General Manager - Sales

Job Location: Cameroon, Africa

Business Information – Rice

Our vast sourcing network of both small and large-scale millers and farmers, combined with our worldwide sales, distribution and warehousing teams have created our strong position that customers can rely on. We work closely with rice millers, farmers and third-party suppliers to source and supply high-quality rice from rice producing countries in Asia and the Americas. We’ve established key partnerships, such as with the Thai Rice Department and the German development agency (GIZ), to promote sustainable rice cultivation. Through these partnerships we work closely with rice farmers to implement the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standard to improve their livelihoods and reduce environmental impacts of rice farming. We’re world’s first and now the largest sustainable rice producer and supplier. We lead the world’s largest Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) project in Thailand.

Market-leading Rice Brands

Our rice brands are market-leaders in West Africa. This includes the first branded rice fortified with iron, zinc and B-complex vitamins in both Ghana and Cameroon. The success of our brands is testament to our knowledge of diverse markets, enabling us to cater to the exact, yet varied standards of consumers. Our brands Royal Aroma, Royal Feast, Mama Africa, Mama’s Pride, Riz Mémé, Riz Bijou and Mama Africana offer consumers a range of high-quality, affordable rice in markets including Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Mozambique

For more information please visit: Rice Company & Rice Supplier | Olam Agri

Job Description

A General Sales Manager in Olam Agri is responsible for leading sales efforts across the region and driving both top-line and bottom-line performance in line with the business plan and defined budgets. The role involves planning, setting strategic objectives, and managing regional sales operations to deliver profitable growth. The incumbent will lead and remotely supervise sales teams, build strong distribution networks, and ensure alignment with organisational goals. The role requires a strategic mindset, strong execution capabilities, and the ability to operate effectively in dynamic and unstructured environments.

Responsibilities

Strategic Effectiveness

• Design and implement regional sales plans aligned with distribution strategy
• Achieve financial objectives through forecasting, budgeting, and variance analysis
• Translate sales targets into actionable quarterly and annual plans
• Identify new product opportunities and recommend product, packaging, or service enhancements based on market trends and consumer insights
• Track competitor activities and align strategies accordingly

Operational Effectiveness

• Monitor performance against targets and take corrective actions where required
• Coordinate sales and distribution activities across the region
• Manage and support distributor networks to enhance market reach and efficiency
• Track and report competitor activities within the region
• Identify operational challenges and implement timely solutions
• Lead and manage large sales teams across geographies

Experience

• 10–14 years of experience in sales and distribution, including leadership of national or multi-regional sales operations.
• Proven ability to deliver sustainable revenue growth, expand market share, and achieve national sales targets.
• Extensive experience managing large, geographically dispersed sales teams and channel partner networks.
• Strong expertise in sales strategy, distribution management, trade execution, forecasting, and performance management.
• Experience operating in dynamic, rapidly evolving market environments; relevant industry exposure preferred.

Qualifications

• Postgraduate degree in Management or a related field
• Strong leadership and team management capabilities
• Ability to motivate and drive high-performance sales teams
• Strong strategic thinking and execution skills
• Excellent communication and interpersonal abilities
• Strong commercial acumen and business understanding
• Proactive mindset with a willingness to go the extra mile to deliver results

Olam Agri is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, nationality, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Applicants are requested to complete all required steps in the application process including providing a resume/CV in order to be considered for open roles.