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Principales fonctions
Lallemand Biofuels & Distilled Spirits is looking for a Technical Sales Manager – South Africa to strengthen customer coverage and drive profitable growth across the African market, supporting producers of distilled spirits, extra neutral alcohol (ENA), and ready-to-drink (RTD) beverages. Combining consultative sales with hands-on technical support, this role will manage an agreed customer portfolio, develop new business opportunities, and help customers improve fermentation performance through tailored yeast, nutrient, enzyme, and process aid solutions. Working closely with regional leadership, technical specialists, production and supply teams, and local agents and distribution partners where appropriate, the Technical Sales Manager will coordinate customer trials, deliver practical training, and translate measurable process improvements into long-term customer value and sustainable commercial growth. Based in South Africa, this role will support key accounts and take ownership of a portfolio of smaller and craft customers, working closely with the current Technical Sales Manager. The initial focus will be South Africa and neighboring countries, with the scope expanding across Africa as the role develops.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute account and territory plans for an agreed customer portfolio, initially in South Africa and neighbouring countries and expanding across Africa over time, to achieve sales and gross margin targets.
- Build and maintain long-term customer relationships through regular site visits, technical engagement, and responsive follow-up.
- Identify and convert new business opportunities across distilled spirits, ENA, and RTD applications, including opportunities to expand existing accounts into nutrients, enzymes, and complementary process aids.
- Support direct sales and collaborate with local agents and distribution partners, where appropriate, to extend market coverage and deliver effective customer support.
- Plan and coordinate customer product trials with technical specialists, establishing clear objectives, evaluation criteria, and follow-up actions to support commercial adoption.
- Analyze fermentation data and quantify improvements in yield, dosage, process consistency, productivity, and cost-in-use to support value-based selling.
- Provide hands-on troubleshooting, fermentation optimization support, and practical customer training on product selection and application.
- Support the commercial introduction and adoption of new and locally produced fermentation solutions within the assigned territory, in coordination with regional leadership and relevant technical teams.
- Collaborate with production, quality, supply chain, and distribution teams to communicate customer requirements, forecast demand, and support reliable product availability.
- Deliver technical presentations and customer workshops, and represent LBDS at relevant industry events.
- Monitor customer needs, market developments, and competitor activity to inform territory priorities and portfolio opportunities.
- Maintain accurate sales forecasts and provide regular updates on customer opportunities, trial progress, commercial conversions, sales, and gross margins.
- Follow applicable product quality requirements, safety standards, and customer site procedures.
- Perform other duties as required.
Compétences techniques
Requis
- A university degree in Biotechnology, Microbiology, Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Fermentation Science, or a related field. An Honours or Master's degree (NQF level 8 or 9) is an advantage.
- At least five years of relevant technical sales experience, or combined commercial and technical experience, in distilled spirits, ethanol production, beverage fermentation, or fermentation ingredients.
- A strong understanding of industrial fermentation, including yeast performance, fermentation nutrition, enzyme applications, and contamination control.
- Practical experience with grain- and/or molasses-based fermentation.
- Experience planning and supporting product trials, interpreting fermentation data, and translating technical findings into practical customer recommendations.
- Experience managing customer accounts, developing new business opportunities, and supporting commercial negotiations.
- The ability to develop cost-in-use comparisons and communicate the technical and commercial value of process improvements.
- Strong technical reporting, presentation, and customer training skills.
- Fluency in English.
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365 and relevant data analysis tools.
- Knowledge of one or more African distilled spirits, ethanol, or RTD beverage markets.
- Experience supporting customers across multiple African markets or working with local agents and distributors.
- Experience with craft and bulk distilleries, ENA production, or RTD beverage fermentation.
- Experience with integrated yeast, nutrient, and enzyme solutions.
- Experience coordinating customer requirements with production, quality, or supply chain teams.
- A basic understanding of commercial contracts and key contractual terms.
Un atout
- Working knowledge of pricing, costs, gross margins, and profitability.
- Familiarity with HPLC-based fermentation analysis.
Qualités personnelles
Un atout
- A customer-focused mindset and a consultative, value-based approach to selling.
- The initiative and self-discipline to manage a geographically dispersed customer portfolio independently while remaining aligned with regional priorities.
- A practical, hands-on approach to technical support and problem-solving.
- The ability to communicate technical information clearly to both technical and commercial audiences.
- Strong analytical skills and the ability to translate trial results into meaningful customer value.
- A collaborative approach to working with customers, local partners, operational teams, and international colleagues.
- Strong organizational skills and the ability to prioritize accounts, trials, travel, and commercial opportunities.
- Adaptability to different market conditions, business environments, and customer processes.
Critères généraux
Requis
- Willingness and ability to travel up to 50% of the time across South Africa and neighboring countries, and across Africa as the role expands, including regular customer site visits and joint visits with the regional team, with other international travel as required.
Organisation
Lallemand est une société canadienne privée fondée à la fin du XIXe siècle, qui développe, produit et commercialise des micro-organismes pour divers marchés. Les bureaux administratifs de la société mère sont situés à Montréal, au Canada. Aujourd'hui, Lallemand emploie plus de 6 500 personnes travaillant dans plus de 45 pays sur 5 continents.
Lallemand Biocarburants & Spiritueux est le plus important fournisseur d'ingrédients de fermentation pour les producteurs de bioéthanol et de spiritueux. Cette unité d'affaires leur procure les levures, les nutriments et les antimicrobiens nécessaires à leurs processus de fermentation, ainsi que des services de consultation et de formation.
Soutenus par un vaste réseau d'entrepôts et des équipes un peu partout dans le monde, les principaux bureaux de Lallemand Biocarburants & Spiritueux sont situés aux États-Unis.
Que ce soit pour l'industrie des biocarburants ou celle des spiritueux, l'équipe de cette unité d'affaires fait preuve d'un sens de l'innovation hors-pair, pour une meilleure qualité de fermentation possible.
Veuillez prendre note que des mesures d'adaptation seront prises à toutes les étapes du processus d'embauche. Les candidats doivent faire connaître leurs besoins à l'avance.