Sales Development Manager: Water Care

**Overview**:
**Qualifications**:

- Matric / Grade 12 with Mathematocs and Science
- University (First degree), i.e. Bachelor of Science or similar

**Experience**:

- 5 - 10 years in water and wastewater treatment products and solutions offerings and Key Account Management

**Duties**:
**Product Strategy and Development**:

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop and refine product strategies aligned with business objectives.
- Drive new product development initiatives, from concept to launch, ensuring adherence to quality and regulatory standards (NPI - New Product Implementation).
- Oversee existing product development (EPD), managing stock forecasting for a broad range polymeric coagulant in collaborations with production.
- Prepare product costing, including shipping details, for exports sales
- Support the commercial manager and the commercial team with plant trials where necessary. Develop comprehensive pricing for new formulation and support the commercial team when required
- Have the ability to test the product at site and conduct plant trials when required
- Support Procurement and Sourcing teams with negotiation with suppliers to secure favourable terms and pricing

**Market Positioning**:

- Understand competitor activities in the water and wastewater treatment in the continent
- Understand the drivers for change of products and suppliers in water treatment
- Develop an in-depth understanding of customer needs and market trends to strategically position products.
- Conduct competitive analysis to identify key differentiators and establish a competitive advantage based on the specific product.
- Collaborate with marketing teams to create compelling messaging and positioning for the Protea chemicals water care product offering.
- Engage in marketing activities with local industry bodies, including sales and marketing efforts, editorials, and advertorials.
- Negotiating with customers, distributors, and stakeholders to secure favorable terms and pricing

**Lifecycle Management**:

- Take ownership of the entire product lifecycle, managing products from introduction to end-of-life.
- Monitor product performance and customer feedback, utilising data-driven insights to enhance product offerings.
- Identifying opportunities for process optimization, cost reduction, and innovation in sales and marketing of Water Care products.

**Cross-Functional Collaboration**:

- Collaborate seamlessly with sales, marketing, supply chain, and quality teams to ensure alignment and effective communication.
- Provide training and support to sales teams, enhancing their product knowledge and driving successful sales strategies.
- Function as a liaison between different departments, facilitating smooth product development and launches
- Identify opportunities at water care where Omnia/Protea Chemicals can add value

**Key account management for Exports Business**:

- Manage a portfolio of key customers to facilitate growth of the product basket
- Enhance the customer relationship to ensure long term partnerships
- Develop customer account plans to identify new opportunities and present to the business
- Build partnerships with key customers to ensure long-term viability of the relationship
- Communicating goals, strategies, and updates to internal teams, external partners, and stakeholders in order to offer value-added services to key accounts.
- Resolving production, distribution, and marketing issues related to Water Care additive products

**Compliance**:

- Stay updated on local and international regulatory requirements related to products
- Participate in industry associations applicable to the product portfolio
- Collaborate with the quality team to ensure compliance with industry regulations, quality standards, and safety requirements for Water Care products both locally and globally

**Job Competencies**:
**Core Behavioural Competencies**:

- Builds Collaborative Relationships
- Results Orientation
- Ensures Accountability
- Customer Focus
- Continuous Improvement and Development
- Situational Adaptability and Resilience
- Strategic Thinking
- Decision Quality
- Balances Stakeholders
- Analytical Thinking

**General**: