Commercial Leader Africa

It's fun to work in a company where people truly believe in what they are doing!

It's fun to work in a company where people truly believe in what they are doing!

We are currently looking to recruit a Commercial Leader Africa, to join our award-winning business. This role is remote based and can be situated in Dubai or France.

Reporting to the Senior Director, the Commercial Leader Africa provides sales advice and consults with the leadership team to set and execute short-term strategic direction and operating plans for a typically small to medium complex market/product line(s)/organization.  They will be responsible for determining directions, priorities and will assign resources with full accountability for results of the Africa food safety business.  

The Commercial Leader Africa will also have responsibility for managing sales targets for assigned customers/area(s)/product line(s) within the sales function, including contract sales, field sales, channel partner management, inside sales, sales support, sales reporting, business intelligence, sales analytics, variable incentive compensation, customer master data, indirect data processing (point of sale and charge backs), customer relationship management, territory planning/mapping/ forecasting, sales prospecting, sales rep issue resolution, sales inquiries, sample orders, order expedites, SFDC entries, etc. Identifies and defines market/product opportunities to meet sales and growth objectives.  

At Neogen, we partner with our customers to protect and enhance the world’s level of food and animal safety. By offering a diverse suite of solutions for the food, beverage, animal protein and agriculture industries, we empower our customers to safeguard their brands and create better products. We also have the privilege to partner with companies in the companion and performance animal industries, as well as the fields of life sciences and toxicology.

Our team here supports the Indian, European, Middle Eastern and African (iEMEA) territories for Neogen Corporation, a top performing NASDAQ listed business employing over 2,000 people worldwide.

What you’ll be doing:

• Responsible for maintaining and driving sales growth throughout the assigned territory via a mixture of direct and distribution channels. 
• Support, drive and motivate distributors & direct customers by a process of selling skills, technical training, presentations, logistics and other business led solutions. 
• Support, drive and generate new business, looking for opportunities to cross sell and grow business. 
• Evaluate existing distribution channels for designated countries and search, interview and appoint new distributors and sales channel partners where needed. 
• Be responsible for first level of customer support regarding technical issues, complaints and product applications. 
• Provide technical support including demonstrations, installations and trainings for customers and prospects with emphasis on the microbiology range. 
• Travel extensively through the Africa region to drive business growth  
• Consults with leadership team to set and execute strategic direction and operating plans for the Africa food safety territory and defines guidelines/methods. Decisions are typically limited by business or functional area objectives/guidelines. Initiates and approves projects to continuously improve efficiency and competitiveness.  
• Have direct responsibility or work with Senior Director for functional strategic planning, including establishing and managing budgets for the Africa food safety territory.  
• Management responsibility for the Africa food safety territory sales team plus strategic/key account management and/or field sales contract sales, field sales, inside sales, sales reporting, business intelligence, sales analytics, variable incentive compensation, agent commissions, customer master data, indirect data processing (point of sale and charge backs), customer relationship management, territory planning/mapping/ forecasting, sales prospecting, sales rep issue resolution, sales inquiries, sample orders, order expedites, CRM entries, etc. Determines priorities, timetables and assigns resources/tasks. Accountable for the activities and results of their functional area.  
• Provides direct supervision to the Africa food safety territory sales team including objective setting, performance management, development, motivating and training and coaching, as well as leading for change.  
• Problem solving requiring hypothetical thinking to determine best solutions for complex problems. Utilizes resources across work areas and departments to create solutions. Most complex problem solving may require in-depth interpretation and analysis for significantly different situations.  
• Has responsibility for establishing and enforcing multiple concepts relative to the function. Working tasks might include:  

a. Executes and coaches to sales plans for priority accounts in CRM.  

b. Explains sales plans to functional leaders to ensure their understanding and buy-in; provides a course of action to fill gaps.  

c. Influences internal and external decision makers, typically at managerial or functional leaders levels, for program and/or territory design.  

d. Builds strong business partner and customer relationships and negotiates larger contracts and/or service level agreements.  

e. Ensures local issues are incorporated into sales plans, taking local goals and investments into consideration.  

f. Provides input to the development of the annual sales forecast.  

g. Coaches sales representatives to improve and/or develop new skills and competencies     according to the individual development plan.  

h. Provides input for optimal use of current channels and identifies partners/alliances/channels for continuous growth.  

i. Works with business team to develop sales objectives and operations plans to implement the strategies. Monitors sales activities (e.g. sales calls) and provides feedback to sales representatives.  

j. Shares best practices with other Sales Managers across locations/countries.  

k. Evaluates and recommends new activities and approaches to improve sales rep performance results.  

l. Responsible for collaboration and cross-functional coordination of functional impacts or decisions relative to area of responsibility.  

m. Drives and/or designs customer facing data management processes and sales analytics to support strategic and operational business objectives. Responsible for understanding POS data relative to business strategies; performs data analysis and supports execution of new programs based on POS data. Provides input and leadership into organizational design and refinements of owned processes for greatest efficiency and effectiveness. Drives Global Sales Incentive Compensation Framework structure with sales leaders in respective business area.  

• Effective communication with major channel partners, customers and regional key opinion leaders as well as internally with managers, functional leaders, area/business leaders, department heads, and direct reports.  

About you:

• Must be able to demonstrate extensive relevant working experience within a similar role. 
• Proven experience within international channel partner management and scientific field sales is essential as well as customer relationship management, territory planning/mapping/forecasting, sales prospecting, sales rep issue resolution, sales inquiries, sample orders, order expedites, CRM entries, etc.  
• Food safety and security / livestock-related sales and/or marketing experience is preferred.  
• Excellent communication (Verbal & Written) skills essential. 
• Language skills – English (essential). French (preferred). Arabic (preferred) 
• Have the ability to write reports and business correspondence as well as effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients, customers. 
• Good Mental arithmetic and a good level of numeracy, to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, mark up, margins, proportions, percentages, and volume. Familiarity with software packages including Microsoft Office, particularly Word, Excel, PowerPoint and SalesForce.   
• Must be highly motivated, driven with excellent organization skills and the ability to work as part of a team, as well as on own initiative. 
• Must be available for international travel with overnight stays to Europe, Middle East & Africa as required for customer, business meetings and international shows. 

Please press Apply now in order to submit your application.

A Mission That Matters

Neogen is dedicated to the advancement of human and animal wellbeing through science and technology so we can fuel a brighter future for global food security.

Our culture is comprised of our Purpose and Promise, our Principles and our Values – which guide our everyday decision making. Dreaming big while Inspiring and Innovating, doing the right thing while Acting with Integrity, being solution driven while Delivering On Our Promises, celebrating the talent each person brings while Fostering Optimism and valuing diversity while Cultivating Belonging. It’s our actions aligning with these values that provide a consistent, happy and healthy work environment for our employees.

This is an excellent opportunity to be part of a growing organisation. If this role has caught your attention and you feel it might be good fit for you then please don't hesitate to apply.

From inside the farm gate to our dinner plates, Neogen protects the world’s food supply. Through a variety of animal healthcare products, to food safety solutions for dangerous bacteria, allergens, toxins, drug residues and much more, Neogen is there — and you can be too.