Sales manager Africa (South)

What we offer:

Baoli EMEA is a member of Germany’s KION Group AG, one of the world’s largest material handling equipment and solutions providers. Baoli EMEA offers affordable forklift trucks, warehouse equipment, and spare parts to its customers across Europe, the Middle East, and Africa.

We are seeking a dynamic and experienced Brand Manager to oversee the Southern African market. The ideal candidate will play a crucial role in developing and maintaining strong relationships with our network of independent dealers, enabling them to successfully sell Baoli forklift trucks. This position does not involve direct sales to end customers but focuses on supporting and empowering our dealers to maximize their sales potential.

Given the diverse cultural, economic, and linguistic landscape of Southern Africa, including countries such as Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Angola, Ethiopia, Ghana, Tanzania, Cameroon, Uganda, Mozambique, Zambia, Namibia, Mauritius, Malawi, Rwanda, Zimbabwe, Seychelles, etc., this role requires a nuanced understanding and capabilities to navigate these differences effectively.

We are a small but growing team in which you have the chance to have a real impact on customer satisfaction, to implement your ideas, to personally grow and to jointly shape the future of Baoli EMEA.

Please note: Proficiency in English is essential, and knowledge of Portuguese or French would be highly beneficial for effective communication, as our network partners are located across the region.

Your responsibilities

• Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with the existing network of independent dealers.
• Identify, recruit, and onboard new dealers to expand market coverage.
• Track and analyze sales performance metrics for dealers, providing insights and recommendations for improvement.
• Collaborate with dealers to set and achieve sales targets.
• Lead and manage sales across the Southern, parts of Central and Western African region, set sales targets, and motivate all dealers to achieve objectives.
• Provide training and support to dealers on Baoli’s products, features, and specifications.
• Collaborate with the marketing team to develop promotional materials and sales tools to assist dealers in their efforts.
• Demonstrate a deep understanding of the cultural, economic, and business etiquette of the Southern African region.
• Adapt communication styles and strategies to effectively engage with diverse stakeholders in the region.
• Conduct thorough market analysis to identify trends, opportunities, and potential challenges in the Southern African market.
• Develop and implement effective sales strategies in alignment with Baoli’s business objectives.

Tasks and Qualifications:

Qualifications

• Proven experience in sales management, preferably in the material handling equipment industry.
• Degree in a technical or commercial field or equivalent experience related to the industry.
• Proven track record in managing and expanding sales networks.
• Strong understanding of the African market and business landscape.
• High level of familiarity with international payment methods and credit collection.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills with the ability to work effectively across different cultures and languages.
• Please note: Full proficiency in English is essential. Portuguese language skills are a big plus.
• Demonstrated ability to develop and maintain successful relationships with independent dealers.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze market trends and develop effective sales strategies.
• Substantial experience in the material handling industry as well as pre-existing relationships with distributors and/or end-customers are highly desired.
• Willingness to travel extensively within the Southern African region as needed.

What we offer

• A company with a future: Baoli EMEA is a growing organization in a very dynamic market. As part of the German KION Group, we are establishing a credible foundation for long-term success.
• Various privileges: Possibilities for regular remote work, attractive compensations & employee benefits, chances to learn new professional skills, an open and friendly working environment.