstrated experience of working effectively in a multi-cultural environment. Additional Requirements / Age: Own transport. Extensive travelling.
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