Specialist: Unbranded Channel

When it comes to putting people first, we're number 1.

The number 1 Top Employer in South Africa.

Certified by the Top Employer Institute 2024.

Role Purpose/Business Unit

Drive revenue and customer growth through the usage of Vodacoms Products and Services across the unbranded channels within a geographical area. Manage and maintain the relationship with respective trade and channel partners, the internal organisation, and suppliers.

Your Responsibilities Will Include

• Manage the unbranded channel stores (NC/WH/ADs/Informal stores) within a geographical location
• First line escalation from trade partners (customer queries) ECLO
• Manage field marketing agency by ensuring operational compliance and excellence retail pricing compliance, comparative pricing reporting, availability of stock, updated deals, campaigns & branding
• Achieving specific sales and customer service targets and objectives aligned to the unbranded regional strategy.
• Stakeholder relationships across national chains, wholesalers, alternative distributors and informal trade partners.
• Identify partnerships and collaborations to drive sales through brand and product awareness.
• Implement the distribution strategy within the Unbranded Channels space.

Key Responsibilities

• To implement the Unbranded Channel strategy and roadmap, to ensure maximum sales return and exposure.
• Attention and focus to be given to unbranded channels including National Chains, Wholesalers, Alternative distributors, spazas, traders, street hawkers, etc., mainly within the informal market.
• Establish and maintain relationships with informal traders and spaza operators on behalf of Vodacom to enable improved understanding and establish greater understanding of evolving consumer trends and behaviours.
• Ensure implementation and success of new products and services and identify opportunities to drive product awareness.
• Measure, Analyse and Report on a monthly basis on key activities, findings, learnings and areas of improvement and identify opportunities to improve sales and service that will positively impacts revenues, market share and customer experience.
• Create a monthly call cycle that outlines the store visits of both NC and informal stores, including partnership meetings on a monthly basis.
• Accountable for Vodacoms KPIs (revenue, base, market share, usage) in the designated locations and geographies.
• Manage & maintain relationship with trade partners end to end as first point of call/escalation, hence driving the acquisition, retention, and customer experience targets.
• Identify strategic opportunities to maximize profitability for area of responsibility. Liaise with the regional marketing team to facilitate promotions, presence branding and recommend ATL marketing opportunities within the area under care.
• To drive gross adds and VABS efficiencies in the Unbranded channel.
• To identify and recruit new business partners as per channel strategy, in order to increase distribution coverage.
• Implement and manage recovery plans for underperforming towns and stores.
• Manage third party outsource relationships to deliver on the Vodacom KPIs as per SLAs and proactively manage the development and implementation of the sales strategy, projects and general management, e.g., MSI.
• Monitor competitor activities and ensure gap closure through the development of competitor activity plans.
• Knowledge transfer - impart Knowledge transfer, P&P, campaigns, deals, trade bulletins to store staff.
• Provide insights for effective analysing for improvement of TNPS across Retail touchpoints and ENPS for the Region
• Implement people transformation initiatives in third parties
• Analyse, resolve and feedback on all regional customer issues.

The Ideal Candidate For This Role Will Have

Must have technical / professional qualifications:

• Matric / Grade 12, and
• 3 year commercial/marketing/sales diploma or degree (NQF 6 or higher) or SAQA accredited equivalent with
• 3-5 years relevant experience (essential)
• Relevant experience in small business development, marketing or sales
• Experience within Retail or Business environment with exposure to Projects implementation, monitoring, commercial & performance management, and stakeholder management (advantageous).
• Work experience in the telecommunications industry (advantageous)
• Drivers License EBO Essential
• Own vehicle (Essential)

Core Competencies, Knowledge And Experience

• Sales Planning & Execution
• Sales & Distribution management
• Channel Marketing
• Performance Reporting
• Stakeholder and Business Relationship Management
• Strategic Partnerships management
• Negotiation Skills

We Make An Impact By Offering

• Enticing incentive programs and competitive benefit packages
• Retirement funds, risk benefits, and medical aid benefits
• Cell phone and data benefits, advantages fibre connection discounts, and exclusive staff discounts offered in collaboration with partner companies

Closing date for Applications: 31 July 2024.

The base location for this role is Kokstad.

The company's approved Employment Equity Plan and Targets will be considered as part of the recruitment process. As an Equal Opportunities employer, we actively encourage and welcome people with various disabilities to apply.

Vodacom is committed to an organisational culture that recognises, appreciates, and values diversity & inclusion.