Strategic Sales Manager; Hunter: FMCG

Overview

Strategic Business Hunter: FMCG

Our client is a dynamic and established leader within the commercial services sector, renowned for driving significant revenue growth through strategic partnerships and innovative service delivery. They operate at the intersection of complex client needs and high-level strategic execution, focusing on enhancing market position and optimizing margin performance across various operational verticals. This is an opportunity to join a company where your strategic vision directly translates into tangible business success and expansion.

Are you a seasoned growth driver with a proven ability to navigate complex sales cycles and secure landmark deals? This is a pivotal, high-impact leadership role reporting directly to Executive leadership. You will be the architect of our client’s future pipeline, responsible for developing and executing the overarching business development strategy that fuels multi-year revenue targets.

This position offers unparalleled autonomy to shape market approach, analyze commercial white space, and build robust client relationships from initial contact through to successful contract closure and handover. You will bridge the gap between strategic planning and operational excellence, ensuring that every pitch and proposal delivers maximum commercial impact. If you thrive on strategic thinking, deep relationship building, and seeing your strategies materialize into significant wins, this role offers the platform for you to excel and drive substantial organizational change.

• Strategic Planning & Analysis: Conduct comprehensive internal/external analyses (including SWOT and 7C framework) to identify white space opportunities, commercial selling gaps, and margin enhancement areas across key operational verticals.
• Pipeline Development: Outline and champion a 1-3 year future pipeline, translating strategic plans into measurable KPIs and critical success factors for both the Business Development and Operations teams.
• Lead Qualification & Pitch Development: Own the full lead lifecycle, from initial qualification and needs assessment to developing compelling, value-driven commercial selling stories and presentation materials for major pitches.
• RFP Management: Lead the entire Request for Proposal (RFP) process, including driving the crucial "bid/no-bid" decision-making process in consultation with cross-functional leadership (Operations, Finance, Legal).
• Deal Negotiation & Closure: Spearhead complex contract negotiations, ensuring mutually beneficial terms, overseeing the drafting of final contracts, and securing all necessary internal approvals before successful deal closure.
• Stakeholder Management & Handover: Serve as the primary liaison between new business wins and internal delivery teams, conducting thorough handover meetings to ensure commitment fulfillment and post-launch client satisfaction measurement.

Must-Haves (Essential)

• Experience: 8-10 years of progressive experience in high-level business development, strategic sales, or commercial growth roles.
• Education: Degree/NQF Level 7 in Marketing or Business Management.
• Track Record: Undeniable history of achieving ambitious sales targets and successfully closing large, complex deals.
• Skills: Expert-level negotiation, presentation, and strategic communication skills.
• Tools: Proven proficiency in CRM software and advanced data analysis tools for strategic planning.
• Core Competencies: Demonstrable strength in Strategic Thinking, Commercial Acumen, and Relationship Building.

Nice-to-Haves (Beneficial)

• Analytical Depth: Experience utilizing frameworks like the 7C analysis or similar market assessment tools in a consultancy or service delivery context.
• Technical Fluency: Familiarity with data fluency concepts relevant to modern business strategy implementation.
• Resilience: Demonstrated high level of resilience and the ability to maintain a competitive edge under pressure.

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