Business Development & Technical Sales Representative

Location

Western Cape / Cape Town-based, with travel to customers and prospective markets as required.

Industry

Manufacturing | Technical Textiles | Industrial Products

Position Overview

A well-established manufacturing company is seeking a commercially driven Business Development and Technical Sales Representative to identify new market opportunities, develop customer relationships, and grow sales across a diverse range of industries.

The company manufactures stitchbond and related textile products used across multiple commercial and industrial applications. Agriculture represents an important strategic growth area; however, this is not an agriculture-only position.

The successful candidate will be responsible for developing business across several existing and emerging markets, while playing a key role in expanding the company's agricultural product division.

This opportunity would suit an experienced sales or business-development professional who enjoys developing new markets, introducing technical products, building long-term customer relationships, and taking ownership of commercial growth.

Key Market Sectors

The successful candidate will identify and develop opportunities across areas including:

• Agriculture and horticulture
• Waterproofing products and applications
• Bags, shopper bags and reusable packaging
• Ecobeam and building bags
• Advertising banners and promotional materials
• Geotextiles
• Upholstery
• Footwear and shoe manufacturing
• Additional industrial and commercial applications for stitchbond products

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and implement business-development strategies across targeted industries.
• Identify prospective customers, distributors, manufacturers and commercial partners.
• Generate new business through structured prospecting, networking, referrals, market research and customer visits.
• Introduce the company's products and capabilities to new and existing markets.
• Build a strong pipeline of qualified sales opportunities.
• Develop the agricultural division as a strategic new growth area.
• Establish relationships with growers, agricultural suppliers, contractors, cooperatives and other relevant industry stakeholders.
• Identify alternative applications and new markets for stitchbond products.
• Understand customer requirements and recommend suitable product solutions.
• Work closely with production and technical teams regarding customer specifications, samples, product development and commercial feasibility.
• Prepare quotations, proposals, presentations and product information for prospective customers.
• Negotiate pricing and commercial terms within approved parameters.
• Manage the sales process from initial engagement through to order placement and ongoing account development.
• Maintain strong relationships with existing customers and identify opportunities to increase product usage.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity and emerging commercial opportunities.
• Maintain accurate records of customer activity, opportunities, quotations and sales progress.
• Provide regular reports on pipeline activity, market feedback, sales forecasts and business-development initiatives.
• Represent the company professionally at customer meetings, trade events and industry functions where required.

Minimum Requirements

• Matric or an equivalent qualification.
• A relevant qualification in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, Agriculture, Textiles, Engineering or a related field would be advantageous.
• Proven experience in business development, external sales, technical sales or key-account management.
• Experience selling within a manufacturing, industrial, technical, agricultural, construction, textile, packaging or related environment.
• Demonstrated ability to develop new customers and markets rather than relying solely on an existing client base.
• Strong prospecting, relationship-building and negotiation skills.
• Commercially minded, with the ability to understand product applications and customer requirements.
• Comfortable engaging with customers at operational, technical, procurement and senior-management levels.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Competent in preparing quotations, proposals and sales reports.
• Valid driver's licence and willingness to travel as required.

Advantageous Experience

Exposure to one or more of the following would be beneficial:

• Technical textiles or stitchbond products
• Agriculture or horticulture
• Waterproofing and construction products
• Geotextiles
• Packaging and bag manufacturing
• Upholstery or furniture manufacturing
• Footwear manufacturing
• Industrial fabrics
• Building materials
• Product-development or specification-based sales

Direct stitchbond experience is not essential, provided the candidate has strong commercial ability and is capable of learning technical products and their applications.

Personal Attributes

The ideal candidate will be:

• Entrepreneurial and opportunity-driven
• Confident in opening new markets
• Self-motivated and able to work independently
• Technically curious and willing to learn
• Persistent without being overly aggressive
• Comfortable working with a developing product division
• Capable of turning market intelligence into commercial opportunities
• Professional and credible when dealing with customers
• Structured in managing a sales pipeline
• Accountable for achieving measurable results
• Adaptable across different industries and customer environments

The Opportunity

This position offers the successful candidate the opportunity to join an established manufacturing business with products that can be applied across a wide variety of industries.

Rather than inheriting a narrowly defined sales territory, the candidate will have the opportunity to:

• Develop new markets and applications
• Build relationships across several industries
• Expand existing commercial channels
• Help establish and grow the agricultural product division
• Influence the company's future market-development strategy
• Create a meaningful and measurable impact on business growth

The role requires someone who is excited by the opportunity to build, develop and commercialise new markets—not someone who is simply looking to maintain an established customer portfolio.

Remuneration

A market-related remuneration package will be offered, commensurate with the successful candidate's qualifications, industry exposure, technical knowledge and proven sales ability.

Additional benefits and performance incentives will be discussed during the recruitment process.