Business Manager SSA - Personal Care

• A well-established international chemical manufacturer is seeking an experienced Business Manager to be responsible for driving business growth by managing customer relationships, developing new business opportunities, analysing market trends, coordinating product and distributor activities, and providing commercial and technical support across the Sub-Saharan African personal care market.

Minimum requirements for the role

• Must have a tertiary technical qualification in chemical or a related scientific discipline; A tertiary qualification with additional business management training will be advantageous
• Strong capabilities in building personal relationship on top of technical affinity
• Previous experience within the cosmetics industry, demonstrating in-depth knowledge of formulation-driven products, raw materials, regulatory environments, and market dynamics specific to cosmetics and personal care
• A well-established and active professional network within the cosmetics and personal care industry is mandatory, including strong relationships with customers, partners, suppliers, and key industry stakeholders
• Proven track record of growing business within the personal care industry, both in South Africa and across SSA is required
• Experience in multinational/corporate organization is highly advantageous
• Proven proactive track record of delivering results across SSA
• Must be able to work confidently in a dynamic, open, and international environment, demonstrate cultural awareness, and be fluent in English; Proficiency in an additional language, such as Portuguese or French, will be advantageous
• Effective team player who enjoys working together in team
• Clear and effective verbal communications skills
• Excellent computer literacy and strong proficiency in Excel, CRM, Pricing tools, PowerPoint, and other business management tools

The successful candidate will be responsible for

• Enhancing relationships with existing customers and identifying and contacting promising new customers.
• Conducting market research and analysing business potential for the personal care sector within identified Sub-Saharan African SSA markets by monitoring commercial, technical and marketing trends across designated countries and regions, and issuing regular market reports.
• Familiarising oneself with and identifying the most effective route-to-market model for each SSA country.
• Serving as the primary contact for local external distributors, providing technical consultation and supporting new business development initiatives.
• Submitting principals' quotations, price lists, payment terms and delivery conditions to customers, and ensuring all relevant details are effectively communicated to principals.
• Following up on daily service requirements, including technical support and product presentations, in line with company strategies, business line objectives and established guidelines.
• Monitoring, reporting and issuing regular updates on competitor activities and other relevant market information.
• Working closely with principals' departments, including Key Account Management, Technical Service, Product Management, New Business Development, Customer Service, Supply Chain and Business Services.
• Managing the product planning pipeline and forecasts and ensuring adequate product availability to meet customer requirements.
• Identifying new business opportunities and projects, analysing market opportunities, and maintaining the project pipeline.
• Managing all internal administrative functions associated with the Business Manager role.
• Representing the business area at exhibitions and industry events.
• Acting as the liaison for customer complaints and credit control matters, while supporting sample follow-up activities.
• Participating in BL meetings, industry team meetings, technical training sessions, seminars and teleconferences.