Account Manager-Dairy MEIA at Novonesis

Job Description

Technical support

• Ensures technical monitoring and provides support to local customers for whom he is responsible in Nigeria and Ghana for the use of Novonesis Dairy products: cultures, enzymes, test kits...
• Provides expertise in the field of products and manufacturing processes to carry out the necessary tests at customers' sites in coordination with the segment manager.
• Works in close collaboration with local distributor to intervene in support of the commercial approach.
• Provides technical expertise to local distributor for the launch of new products/concepts.
• Provides technical training for distributor &/or customers in collaboration with segment managers, across the entire range: Cultures, Enzymes and Test Kits
• Contributes to the resolution of technical disputes and ensures the quality of responses provided to customers.
• Participates in training recommended by his manager as part of his development and improvement of his skills.

Day-to-Day Responsibilities

• Ensures the collection of the needs of the clients for whom he is responsible.
• Provides support for the achievement of sales in accordance with the budgets and estimates defined with his manager for the customers for whom he is responsible.
• Identifying, scoping, and developing new business opportunities
• Conducts proactive monitoring of customer activities, identifies, and implements necessary corrective actions.
• Uses Sales Force to manage the client account, project portfolio and updates them regularly.
• Provide input to sales budget preparation and input to sales forecast
• Coordinates all activities relating to the execution of the projects for which he is responsible.
• Contributes to the feedback of information to the departments concerned for the implementation of development projects (new products and/or adaptation of existing products)
• Conducts a weekly and/or monthly activity review with his manager.
• Provides reports and information requested by his manager on time.
• Monitors the achievement of its performance in relation to the set objectives and proposes corrective actions if necessary.
• Reports regularly on its activity to its manager: visit reports, updating of databases, monthly activity reports, progress of current developments.
• Provide input for financial processes, follow up on customer payments.
• Follow up customer orders and support customer service if need it
• Gather competitive information and shared with manager.

Customer account management

• Provides support for maintaining and developing business with the existing clients for whom he is responsible and leads a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and new clients.
• Carry out the mapping of each of its clients (sites, production, key people, opportunities)
• Contributes to the planning and execution of commercial activities in agreement with his manager; including visits, tests, seminars, Innovation days, respecting the priorities defined with your manager.
• Updates customer accounts in Salesforce software and uses Salesforce to record all activities, including reports of customer visits, remote conferences, and telephone conversations.
• Analyzes customer complaints and resolves routine customer issues in agreement with manager.
• Immediately inform management of any important events concerning its customers
• Develops and maintains its relational network locally within our sector of activity.
• Builds and maintains contacts on several levels within its customer accounts.
• Contributes to the development of the commercial strategy and provides support to the deployment plan.

Team Spirit

• Proactively shares market, customer, and knowledge observations with colleagues.
• Provides support in other markets (up to 10% of his time) when his know-how and skills are required.
• Carries out his professional activities in accordance with the instructions of Novonesis and in compliance with current laws and regulations.
• Actively participates in internal meetings and training at Novonesis to improve knowledge and skills.
• Provides constructive feedback to colleagues to improve team performance.
• Definition of the commercial strategy: pricing strategy, discounts, rewards, samples, technical support
• Any investment proposal
• Providing customers with products that are at risk and have a poor AR history (a high return rate)
• Management of complaints (or threat of complaints) with requests for financial compensation
• The editorial staff on behalf of Novonesis of contracts creating legal obligations.
• Customer audits for which he is responsible.

Required Skills

• Proactive, dynamic, and energetic personality with a positive attitude in problem solving.
• Disciplined, eager to continually learn and improve business and technical skills.
• Understands the need to share and learn best practices across different regions and teams.
• Rigorous, respectful of deadlines and ability to implement changes.
• Excellent persuasion skills, ability to spot opportunity and go after them.
• Excellent communication and liaison skills
• A passion for our sector of activity
• Strong technical knowledge. Preferably with a technical diploma. However, quality experience and a relational network in our sector of activity can compensate for the absence of a technical diploma.
• Comfortable in customer relations
• Ability and willingness to work on administrative tasks on Microsoft Office and sales force…
• Good analytical capabilities
• Excellent level of oral and written English and teamwork skills.
• Ability to travel frequently (Monday through Friday) in Nigeria and to Ghana, UAE, and Denmark

Experience And Qualifications

• Engineer or equivalent or Bac +3 in food science/technology/marketing or related fields
• Have minimum 5 years of relevant job experience, preferably in Dairy and/or B2B.
• Experience in Food industry is an advantage.
• Excellent track record in achieving and exceeding sales targets