Technical Sales Manager Ruminants -SADC needed at Cargill

Job Purpose and Impact

• The Technical Sales Manager Ruminants has the responsibility of developing Cargill’s value-added ruminant nutrition solutions business in SADC region, with dominant focus on South Africa. One of the most important priorities is the development and growth of the ruminant business together with customers and distributors (existing customers and prospects) through nutritional support of our customers’ nutritionists and sales teams. This approach will add value to the farmers by having improved access to world class nutrition solutions provided by Cargill worldwide In this role, you will understand customer strategies and needs and help them to improve their results and reach and exceed their goals through product solutions and services. You will also identify new business development opportunities within existing customers or with new opportunities, find and propose solutions, lead projects, communicate and train customers. You will be a trusted advisor to customers and provide strategic and technical direction for account managers.

This is a remote role and can be based in any location in South Africa. 

Key Accountabilities

• Develop and grow Trusted Advisor partnerships with customers from the region, understand their business strategy and help to achieve it. Research and identify their requirements/expectations for existing and prospected customers.
• Partner with the team to develop an ongoing engagement strategy for assigned customers and prospect accounts within area of scope (portfolio of products and services).
• Create demand for products and services by raising their profile with customers and assess performance against key criteria for customers with the most significant impact at the business level and grows incremental contribution margin to meet agreed targets.
• Monitor customer and competitor activity and industry trends and constantly expand knowledge on customers, the application and markets to create new innovation ideas for new projects.
• Participate in technical involvement in customer contract negotiation, quarterly meetings, propose strategy, positioning and value proposition.
• Collaborate with commercial department on providing product, application, ingredient, processing expertise and training.
• Act as the technical link with marketing and technology team within research and development functions working directly with other functions to assess opportunities for improvement and provide advice and consultation.
• Independently handle complex issues with minimal supervision, while escalating only the most complex issues to appropriate staff.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in agriculture, animal nutrition or veterinary sciences
• In depth technical knowledge in ruminant’s species (diary, beef, sheep and goats).
• Customer oriented mindset. 
• Proven work experience in ruminant nutrition and/or husbandry in Sales and Technology translating customer or industry needs into commercial solutions.
• Excellent communication skills in Afrikaans and English, both written and verbal.
• Strong commercial experience and mindset.
• B driving license.
• Ability to travel up to 55%, mainly local in South Africa and less in the rest of SADC region (indicative).

Preferred Qualifications

• Master’s degree or other post-secondary degree in agriculture, animal nutrition or veterinary sciences.
• A business specilizaton or certification would be appreciated.
• Action oriented with emotional intelligence, energetic, good influencing skills.