Sales Operations Manager (Level 1)

Entyce Beverages is part of AVI Limited and combines the strengths of well-known and much-loved South African tea, coffee and creamer brands such as Five Roses, Freshpak, Trinco, Frisco, Koffiehuis, Ellis Brown, and House of Coffees. Our two factories in Durban and Isando keep these favorites coming, with products that land on tables in millions of homes every single day.

We are seeking a Sales Operations Manager (Level 1) to drive success at Entyce Office in Bryanston, Johannesburg. This role will be responsible for managing and growing regional customer relationships through regular engagement, data-driven sales reviews, and execution of pricing and promotional strategies aligned with national objectives. The successful incumbent will be handling the Gauteng North and Limpopo region.

Reporting Structure

• Reports to: Regional Sales Manager

Key Areas of Impact

Customer

• Prepare and present Wholesale customer sales reviews, performance analysis, and relevant customer data, implementing corrective action plans to address underperformance.
• Manage customer pricing in line with approved mandates and National Customer Manager strategies.
• Ensure approved pricing is accurately loaded and maintained within the relevant systems and applications.
• Manage customer promotional activities in line with company mandates, National Customer Manager strategies, and promotional guidelines.
• Drive successful product innovation launches, ensuring new products are listed and available on shelf within six weeks of order commencement.
• Complete and submit customer contact reports, maintaining effective communication with all relevant customer and internal stakeholders.
• Attend Customer Manager and Regional Sales Manager meetings regularly to strengthen customer knowledge, improve account management capabilities, and support regional business objectives.
• Build strategic partnerships with key regional customers to support long-term business growth and execution excellence.

Operations

• Schedule trade visits once a week, using a monthly planner, in order to ensure that the majority of customers in the region are visited in a year
  • Complete comprehensive trade visits, with contact reports, on a weekly basis
  • Prepare for a trade visit, pull relevant customer data by store (Shoprite Webbis, Pick n Pay site covers etc.)
  • Complete trade visits as per standard operating procedure
  • Put immediate measures in place to rectify the issues at store level (out of stocks, pricing etc.)
  • Compile a trade contact report with feedback and actions, and communicate with all relevant stakeholders (customer and Subsidiary)
  • Follow up, feedback, and hold the relevant stakeholders accountable

Category Management / Customer Data

• Comprehend and utilize key 3rd party/ customer systems to drive business in the region
• Understand and master Nielsen and pull sales out data on a monthly basis in order to explain the market dynamics and actions required in the region
• Understand and master Ask’d data, and pull this on a monthly basis so as to identify the opportunities for the Subsidiary in the market
• Understand and utilize Silo, in preparation for customer appointments
• Understand, master, and utilize all relevant customer systems on a daily basis to drive the NBL business:
  • Makro Dispos
  • Distributor Sales Data

What It Takes to Succeed

Experience that set you up for success

• Minimum 5 years’ FMCG sales experience
• Minimum of 3 years' experience managing wholesale / independent customers and distributors
• Proven ability to execute at store level and manage customer relationships

Qualifications & Certifications that will contribute to your success:

• Matric (Grade 12) is essential
• Diploma/Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business or Retail Management

Knowledge

• Strong MS Excel and data analysis capability
• Proficiency in PowerPoint and reporting
• Experience with customer systems (advantageous)