Area Sales Manager

The Area Sales Manager is responsible for the sales performance of the General Trade Channel the assigned Region / Territory in India.

- He/she assist the Regional Sales Manager in delivering the overall territory sales objectives, supervises, fine-tunes and monitors the execution and takes pro-active initiatives to cease every opportunity to increase the sales in accordance with the companies policies and strategies.

- He/she heads and coaches the Sales Team reporting to him/her. It is his/her obligation to form an efficient and effective team that is perfectly cooperating with all internal and external partners.

- The Area Sales Manager is to discuss and set clear targets for his team members in alignment with the Regional Sales Manager and to track the fulfillment.

Successful performance requires

- a high degree of people management skills,

- planning & analytical skills to handle complex situations,

- taking the full responsibility for decisions and repercussions,

- strong communication and negotiation skills and

- clear commitment and vision to lead his team.

Responsibilities:

1) Meeting volume and value objectives of the assigned territory within budget, time and policy parameters through efficient control of the distributor network and staff.

2) Planning, implementing and monitoring all traditional sales activities within the assigned territory as an entrepreneurial manager, particularly providing an annual drive-plan for the whole territory in collaboration with the Trade Manager.

3) To support the Regional Sales manager in Sales Forecasting SKU wise for his/her territory based on sound analysis and support the production team for correct production planning.

4) Guiding the Sales Officers to appoint and sustain profitable distributors partners

5) Should have regular contacts and visits to distribution centers. To help the commercial team by conducting regular audits from time to time.

6) Close contact with and internal consultancy to the Marketing Team at planning and implementing consumer- and POS-driven activities in traditional channels

7) Responsible for executing visibility norms across the territory. Is also accountable for tracking and maintaining all company merchandising elements in his territory

8) Is responsible for product launch planning and its execution in his/her territory.

9) Pro-active, regular contact with the Regional Sales Manager and with the relevant team-members of, particularly the marketing & supply chain team

10) Regular and timely reporting along pre-defined formats to relevant internal stake-holders

11) Be involved on recruitment of Sales Officers and their timely appraisal including identification and development of potential.

12) Lead from the front to drive and motivate his team of sales Officers, through regular sales contacts and On-The-Job-Trainings training.

13) Pro-active daily contact to the local distribution partner(s) to support their business, and to gradually build on infrastructure parameters to take the business forward.

14) New Business development: Constantly seeking new opportunities to increase and extend the scope of COMPANYs business operations in close cooperation with the Trade Manager

15) Extensive traveling within the region in order to get market insights from the total territory.

16) Documentation and seeking prior approval of all trade expenses for audit purposes

17) Track competition activities monthly. Document and communicate the same to the marketing & sales management team in the monthly review meeting.

Required Qualification:

- Education: MBA

- 2-6 years experience in Sales

- Minimum 1 years responsibility for handling General Trade in the region