Regional General Manager, SCD & Strategic Sales - Africa & Middle East

Damco Africa & Middle East, a vibrant, fast growing and performance driven organization, seeks a General Manager Business Development.  The ideal candidate is focused, enjoys challenges and makes things happen; enjoys performing in a dynamic and demanding environment.

The position is at General Manager Level, based in Cape Town, South Africa will be reporting to the Regional Chief Commercial Officer. The General Manager Business Development will be a Key member of the regional commercial team and will work with country organizations across Africa & Middle East. 

Responsibilities:

·       Develop Regional Strategic Account strategy including account selection, sales resource management and grow overall sales through CRM  from $4million to $18million in 2015 ·       Establish Key account program and coach Regional account managers in Developing account plans to increase share of wallet to $10million in 2015 ·        Own & generate new client opportunities with specific customers ·       Support Global sales and Key account management in developing differentiating propositions ·       Manage regional RFI and RFQ preparation for Key account and Strategic account customers. ·       Capture, articulate & Communicate best practice/Case studies of client solutions across the region Ensure best practice sharing ·       Build internal network outside Africa to sell ‘Africa & Middle East' to global Strategic sales contacts ·       Support global SCD organization in delivering its business plan to deliver differentiated solutions to customers ·       Introduce new global SCD products and concepts to internal stakeholders and manage its lifecycle ·       Support Chief Commercial Officer in delivering the commercial strategy to grow and retain existing and new accounts ·       Lead cross functional teams on tenders including developing project timelines; document creation and submission ·       Develop and up skill country sales teams through structured tender management approach ·       Analyze, track and review strategic and Key account sales performance & pipeline ·       Own Regional budgets for KAS and SAS sales channels ·       Establish and own client relationships and opportunities ·       Develop a network of touch points across region/globe Required background and experience:

·       Excellent people management and development skills ·       Well developed stakeholder management skills ·       Proven track record in project management ·       Excellent communication, facilitation and negotiation skills ·       Account management or business development background ·       Experience in negotiating and handling new business ·       Good supply chain knowledge & Damco network & products ·       Strong understanding of RFI/RFP requirements and tender management process ·       Expertise in some of the following industry verticals: retail, apparel, consumer electronics, chemicals, aid and relief, government and defense, reefer ·       Good knowledge of supply chain concepts and new trends ·       At least 8 to 10 years experience in freight forwarding and logistics ·       Relevant experience in a similar role with a proven track record. ·       Experience in international markets eg China/Asia Pacific ·       Strategic thinking and ability to lift business development to the next level ·       Having, a high sense of urgency, quality and being sensitive about following-up on all matters handled on the transactional level. ·       Service minded attitude towards customers as well as colleagues. ·       Thinking and acting, as the voice of the unit - bringing forward ideas for improvement (continuous improvement). ·       Ability to work under pressure and tight timelines

The position offers:

·       Be a key part of Establishing a tender management function to significantly uplift our win ratios ·       Work with wide variety of clients across broad geography developing new approaches ·       Build interpersonal skills to collaborate with stakeholders around the globe. ·       Enhanced project management capabilities ·       Developing pricing strategies ·       Establish a broad network across Damco Commercial function

The Company

Damco is the brand of the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group's logistics activities, and is one of the world's leading providers of freight forwarding and supply chain management services. For more than 20 years, Damco has been offering a broad range of transportation and logistics solutions to customers all over the world, and has over 9500 colleagues in 280 offices, covering more than 90 countries in Africa, Asia, North America, Europe, Middle East, and Latin America. Damco is an independent business activity within the A.P. Moller - Maersk Group. We embrace diversity and recruit the best person for the job - regardless of gender, age, nationality, sexual orientation or religious beliefs.

With 10,800 professionals in over 300 owned offices around the world, Damco manages more than 2.5 million TEU of ocean freight and supply chain management volumes and more than 110,000 tonnes of airfreight, annually.