Sector: Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG)

Purpose 

The National Sales Manager – Rice is responsible for developing and executing the national sales strategy to achieve volume, market share, revenue, and profitability targets for the Rice business. The role will lead and manage the national sales team, drive distributor and key account performance, expand market penetration, strengthen customer relationships, and ensure excellence in route-to-market execution across all trade channels.

This role is ideally suited to a highly experienced FMCG sales professional with strong expertise in managing large sales teams, distributor networks, and modern and traditional trade channels within a multinational FMCG environment.

Role 

Operational Duties

• Develop and implement the national sales strategy aligned with company objectives and growth ambitions.
• Deliver monthly, quarterly, and annual sales volume, revenue, and market share targets.
• Lead, coach, and develop Regional Sales Managers, Area Sales Managers, and Sales Representatives to achieve superior performance.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with distributors, wholesalers, key customers, and strategic partners.
• Identify new business opportunities, market segments, and geographic expansion opportunities.
• Monitor competitor activities, pricing, promotional campaigns, and market trends to recommend appropriate actions.
• Ensure effective execution of pricing, promotions, visibility, and merchandising initiatives in the market.
• Drive sales forecasting and demand planning in collaboration with Supply Chain and Operations teams.
• Monitor territory coverage and route-to-market effectiveness to maximize market penetration.
• Ensure proper utilization of sales tools, systems, and technologies, including SAP and CRM platforms.
• Establish and monitor sales performance KPIs and implement corrective actions when required.
• Prepare periodic sales performance reports and business reviews for senior management.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, commercial guidelines, and ethical standards.

Distributor & Trade Management

• Develop and manage a sustainable nationwide distributor network.
• Negotiate distributor agreements, commercial terms, and performance expectations.
• Conduct regular distributor business reviews and performance evaluations.
• Ensure optimal distributor stock levels and product availability across all territories.
• Monitor distributor profitability and working capital performance.
• Implement trade marketing initiatives to improve product visibility and consumer engagement.
• Collaborate with Marketing to execute product launches, promotions, and activation campaigns.
• Resolve customer and distributor issues promptly to maintain strong business relationships.
• Drive secondary sales and improve numeric and weighted distribution across the country.

Team Leadership & Capability Development

• Conduct regular performance reviews and coaching sessions.
• Identify capability gaps and implement training and development plans.
• Foster a high-performance culture focused on accountability, collaboration, and customer excellence.
• Promote employee engagement, diversity, and inclusion within the sales organization.
• Ensure compliance with health, safety, and company policies by all team members.

Qualifications, Skills and Experience

• Master's degree in business administration, Marketing, Sales Management, Economics, or related discipline.
• Minimum of 15 years of progressive FMCG sales experience, including at least 5 years in a leadership role managing national or regional sales operations.
• Proven experience in Rice, Food Staples, Consumer Goods, or Agribusiness markets preferred.
• Strong knowledge of distributor management and route-to-market strategies.
• Demonstrated success in delivering aggressive sales growth and market share gains.
• Excellent commercial acumen and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical and reporting capabilities.
• Proficiency in SAP, CRM, and Microsoft Office applications.
• Excellent communication, leadership, and stakeholder management skills.
• Ability to work under pressure and manage multiple priorities.
• Results-oriented with strong customer focus and integrity.

NB: CV to be shared in ENGLISH only

Application deadline: 3rd August 2026