Coastal Distributor Manager

Job Description

Job Description:

Coastal Distributor Manager – Royal Canin, Cape Town

Everything we do is driven by our passion for the health and wellbeing of every cat and dog. You can now join us at Royal Canin on this mission. Our deep understanding of cats and dogs needs makes it possible for us to design the world's most precise pet health nutrition. We never stop learning and never take anything for granted. That’s why we collaborate with leading scientific, veterinary and behavioral experts, breeders and other pet professionals and maintain an ongoing dialogue with cat and dog owners worldwide.

As a Coastal Distributor Manager at Royal Canin, you will own and lead our crucial distributor partnerships to boost profitable category growth. Spanning the Vet, Pro, and PSR channels in the Western Cape, Eastern Cape, and KwaZulu Natal regions, your focus will be on driving the success of the Royal Canin & Eukanuba brands. You will be responsible for leading and inspiring the distributor team, ensuring our sales strategies and execution are perfectly aligned to deliver outstanding results and contribute to our ambitious growth agenda.

What are we looking for?

• You should have a Bachelor’s degree or Diploma in Marketing or a related business field.

• A minimum of 5 years of robust sales experience in the FMCG, Pharmaceutical or Cosmetic industry.

• A minimum of 3 years experience in a line management role is required.

• Proven experience in distributor management is essential, while Key Account management experience would be a significant advantage.

• We need someone with advanced MS Office skills, particularly in Excel and PowerPoint, coupled with excellent organizational and project management abilities.

• A creative and strategic mindset, with a passion for problem-solving and a focus on efficient execution.

What would be your key responsibilities?

• Indirectly lead and develop the distributor team, including Distributor Sales Managers and Sales Representatives.

• Set and manage monthly and quarterly sales targets, utilizing a detailed distributor scorecard to track performance and drive success.

• Develop and implement Joint Business Plans with key customers to achieve NSV targets.

• Take full ownership of the distributor relationship, including contract management, trading terms, and regular performance meetings.

• Lead the demand forecast process to ensure optimal stock availability and freshness.

• Effectively manage the trade marketing budget to drive sales execution and achieve a strong ROI.

• Develop and refine the route to market strategy to maximize efficiency and coverage.

What can you expect from Mars?

• Work with over 130,000 diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

• Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

• Best-in-class learning and development support from day one, including access to our in-house Mars University.

• An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.