Business Development Manager / Senior External Sales Consultant

Introduction

An exciting opportunity is available for an experienced Business Development Manager / Senior External Sales Consultant who knows how to build relationships, identify opportunities, and turn existing accounts into substantial revenue growth.

This is not a retail or internal sales position. You will be working directly with business customers, developing existing accounts while actively identifying new commercial opportunities.

The successful candidate will inherit an established customer portfolio with significant untapped potential. Your challenge will be to build on the existing revenue base, strengthen relationships, uncover new opportunities, and drive sustainable growth.

If you are commercially minded, enjoy being out in the market, and have the confidence to engage decision-makers, this could be an excellent opportunity to make your mark.

Duties & Responsibilities

Key Duties & Responsibilities

Business Development

  • Identify businesses with potential for new commercial opportunities
  • Develop targeted prospecting strategies to expand the customer base
  • Arrange and conduct face-to-face meetings with prospective clients
  • Present suitable solutions based on individual customer requirements
  • Negotiate and secure new business opportunities

 

Existing Account Growth

  • Take ownership of an established portfolio of business customers
  • Develop strategies to increase spend and product penetration within existing accounts
  • Identify under-serviced opportunities within the customer base
  • Build stronger relationships with key decision-makers
  • Regularly review customer requirements and identify opportunities for additional business

 

Client Relationship Management

  • Maintain consistent contact with key customers
  • Conduct regular customer visits and business reviews
  • Develop long-term commercial relationships based on trust and service
  • Address customer concerns and coordinate appropriate solutions
  • Ensure customers receive professional and responsive service

 

Sales Pipeline & Performance

  • Maintain a healthy and accurate sales pipeline
  • Track opportunities from initial contact through to conversion
  • Prioritise high-value prospects and opportunities
  • Monitor sales activity against agreed targets
  • Provide regular feedback regarding market activity, opportunities, and challenges

 

Market Development

  • Identify emerging opportunities within the allocated territory
  • Monitor competitor activity and customer trends
  • Research potential new markets and customer segments
  • Provide management with practical feedback from the market

 

Administration

  • Plan weekly customer visits and sales activities effectively
  • Maintain accurate CRM and customer records
  • Prepare quotations, proposals, and relevant sales documentation
  • Ensure all follow-ups are completed within agreed timeframes
  • Maintain accurate reporting on sales activity and opportunities

Desired Experience & Qualification

Minimum Requirements (Essential)

  • Minimum 2 years' experience in external B2B sales or business development
  • Proven track record of growing revenue and managing customer accounts
  • Strong experience in professional external sales – retail, B2C, and internal sales experience alone will not be suitable
  • Excellent business development and prospecting skills
  • Strong account management experience
  • Proven ability to identify and convert new business opportunities
  • Strong pipeline management skills
  • Excellent customer relationship-building abilities
  • Comfortable conducting multiple client meetings per day
  • Strong planning, organisational, and administrative skills
  • Excellent telephone and face-to-face communication abilities
  • Valid driver's licence
  • Own reliable vehicle
  • Clean criminal record

 

Advantageous Industry Experience

Experience in one or more of the following will be advantageous:

  • Security
  • Distribution
  • Electrical wholesale
  • Trade / industrial sectors
  • Related B2B environments

Package & Remuneration

R20k-R30k + (comm)

Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.

Common Interview Questions And Answers

1. HOW DO YOU PLAN YOUR DAY?

This is what this question poses: When do you focus and start working seriously? What are the hours you work optimally? Are you a night owl? A morning bird? Remote teams can be made up of people working on different shifts and around the world, so you won't necessarily be stuck in the 9-5 schedule if it's not for you...

2. HOW DO YOU USE THE DIFFERENT COMMUNICATION TOOLS IN DIFFERENT SITUATIONS?

When you're working on a remote team, there's no way to chat in the hallway between meetings or catch up on the latest project during an office carpool. Therefore, virtual communication will be absolutely essential to get your work done...

3. WHAT IS "WORKING REMOTE" REALLY FOR YOU?

Many people want to work remotely because of the flexibility it allows. You can work anywhere and at any time of the day...

4. WHAT DO YOU NEED IN YOUR PHYSICAL WORKSPACE TO SUCCEED IN YOUR WORK?

With this question, companies are looking to see what equipment they may need to provide you with and to verify how aware you are of what remote working could mean for you physically and logistically...

5. HOW DO YOU PROCESS INFORMATION?

Several years ago, I was working in a team to plan a big event. My supervisor made us all work as a team before the big day. One of our activities has been to find out how each of us processes information...

6. HOW DO YOU MANAGE THE CALENDAR AND THE PROGRAM? WHICH APPLICATIONS / SYSTEM DO YOU USE?

Or you may receive even more specific questions, such as: What's on your calendar? Do you plan blocks of time to do certain types of work? Do you have an open calendar that everyone can see?...

7. HOW DO YOU ORGANIZE FILES, LINKS, AND TABS ON YOUR COMPUTER?

Just like your schedule, how you track files and other information is very important. After all, everything is digital!...

8. HOW TO PRIORITIZE WORK?

The day I watched Marie Forleo's film separating the important from the urgent, my life changed. Not all remote jobs start fast, but most of them are...

9. HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR A MEETING AND PREPARE A MEETING? WHAT DO YOU SEE HAPPENING DURING THE MEETING?

Just as communication is essential when working remotely, so is organization. Because you won't have those opportunities in the elevator or a casual conversation in the lunchroom, you should take advantage of the little time you have in a video or phone conference...

10. HOW DO YOU USE TECHNOLOGY ON A DAILY BASIS, IN YOUR WORK AND FOR YOUR PLEASURE?

This is a great question because it shows your comfort level with technology, which is very important for a remote worker because you will be working with technology over time...