Divisional Manager - Football

Are you passionate about football, brand strategy, and driving commercial growth? We are looking for a dynamic and commercially minded Divisional Manager to lead our Football portfolio across South Africa.

As the official distributor partner for a leading Football brand, this role is responsible for driving sales growth, managing strategic retail relationships, executing brand strategies, and ensuring strong market presence across the country. The successful candidate will work closely with the Divisional Executives, Sales Manager, Retail Partners, and International Principals to deliver against ambitious sales and margin targets.

Key Responsibilities

Brand & Portfolio Management

• Develop and execute sales and growth strategies for the Football portfolio
• Attend international sales conferences (virtually or in person) to review upcoming product ranges and identify opportunities for the local market
• Assist with range building, pricing strategy, product selections, and order planning
• Present seasonal ranges to key retail partners and internal stakeholders
• Manage sell-in and sell-out performance in conjunction with the Sales Manager
• Identify and action slow-moving stock opportunities

Sales & Key Account Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with partners at a grassroots level in Southern Africa
• Analyse market trends, competitor activity, and customer feedback to identify growth opportunities
• Drive execution of sales strategies and monitor performance against targets

Marketing & Brand Execution

• Develop and implement marketing strategies within budget parameters
• Drive sponsorship and football partnership opportunities where applicable
• Work closely with the marketing team on digital campaigns and in-store execution
• Oversee merchandising strategies and improve in-store brand visibility

Leadership & Support

• Manage and support the Sales Manager and sales team
• Conduct regular field visits alongside sales reps and agents nationally
• Provide coaching, guidance, and performance management
• Oversee product and sales training for retail staff and customers

Relationship Management

• Maintain ongoing communication and relationships with international principals
• Act as the first point of contact for the Sales Manager on operational and strategic matters

Requirements

• Proven experience in sales, brand management, or category management within sporting goods, footwear, apparel, or retail
• Strong commercial acumen with the ability to drive sales growth and profitability
• Experience managing key retail accounts and customer relationships
• Excellent leadership, communication, and presentation skills
• Passion for football and understanding of the local football landscape advantageous
• Willingness to travel nationally on a regular basis
• Valid driver’s licence

What We’re Looking For

• A self-driven and strategic thinker
• Strong relationship builder with excellent negotiation skills
• Highly organised with strong analytical ability
• Someone who thrives in a fast-paced, performance-driven environment
• Passionate about sport, brands, and market growth

If you are ready to take ownership of one of the world’s leading football brands and drive its success in the South African market, we’d love to hear from you. Please apply online or send your updated CV to ***email_hidden***

Performance Brands is committed to the principles of the Employment Equity Act, and to achieving an equitably representative and diverse workforce.