About the Role

We are looking for a results-driven Sales & Distribution Supervisor to lead sales execution, distribution operations, customer relationships and marketplace performance within an assigned sales area.

The successful candidate will be responsible for generating sales orders, identifying growth opportunities, maintaining high standards of in-trade execution, strengthening customer relationships and ensuring efficient distribution operations. This role requires a commercially minded leader who can translate market insights into action while ensuring excellent customer service and operational discipline.

Key Responsibilities

Sales & Market Development

• Assess market potential within the assigned sales area and identify opportunities for volume and market-share growth.
• Analyse market, customer and in-trade information to generate actionable insights.
• Identify gaps in in-trade execution and develop appropriate corrective actions.
• Monitor competitor activities and respond proactively to market developments.
• Understand customer needs, objectives and challenges and develop appropriate solutions.
• Develop and prioritise sales opportunities in line with business objectives.

Sales Planning & Execution

• Develop daily, weekly and monthly sales plans and calling schedules.
• Set and manage volume and market-share targets.
• Establish clear call objectives and ensure they are achieved.
• Plan and execute promotions and trade activities effectively.
• Ensure appropriate POSM is prepared, deployed and collected by customer.
• Conduct regular in-trade audits and address execution gaps.
• Execute customer calls according to schedule and identify additional sales opportunities.
• Generate orders and complete all required call and sales administration.
• Conduct customer negotiations as required.
• Monitor competitor activity and take appropriate action.

Distribution Management

• Account for the movement of trucks and trailers between the plant and market, including product, containers and empties.
• Maintain effective controls and processes for fulls, empties and DPRS.
• Monitor and improve departure compliance, order-fill rates, routing, scheduling and distribution execution.
• Participate in the formulation and control of distribution budgets.
• Control expenditure within approved budgets and take corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure accurate records are maintained for distribution parameters, overtime, absenteeism, leave and vehicle records.
• Maintain good housekeeping and ensure vehicles and distribution facilities are kept in good condition.
• Ensure employees maintain a professional and presentable appearance.

Performance & Reporting

• Monitor and maintain agreed sales and distribution KPIs.
• Track expenditure and ensure performance remains within budget.
• Prepare and submit accurate reports within required timelines.
• Maintain accurate and current customer, sales, distribution and asset information.
• Ensure company information and systems are used appropriately and securely.
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of information captured in sales and distribution systems.

Customer & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Promote a customer-service-focused culture across the sales and distribution team.
• Optimise relationships with third-party service providers and other stakeholders.
• Maintain the company’s professional image and ensure compliance with corporate standards.

Team Leadership & Performance Management

• Implement effective performance management processes.
• Coach, develop and build the competence of team members.
• Ensure employees understand and deliver against agreed objectives and standards.
• Promote teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.

Key Performance Areas

Success in this role will be measured through:

• Sales volume and market-share growth.
• Achievement of sales and distribution KPIs.
• Effective in-trade execution.
• Customer satisfaction and relationship management.
• Order generation and call effectiveness.
• Distribution efficiency and compliance.
• Budget and expenditure control.
• Accurate and timely reporting.
• Effective team performance and capability development.
• Maintenance of company standards and corporate image.

Decision-Making Authority

The successful candidate will be authorised to:

• Code retail customers to appropriate channels.
• Schedule customer calls according to required call frequency.
• Approve and effect expenditure within established permissions and controls.

Qualifications and Experience

• Grade 12 Certificate/High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Degree in Sales, Marketing or a related field.
• 3+ years’ experience as a Sales & Distribution Supervisor in a similar sales environment.

Other Requirements

• Valid driver’s licence.
• Good working knowledge of sales and distribution processes.
• Familiarity with the relevant industry and marketplace.

