Key Account Manager U-Pro

Unilever•Terryville, NY

14h•Onsite

About The Position

Unilever is currently hiring for: Key Account Manager – Unilever Professional Function: Customer Development Reports to: Business Development Manager – Unilever Professional Scope: Southern Africa Location: Johannesburg Terms & Conditions: Full Time ABOUT UNILEVER With 3.4 billion people in over 190 countries using our products every day, Unilever is a business that makes a real impact on the world. Work on brands that are loved and improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We are driven by our purpose: to make sustainable living commonplace, and it is our belief that doing business the right way drives superior performance. At the heart of what we do is our people – we believe that when our people work with purpose, we will create a better business and a better world. At Unilever, your career will be a unique journey, grounded in our inclusive, collaborative, and flexible working environment. We don’t believe in the ‘one size fits all’ approach and instead we will equip you with the tools you need to shape your own future. CATEGORY/FUNCTION INTRODUCTION Customer Development (CD) is what we call our Sales organization at Unilever. Customer Development works closely with our customers to pioneer new products, build categories, and best deploy best-in-class retail and shopper capabilities. WHY JOIN US? At Unilever Professional, we do work that matters — for people and the planet. We’re looking for a high-energy hunter who thrives on opening doors, winning new business, and displacing competitors. If you love the chase and have a proven track record of converting prospects into loyal customers, this role is for you. JOB PURPOSE Drive aggressive growth for Unilever Professional in Southern Africa by building a strong pipeline, acquiring new accounts, and accelerating distributor-led expansion. Success is measured by new business wins, rapid market penetration, and profitable incremental revenue.

Requirements

Tertiary qualification in Business, Marketing, or Sales.
Minimum 5 years in B2B industry with proven success as a hunter.
Experience in foodservice, hygiene, contract cleaning, chemicals, or consumables.
Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel nationally.
Hunter mindset: Highly driven, self-starter, thrives on winning.
Proven track record in B2B sales and distributor management.
Ability to open new doors and convert competitor business.
Strong negotiation, commercial acumen, and execution discipline.
Confident communicator and presenter.

Responsibilities

New Business Acquisition Identify, target, and convert new end-user customers through distributors and priority segments.
Build and maintain a high-quality pipeline with clear KPIs for conversion.
Lead solution selling, product trials, and contract negotiations to close deals.
Mobilize distributor sales teams to hunt alongside you and deliver joint wins.
Distributor Growth Recruit and onboard new distributors equipped with tools and knowledge to scale fast.
Drive range expansion and penetration within existing accounts.
Develop and execute joint business plans aligned to aggressive growth targets.
Lead quarterly reviews and implement corrective actions to stay ahead.
Market Development & Execution Execute Unilever Professional’s route-to-market strategy across South Africa.
Launch new products and initiatives with speed and precision.
Monitor competitor activity and market trends; provide actionable insights to leadership.
Performance & Reporting Deliver accurate forecasts and track pipeline conversion.
Report on KPIs: new business wins, distributor expansion, sell-in/sell-out, and activation.