Head of New Business Development

Head of New Business Development

Midrand, South Africa

Type of contract: Permanent

The Head of Business Development will spearhead McCormick’s growth strategy in Africa, identifying and securing new business opportunities with B2B clients in the food and beverage sector. This role requires a strategic leader with a proven track record in sales, market expansion, and relationship building in dynamic, high-growth environments. In this role, you will collaborate with cross-functional teams to align business development efforts with the company’s strategic EMEA objectives, delivering measurable revenue growth and market share expansion.

MAIN RESPONSIBILITIES

• Market Analysis & Strategy Development: Conduct in-depth market research to identify trends, customer needs, and competitive landscapes in Africa. Develop and execute a comprehensive business development strategy to achieve sales and share growth targets.
• Client Acquisition: Identify, target, and secure new customers within food and beverage manufacturers, through prospecting, leveraging existing network and strategic outreach.
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key stakeholders, decision-makers, and industry influencers to drive customer retention and repeat business.
• Sales Leadership: Lead the negotiation of high-value contracts, ensuring alignment with company pricing, profitability and service standards.
• Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner with R&D, Marketing and Insights, Supply Chain, Finance and Quality to develop custom flavor solutions that meet customer and market requirements.
• Market Expansion: Identify and evaluate new market segments, distribution channels and partnership opportunities to expand the McCormick’s footprint within Africa.
• Performance Tracking: Monitor and report on KPI’s, such as sales growth, customer hits rates, and market penetration. Provide and manage regular updates to senior leadership.
• Compliance & Cultural Sensitivity: Ensure all business activities adhere to local regulations, cultural norms, and the company’s high ethical standards.
• Team management: Manage New Business Development team including Snr. Account Manager and Commercial Administrator, driving high performance.

CANDIDATE PROFILE:

• Bachelor of Commerce, Food Science, or related field.
• Acceptable driving record including valid driver's license required.
• 10+ years selling key ingredients to the health & nutrition product manufacturers and other custom food and beverage manufacturers.
• South Africa business to business sales experience preferred.
• Experienced using Salesforce or other similar CRM software.
• Integrated Business Planning (IBP) experience preferred.
• Working knowledge of technical aspects of products, i.e. nomenclature, applicability within customer's manufacturing process, substitution choices, new discoveries, etc.
• Developed and demonstrable critical thinking skills and business acumen.
• Highly developed written and verbal communications skills that are clear, concise, and appropriate in timing and directed to appropriate levels.
• Proven project management skills in a sales cycle from six weeks to eighteen months.
• Manage limited internal resources and prioritize appropriately.
• Ability to be innovative and take risks to drive new initiatives and new business.
• Travel is required for customer and business meetings within Africa.
• Highly motivated, self-starters who are forward thinking problem solvers with excellent contacts and strong work ethic.
• Working knowledge of technical aspects of products, i.e. nomenclature, applicability within customer's manufacturing process, substitution choices, new discoveries, etc.
• Developed and demonstrable critical thinking skills and business acumen.
• Highly developed written and verbal communications skills that are clear, concise, and appropriate in timing and directed to appropriate levels.
• Proven project management skills in a sales cycle from six weeks to eighteen months
• Manage limited internal resources and prioritize appropriately.
• Ability to be innovative and take risks to drive new initiatives and new business.

COMPANY:

At McCormick, we bring our passion for flavor to work each day. We encourage growth, respect everyone's contributions and do what's right for our business, our people, our communities and our planet. Join us on our quest to make every meal and moment better.

Founded in Baltimore, MD in 1889 in a room and a cellar by 25-year-old Willoughby McCormick with three employees, McCormick is a global leader in flavour. With over 14,000 employees around the world and more than $6 Billion in annual sales, the Company manufactures, markets, and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavourful products to the entire food industry, retail outlets, food manufactures, food service businesses and consumers.

While our global headquarters are in the Baltimore, Maryland, USA area, McCormick operates and serves customers from nearly 60 locations in 25 countries and 170 markets in Asia-Pacific, China, Europe, Middle East and Africa, and the Americas, including North, South and Central America with recognized brands.

At McCormick, we have over a 100-year legacy based on our “Power of People” principle. This principle fosters an unusually dedicated workforce requiring a culture of respect, recognition, inclusion and collaboration based on the highest ethical values.

Agencies: McCormick as needed will work with external recruitment vendors through our Agency Portal. Unless previously contacted, McCormick does not accept unsolicited resumes from external recruiting agencies.

McCormick & Company is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, gender identity, sexual orientation, race, colour, religion, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, age, or any other characteristic protected by law.

As users of the disability confident scheme, we guarantee to interview all disabled applicants who meet the minimum criteria for the vacancy/ies.

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