Competencies & Personal Attributes

We are looking for someone who is:

• Goal-driven and results-oriented.
• Assertive and confident in decision-making.
• A strong team player with excellent interpersonal skills.
• An effective verbal and written communicator.
• Strong in customer relationship management.
• Skilled in negotiation and influencing.
• Strong in presentation and communication.
• Highly organised with good self-management skills.
• Commercially aware and able to identify growth opportunities.
• Analytical, with the ability to interpret information and turn insights into action.
• Committed to customer service excellence and operational discipline.

• Assess market potential within the assigned sales area and identify opportunities for volume and market-share growth.
• Analyse market, customer and in-trade information to generate actionable insights.
• Identify gaps in in-trade execution and develop appropriate corrective actions.
• Monitor competitor activities and respond proactively to market developments.
• Understand customer needs, objectives and challenges and develop appropriate solutions.
• Develop and prioritise sales opportunities in line with business objectives.
• Develop daily, weekly and monthly sales plans and calling schedules.
• Set and manage volume and market-share targets.
• Establish clear call objectives and ensure they are achieved.
• Plan and execute promotions and trade activities effectively.
• Ensure appropriate POSM is prepared, deployed and collected by customer.
• Conduct regular in-trade audits and address execution gaps.
• Execute customer calls according to schedule and identify additional sales opportunities.
• Generate orders and complete all required call and sales administration.
• Conduct customer negotiations as required.
• Monitor competitor activity and take appropriate action.
• Account for the movement of trucks and trailers between the plant and market, including product, containers and empties.
• Maintain effective controls and processes for fulls, empties and DPRS.
• Monitor and improve departure compliance, order-fill rates, routing, scheduling and distribution execution.
• Participate in the formulation and control of distribution budgets.
• Control expenditure within approved budgets and take corrective action where necessary.
• Ensure accurate records are maintained for distribution parameters, overtime, absenteeism, leave and vehicle records.
• Maintain good housekeeping and ensure vehicles and distribution facilities are kept in good condition.
• Ensure employees maintain a professional and presentable appearance.
• Monitor and maintain agreed sales and distribution KPIs.
• Track expenditure and ensure performance remains within budget.
• Prepare and submit accurate reports within required timelines.
• Maintain accurate and current customer, sales, distribution and asset information.
• Ensure company information and systems are used appropriately and securely.
• Maintain the integrity and accuracy of information captured in sales and distribution systems.
• Build and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Promote a customer-service-focused culture across the sales and distribution team.
• Optimise relationships with third-party service providers and other stakeholders.
• Maintain the company’s professional image and ensure compliance with corporate standards.
• Implement effective performance management processes.
• Coach, develop and build the competence of team members.
• Ensure employees understand and deliver against agreed objectives and standards.
• Promote teamwork, accountability and continuous improvement.

• Sales execution
• Distribution operations
• Customer relationship management
• Marketplace performance
• Sales order generation
• Growth opportunity identification
• In-trade execution
• Market insights translation
• Customer service
• Operational discipline
• Market potential assessment
• Volume and market-share growth analysis
• Competitor activity monitoring
• Customer needs analysis
• Sales planning
• Call scheduling
• Target setting and management
• Promotion and trade activity planning and execution
• POSM deployment and collection
• In-trade audits
• Customer negotiations
• Truck and trailer movement accounting
• Fulls, empties, and DPRS control
• Departure compliance monitoring
• Order-fill rate improvement
• Routing and scheduling optimization
• Distribution budget formulation and control
• Expenditure control
• Record maintenance
• Good housekeeping
• Team leadership
• Performance management
• Coaching and development
• Teamwork promotion
• Accountability
• Continuous improvement
• Presentation skills
• Negotiation skills
• Influencing skills
• Analytical skills
• Self-management skills

• Grade 12 Certificate/High School Diploma or equivalent.
• Degree in Sales, Marketing or a related field.
• 3+ years’ experience as a Sales & Distribution Supervisor in a similar sales environment.
• Valid driver’s licence.
• Good working knowledge of sales and distribution processes.
• Familiarity with the relevant industry and marketplace.