National Technical Sales Manager

Job Introduction

Adexen has been mandated by an international industrial group specializing in building materials to recruit a National Technical Sales Manager for its operations in Nigeria. The position is based in Lagos.  

Responsibilities

The role holder is responsible for implementing the competitive advantage of the Business Unity by enhancing the understanding and use of qualities of its products & systems.  In addition, provide distinctive expertise to customers on products and systems utilization.

 

Specifically responsible for managing:

 

Technical Enquiry Support

• Organize and optimize customer technical problem solving and training with regards to products & systems application
• Propose and implement customer driven technical assistance process
• Establish a clear operational process to support the sales team and to create competitive advantage to our customer base
• Provide solutions to product and systems enquiries
• Provide technical solutions
• Provide CAD Support
• Manage customer claims with regards to product quality?

 

Technical Project Support

• Develop approach for bidding and winning project specifications for fibre cement, POP plasterboard systems
• Technical support on projects from early design stage to end of project
• Support to Sales department with technical support on products that are being proposed – ie; acoustical products. 
• Assistance in writing the specifications to ensure compliance with industry standards and requirements therefore ensuring Bill of Quantities and technical design drawings are correct.
• Ensure that required test reports are available.
• Support with Developers, Architects etc when required to assist with the feasibility of systems and new product technical viability.
• Assistance on CAD Drawings and Design Drawings.

 

Technical Literature Development

• Develop a library of technical information including but not limited to: 
• Product Information Sheets
• Technical Test Certificates
• Ensure that these are accessible to customers
• Strive to make Kalsi a leader in Nigeria for locally tested products in the areas of
• Fire
• Acoustic
• Product Quality
• Product literature development support
• Develop a Technical Manual
• Provide Technical content for general marketing literature
• Provide updates on existing technical literature
• Develop and issue How to Columns and Technical Bulletins
• Ensure the communication and training on projects where a change in the industrial process has occurred.

 

Systems Testing and Innovation Support

• Identify and acquire copies of all relevant Industry Standards covering product installation and building codes for fire and sound requirements
• Ensure products, systems and technical information are in line with relevant Industry standards
• Develop Etex Standards where one does not exist
• Maintain links with key testing institutes including
• Implement systems testing plan for ISO standards
• Provide product and systems testing support through
• Product & systems testing in training centre
• Site trials with customers
• Product and Systems testing for official certification
• Update Patent & Trade mark requirements

 

Technical Training Support

• Responsible for preparation and delivery of all Technical training in Nigeria to target audiences that include:  Staff, developers, architects & specifiers, interior designers, installers and supervisors, and CSR Projects
• Increase skill levels for new and existing installers by addressing skills shortages in the market
• Develop a branded on-site product and system installation training
• Support Sales Representatives by providing on site supervision support for large projects using Etex products and systems
• Working in cooperation with Sales & Marketing, organize promotional events to develop specifiers and prospect client knowledge of Products & systems

 

Participation in Industry Standards Bodies

• Represent the companies interests on Professional Technical Bodies.
• Monitor and report trends in construction technology, standards and norms of products & systems
• Analyse the consequences for the of planned norms evolution and alert marketing and sales manager and other functions concerned
• Participate in the Product Quality and Innovation Steering Committees
• Analyse and report the technical characteristics, strengths and weaknesses of competitor products and systems
• Understand the competitor systems and develop benchmark testing and development plans
• Develop a clear picture of possible new product/systems platforms working with the Innovation team
• Advise Innovation Managers, Market Segment Managers and Sales Managers on products & systems best fitting specific technical requirements
• In cooperation with the Innovation manager, validate evolutions of Product and Systems range and propose evolutions to specifications
• Monitor the specifications of products with regards to product quality objectives

 

Relations with other functions within the Division

• Work in close cooperation with Sales & Marketing to ensure in-depth common understanding of market and customer
• Ensure effective daily cooperation of marketing, sales and technical assistance teams
• Liaise with
• Plants for product quality monitoring
• Legal to check product & system liability issues
• LCR, TDC and Division Marketing for product& systems innovation

 

People

• Full contribution as a member of the marketing and sales team. Direct responsibility for the Technical Department and the development of the people.
• Indirect support of sales people to ensure they have the necessary technical information so they are able to provide relevant and effective technical support to customers in the field.

 

Budgets

• Responsibility in preparing, developing, implementing and managing technical budgets.
• Reports
• Writing of technical reports for customers on the installation of products and other requests

 

HR and Team Development

• Responsible for living our leadership principles and demonstrating our Etex values measured through retention, employee engagement,
• Responsible for all HR issues within the team including recruitment, development, communication and discipline ensuring all actions taken are in accordance with Company policies and procedures.
• Activity lead interaction and development of your team to ensure an effective national marketing strategy. Lead, manage, coach and develop your team so that it is engaged and motivated. Act as a role-model for your team members.
• Develop competency profiles and KPI measures for your team and monitor progress against them on a continual basis. Identify and disseminate good practice; or put in place any remedial measures necessary.
• Demonstrate a constant desire to improve and develop the skills necessary to perform the role effectively and successfully.

 

Collaboration

• Ensure that collaboration, including project, competitor, customer and market information exchange is maximised within your team
• Build good professional relationships with all other departments, and with counterparts in other teams and across the Division.

 

General

• Adhere to Company defined processes and controls at all times and act responsibly towards company property.
• Promote a positive image of the Company in the marketplace and act as a “best example” to colleagues at all times.
• Perform any other tasks as might reasonably be requested by your Line Manager.

 

 

Desired Skills and Experience

Education

• Minimum of ten (10) years relevant work experience with at least 5 years in a middle management position
• Bachelor’s degree in any building science or business discipline
• Post-graduate degree in building science or related discipline
• Registered member of statutory bodies

Core / Functional Skills

• Excellent numeracy, verbal and written communication skills.
• Experience in managing and using CRM systems.
• Well-developed IT skills, particularly in Microsoft Office applications (Excel, PowerPoint), SAP, BIM & CAD
• Strong interpersonal skills – capable of developing strong relationships at all levels of an organisation, and with different types of organisation.
• Good analytical skills – translating and making sense of data and translating this into information that supports
• the business strategy- understands performance reporting and what it means for his/her everyday activities
• A certain level of technical awareness, ideally an understanding of applicable building regulations.
• Good influencing skills – comfortable working within a matrix organisation and co-ordinating others to achieve objectives; sound understanding of key account management principles.
• Very organised, structured and rigorous; is able to know instantly the status of multiple different projects and activities.
• Self-starter – capable of working on own initiative with minimal direction, but also a good team player.
• Able to spend nights away from home including a flexible approach, often required to work outside ‘normal’ office hours.

Experience

• Several years’ technical sales/marketing experience at a management level, including team management and development.
• Several years’ experience and successful track record of technical sales in a market characterised by  technicalthrough distribution and downstream demand generation.
• Reputation within the market place and able to demonstrate ability to network and build relationships with proven contacts.
• A demonstrable ability to manage change and change management experience.
• Demonstrates experience of marketing through a project cycle to different types of customers with different needs.
• A suitable level of technical awareness of buildings and how they are constructed, including applicable building regulations and standards.

We thank all applicants however only those selected will be contacted.