Business Development Specialist

SGS is the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing and certification company. SGS is recognized as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. With more than 97,000 employees, SGS operates a network of over 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.

Prepare individual sales action plans in line with the overall sales strategy to ensure a targeted and focused approach that consistently contributes to the overall growth aims of the business and ensures LC targets are achieved with maximized profit. Ensure current sales opportunities are maintained and identify new ones to meet required revenue targets within defined areas of responsibilities.

Support Sales Manager and Business Manager in conjunction with the business strategy set by the Health and Nutrition (H&N) Business Manager:
Grow all testing services and food inspection service offerings across H&N by pro‑actively and re‑actively, selling and promoting the product ranges on offer, to all industry sectors in South Africa and where applicable Africa, with the prime objectives of meeting the divisional budget by maintaining current key client portfolio and growing this portfolio to also include new clients. This will be achieved by compliance to all relevant H&N SOP’s.

• Operate to the highest standard of ethics as indicated in SGS integrity programs and act in line with all standard processes that exist within H&N
• In conjunction with overall sales plan and strategy, support management to create and execute plans to manage and grow current designated accounts in specific sectors identified
• Prepare quotations, service level agreements and tenders within set deadlines
• Prepare and develop proposals, quotations, tenders and client correspondence within a predefined time frame
• Ensure timely creation of quotes and professional and accurate submission of all information as requested by clients, ensure follow‑up
• Ensure that all work performed for clients is in line with procedures (PO number, signed quotation, relevant submission forms)
• Ensure client emails and telephone calls and voicemail messages are responded to with a reasonable time frame
• Maintain quoting system and ensure follow ups on proposals and tenders and SLA’s
• Provide management with regular forecasts and client updates, and sales reports
• Seek technical advice from technical staff when preparing proposals, quotations, tenders
• Involve technical team in technical feedback required by clients
• Promote the capabilities, facilities, personnel and experience of SGS H&N Services
• Identify, research, plan and contact potential clients to establish new business in order to achieve targeted revenue growth
• Anticipate, identify and understand client’s needs and pains and translate those into sales opportunities
• Monitor customer satisfaction
• Maintain positive relationships with current and potential clients through regular contact
• Comply with health, safety and environmental acts, regulations and requirements.
• Work with a safety conscious attitude and demonstrate good and safe work habits
• Establish, develop and maintain business relationships with current customers and prospective customers in the assigned territory/market segment to generate new business for H&N
• Act as a key point of contact between SGS and customers
• Responsible for sales visits to present SGS service offerings, as defined by sales call plan
• Maintain good relationships with customers, new and existing, through regular contact and ensure customer expectation and experience is managed accordingly
• Facilitate customer service issues and communicate to management to ensure that expectations are achieved
• Assist management in taking the appropriate decisions in relation to sales and marketing trends within the industry
• Assist and expedite the resolution of customer problems and complaints in conjunction with the business unit manager/s and their operations teams
• Coordinate sales effort with business development, marketing, accounting, technical and operations
• Support management in analysis of the territory/market’s potential and determine the value of existing and prospective customers’…