Country Manager, South Africa, South Africa Enterprise Sales

Country Manager, South Africa, South Africa Enterprise Sales

Amazon Web Services (AWS) is a pioneer and recognized leader in Cloud Computing. Since 2006, AWS has been offering IT infrastructure services to businesses in the form of web services, which provide a platform for IT infrastructure in-the-cloud that is used by hundreds of thousands of developers and businesses around the world. These customers range from start-ups to leading web companies to Global Fortune 500 companies in financial services, manufacturing, retail, pharmaceuticals, and technology.

As we rapidly grow our business, we are seeking a senior commercial executive, to take on the role as Country Manager, to lead AWS in South Africa. This is a chance to be a pioneer in one of the most exciting areas in the technology space with the leading cloud provider and innovator. In this role you will lead the business in South Africa to continue to accelerate, by building a strong growth strategy through inspirational leadership and focused execution. We are looking for an experienced Leader of Leaders with prior country management experience, adept at delivering growth in early-stage organizations through to full scale-up environments, to own and scale the business in South Africa.

The Country Manager is an individual who can speak fluently about our business and investments across Sub Saharan Africa (SSA) and in South Africa specifically and suitably represent our business with customer and partner executives, with Government and Regulators as well as with external press, media and at official events/speaking engagements. In this role, you will have a direct responsibility to empower and inspire customers to leverage AWS innovations to power their digital transformation journey in the cloud to deliver business value. You will establish and maintain strong executive relationships with key customers, driving innovation and next-gen capabilities across infrastructure and business application landscapes. You will lead the South Africa team in developing opportunity pipeline, evangelizing cloud computing, driving revenue growth and user adoption. You will also be responsible for building the AWS go-to-market through both your dedicated team and the cross-functional ecosystems. This is an exciting opportunity to be part of a fast growing and entrepreneurial organization, bringing innovation and growing the adoption of cloud.

The South Africa Country Manager reports to the General Manager for AWS SSA, which consists of 46 countries with 3 key growth markets (South Africa, Kenya, Nigeria), and is a member of the SSA Senior Leadership Team. This role can be based out of Cape Town or Johannesburg, South Africa.

Key job responsibilities

1. Be an active member of the AWS SSA Senior Leadership team, and a co-owner of business strategy creation, execution and delivering the overall AWS SSA business results.
2. Country Manager for AWS South Africa responsible to lead all Amazon Global Sales (AGS) teams across South Africa in building and executing a strong local go-to-market strategy by vertical and segment leveraging the full strength of Amazon and AWS to accelerate revenue growth.
3. Directly lead the Enterprise sales leadership team including developing opportunity pipeline, driving revenue growth and user adoption as well as direct sales engagements cross key industry verticals acting as executive sponsor for key customer and partner relationships.
4. Lead the team in creation and evolution of the “AWS in South Africa” story and act as the local figure head representing AWS to customer executives, partners, government, press/media to build a strong local AWS brand name.
5. Lead the local Country Leadership team consisting of Sales Leaders for all AGS as well as Functional Leaders (Solution Architecture, ProServe, CSM, PSM/PDM, Marketing, Finance, SSOE, B-BBEE) to ensure focused execution across all teams.
6. Build and leverage C-suite executive relationships with external stakeholders (customers, partners, government, regulatory bodies, press/media) to further adoption of AWS services in the market.
7. Lead a Customer Obsessed business that delights our customers and act as the chief culture officer for the local team fortifying a strong Amazon culture as well as a strong local team identity and belonging.
8. Represent a consolidated view of the South Africa business, financial and operational results across all AGS segments and functions as part of SSA and EMEA Leadership forums.
9. Overall responsibility for the legal entity in South Africa, including people and site strategy execution, B-BBEE program, cost centre/budget ownership and other signatory responsibilities as delegated by PoA.

BASIC QUALIFICATIONS

We are looking for a very specific leadership profile to help us achieve our goals. On top of specific qualifications listed below, we are seeking the following skills and experiences:

1. Executive GM-level experience and track record in leading a large-scale complex organization across multiple functions, including strategy, execution, organizational transformation with demonstrated success in consistently achieving business objectives.
2. Proven track record in negotiating and closing large and complex enterprise cloud transformation deals across multiple industry segments and of advising senior stakeholders in the delivery of transformational programs in large Enterprises.
3. This individual has a deep understanding of digital transformation, the nature of disruption and how cloud adoption impacts business results for large enterprises and SMBs across various industries.
4. Proven track record as a communicator such that you are an excellent and experienced public speaker comfortable with large audiences.
5. Deep experience with working in the South African business culture. Extensive customer and partner network at C-Suite level in South Africa is a requirement.
6. Bachelor’s Degree (or equivalent).

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

Additional professional traits that are not unique to this position, but necessary for Amazon leaders:

1. MBA or MSc or similar tech or economy education.
2. Thinks strategically, but stays on top of tactical execution.
3. Expects and requires innovation of their team.
4. Superb negotiator, at ease sitting down with top level executives with vendors and manufacturers.
5. Highly analytical and structured, exhibits excellent business judgment and has relentlessly high standards.

Amazon is an equal opportunities employer, and we value your passion to discover, invent, simplify and build. We welcome applications from all members of society irrespective of age, sex, disability, sexual orientation, race, religion or belief. Amazon is strongly committed to diversity within its community and especially welcomes applications from South African citizens who are members of designated groups who may contribute to Employment Equity within the workplace and the further diversification of ideas. In this regard, the relevant laws and principles associated with Employment Equity will be considered when appointing potential candidates. We are required by law to verify your ability to work lawfully in South Africa. Amazon requires that you submit a copy of either your identity document or your passport and any applicable work permit if you are a foreign national, along with an updated curriculum vitae.

Posted: February 24, 2025 (Updated 2 days ago)