Consumers everywhere are increasingly conscious of the quality of the food they eat. Puratos develops, produces, and distributes a unique range of ingredients for bakers, pastry-chefs and chocolatiers who demand the very highest quality.
Founded in Belgium in 1919, From humble beginnings to worldwide success, join us on our journey and discover our history and heritage.
Weve evolved from a father-and-son start-up in Belgium, to a global group with more than 9000 employees, 93 innovation centers, and more than 65 manufacturing operations across 81 countries to date. Its with great pride that we look back on this century of hard work, courage, and innovation. Thank you for making it all possible and lets continue building the next 100 years of shared success!
Our passion for innovation, pioneering spirit, and core value our communities, is what makes working at Puratos so magical.
Key Accounts Manager Industrial & QSR (Johannesburg- Longmeadow, South Africa)
Position Overview
Manage all technical sales activities related to assigned customers in order to develop sales direct to Industry/ Semi-Industry and Food service as well as triangular and reach the profitability objectives, reporting directly to the Business Development Director,
Mission
The Key Account Manager-Industry and Food Service is responsible for the definition and implementation of the strategy for the assigned customers.
Main Responsibilities
Technical Sales Management (80%)
- Develop projects with current & potential customers and follow up by using CRM.
- Manage responsible accounts by maintaining regular customer contact, provide pre and after-sales support and ensure that all customer inquiries are promptly respond to by being main coordinator internally and externally.
- Regularly analyze sales data to ensure that budget of responsible accounts is met and aligned with all BU and strategic objectives.
- Working with IBDT and BDT to develop the new business by using CRM as a key tool.
- Provide monthly sales forecasts for assigned channel to sales team, customer service and supply chain.
- Develop strong relationship with the assigned customers.
- Continuously promoting products and services offered by the company.
- Organize with Marketing, R&D, Operations and TA, customer demonstrations, seminars and meetings, such as Customer Innovation Day to ensure execution of the planned commercial activities for the assigned accounts.
- Application specialist & Trouble shooting on customer line
- Run project prototype together with R&D
- Knowing the basics ingredients and range to be able to assist the customer in case of issues on the line
- Create and update the customer data base.
- Create and update competitors information.
- Be up to date with the latest developments in Industry & Food Service in general.
- Co-develop and implement the channel strategy with Business Development Director
- Formalize for the long term in a Long Range Plan and for the short term in the yearly Sales Plan in order to achieve the channel objectives in direct and triangular sales.
- Develop with the Key Account Managers a yearly Key Account Plan for the selected Key Accounts and Key Development accounts
- Assist Business Development Director in the development of the yearly Budget and LRP
- Implement the necessary tools and techniques in order to work efficiently and professionally. Examples; Sales Process, SANCOC, CRM, Channel and Account Profitability measurement,
- Develop a BDT Management approach in close collaboration with R&D, Marketing and Customer Service and Key Account Management mindset. Make sure structure is in place, training is given and projects are set up with selected KA/KDA. Monitor progress and results and be present at progress discussions with customers.
- Keep an open eye for new tools and techniques and implement in order to continuously improve our performance
- Post Matric Qualification in Business Admin, Food Science and Technology or equivalent.
- Must also be a qualified Baker.
- Bachelor/ masters degree in Business Admin, Food Science and Technology or equivalent (Preferred)
- Min 10 years of experience in related field with proven track record.
- Previous Key Account Manager experience
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Motivator and coach
- Team player, animator and leader
- Business & result driven.
- Good sales and negotiation skills
- Fluent in English
- Field sales, Trade marketing or consumer marketing experience is a plus.
- Able to work independently and entrepreneurship.
- Collaborating Effectively: Ability to think and act as one team in a spirit of trust and respect. Being open to different ideas. Building formal and informal relationship networks.
- Communicating Effectively: Developing and delivering communications in diverse modes that generate a clear understanding of the unique needs of different audiences.
- Driving Performance: Showing ambition and going the extra mile in achieving expected results. Driving sustainable operational excellence through diligent planning, prioritization, monitoring & effective use of resources.
- Improving Continuously: Being passionate about achieving high quality standards for oneself and the organization. Constantly looking for and taking advantage of improvement opportunities
- Managing Customer Needs: Being able and eager to find out what the internal or external customer wants and needs and to act accordingly. Making the life of the customer easier. Fostering a customer centric culture.
- Ethical, honest and utmost integrity - sharing Puratos values.
- Excessive strategic vision: innovative, creative, can thing out of the box
- Experience or strong affinity with digitalization: E-commerce or new route to markets
- Excellent leadership: change management and time management skills
Puratos provides a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment that encourages our people to take initiatives and bring ideas that will contribute to the success of the company. Of course, Puratos offers a competitive package (salary, and market related benefits) but additionally, offers you a position that you can further develop and shape.
