Area Sales Manager- Nakuru

To meet our sales targets, we are looking for an experienced and organised Area Sales Manager who will becresponsible for generating demand amongst farmers within a defined region, alongside sales associates andccommission-based agents. The role involves: closing sales to commercial farmers, developing and drivingcthe performance of a team, and managing day-to-day operations of multiple channels.

Qualifications and Skills:

• 5+ years of experience selling agri-inputs directly to large commercial farmers
  
• Bachelor's degree
  
• Qualifications in agronomy or agribusiness will be an added advantage
  
• Must have sound knowledge of farming activities in the area of operation
  
• Experience managing field teams and / or coaching sales teams
  
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
  
• Self-motivated with a results-driven approach
  
• Comfortable using tech tools i.e. smartphones, laptops
  
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
  
• Comfortable running basic analysis i.e. on performance metrics, cost-benefit analysis for farms
  
• Fluent level of spoken and written English, good level of Swahili
  
• Able and willing to self-drive (must have a driving license)
  

• Set-up and oversee a hub of Evergrow sales and marketing activity
  
• Become an expert in the farming activities and characteristics across your hub area
  
• Develop a strong partnership with the major distributor(s) in your sales hub
  
• Identify and convince local resellers within each ward of the hub, to stock our products
  
• Secure shop spaces for ‘Evergrow information centres’ with good visibility and within budget
  
• Identify and set-up optimal demo farms owned by influential farmers in strategic areas
  
• Recruit and oversee the management of commission-based lead generation agents
  
• Resolve issues impacting sales operations
  
• Manage a team of Sales and Marketing Associates selling to small and medium farms
  
• Refer candidates who fit the role criteria and can drive performance for your hub area
  
• Run weekly performance dialogues (PDs) with each sales and marketing associate
  
• Run monthly or quarterly performance reviews
  
• Ensure near 100% adherence to the defined sales processes
  
• Conduct frequent field visits to provide coaching and solve problems on the ground
  
• Build a team spirit through mutual support and team interactions (virtual or in person)
  
• Be the first point of contact for your direct reports (resolve issues or support others in resolving)
  
• Build your own pipeline and close sales to large farms in the area
  
• Identify and build a list of the largest farmers in your hub
  
• Secure meetings with the farm decision-makers to pitch the product
  
• Build a relationship with the farm decision-makers to push them through the sales funnel
  
• Guide the farm owner / manager through the process of setting up any required trials
  
• Close sales to the large farms, ensure they repeat buy and increase their purchase amounts
  
• Reporting and admin
  
• Weekly reporting of sales, accounts receivables and other performance related metrics
  
• Root-cause analyses for performance, as well as developing corrective and preventive actions
  
• Ensure distributors make payments and place orders in advance to avoid stock-outs
  
• Work with the Accounts Receivable team to ensure distributor orders are processed on time
  
• Coordinate with distribution teams to ensure fertilizer is delivered on time and in full