Accounts and Applications Manager - Central Africa

Accounts and Applications Manager - Central Africa Sales Area

Sandvik Mining and Rock Solutions is a global leader in equipment, tools, parts, and services for the mining and infrastructure industries, with applications in drilling, cutting, loading, tunneling, and quarrying. Proudly ranked among Forbes Top 50 Global Employers.

The Role

Lead and direct the Accounts & Applications team to achieve sustainable profitable growth of the Sales Area business and that of Key Customer Accounts. To drive order intake and revenue by providing expert leadership on sales team management, the customer, and the customers’ needs, taking into consideration all of Sandvik's products and service offerings and Sandvik's position with the customer. Collaborate with the SAM, BLM and Mincom teams to develop, implement, track and maintain a long-term strategy for the Sales Area.

To manage strategic marketing programs so that they meet the organisation’s short and long -term business objectives, comply with regulations and standards, and protect the organisation’s public reputation. To optimise the strategic online and traditional campaigns to ensure customer engagement.

The role will be based in Kitwe, Zambia, reporting to the Vice President Sales Area Central Africa

Essential duties & responsibilities

Sales Area Strategy

Review and understand the business area strategy.

Understand each division’s strategy and identify key strategic objectives relevant to the Sales Area, through consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

Monitor the implementation of the approved Sales Area Strategy, tracking progress and making the necessary adjustments.

Keep abreast of the market to provide the Sales Area with relevant strategic guidance.

Account Management & Sales Oversight

Implement the Global blueprint (i.e., desired state) for the account management team:

o Identify and close gaps between the desired and actual state.

o Understand and benchmark the key account management capabilities required.

o Fulfil managerial and leadership responsibilities for the account management team, application specialist team and customer portfolio.

Manage the interaction and relationships between business line managers and account managers.

Manage implementation of wider sales team activities as per scorecard, coaching and directing the wider sales teams to meet targets.

Manage relationships and sales team dynamics within the Group.

Participate in month-end financial reviews and provide the month-end executive summary.

Provide industry updates to the Sales Area management team during monthly and quarterly reviews

Marketing Management

Set the Sales Area marketing strategy and priorities in collaboration with the Vice President Sales Central Africa and aligning them with business objectives and growth targets.

Use market intelligence on market share, customer needs, brand awareness and competitors to guide strategic positioning and growth opportunities.

Provide strategic direction for product and service launches, customer engagement and advertising, ensuring alignment with account plans and sales priorities.

Set strategic marketing objectives and resource priorities, and review results against agreed targets to guide investment and strategic adjustments.

Digital Management

Set the strategic direction for digital marketing and online customer engagement, aligning channel priorities with the Sales Area strategy and key customer needs.

Define digital marketing objectives and success measures, and review overall performance to guide investment and strategic improvements.

Prioritise opportunities to improve the online customer experience and strengthen digital presence, informed by customer insights and relevant digital marketing trends.

Provide strategic oversight of digital brand alignment and channel relevance.

Stakeholder Relations Management

Develop and manage relationships with senior customers and participate in various meetings.

Comply with ISO 9001 system requirements.

Address escalated customer complaints, and coach and mentor account managers through to complaint resolution.

Represent the Sales Area on the Global Sales & Marketing Council.

Applications Management

Ensure resources are available for the applications team by making application specialists available to identify potential applications.

Provide guidance and input into projects from a sales perspective.

Budget Management

Determine and compile the budget forecast for submission to the Vice President for approval.

Monitor and control the budget, producing monthly budget review reports.

Approve expenses and ensure alignment to the approved budget.

Identify cost-saving initiatives

Compliance

Comply with the Occupational Health & Safety Act and internal standards and procedures.

Comply with applicable legislation.

Monitor team members’ compliance with safety regulations, applicable legislation and ISO requirements.

People Management

Manage the approval for the recruitment of subordinates in consultation with the relevant stakeholders.

Manage the performance of subordinates through performance agreements and performance reviews.

Create learning opportunities for subordinates by identifying development areas, coaching and recommending formal functional training when required.

Implement talent management and succession planning frameworks.

Manage sound employee relations in accordance with HR policies and procedures.

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)

Developed and communicated Sales Area Strategy, quality of strategy and strategic direction provided.

Feedback on the quarterly strategy reporting process.

Monthly dashboards and on-time delivery of the month-end executive summary.

Customer feedback and net promoter score.

Successful launch of products and services, appropriate advertising content and correct brand use.

Digital reach, reactions, impressions and engagement rates; new followers per sales area and country; A/B testing of customer preferences.

Number of projects and project pipeline health.

Accurate budgets, timeous annual and monthly budget review reports and effective cost-saving initiatives.

Staff turnover, employment equity targets, employee engagement results, talent pipeline, performance reviews, development and succession plans, and people growth.

Education

Degree in Engineering or a similar technical qualification.

An MBA/MBL will be an added advantage.

Experience

8 to 10 years’ sales and business management experience, of which 5 years in a management capacity.

Experience in mining applications (specifically mechanised mining) will be an added advantage.

A glimpse of our culture

At Sandvik, we believe that a diversity of experience, perspective and background will lead to a better environment for our employees, our business and, therefore, our customers. Visit our stories hub, LinkedIn or Facebook to get to know us better.

You must be physically and medically fit to work in a mining environment, including meeting all customer vaccination requirements.

Application

We look forward to your application and ask you to please make sure that we have it no later than 20 November 2026. Our recruitment process is open and fair – we welcome all applicants and evaluate every unique application in line with the specified requirements profile to find the best match for the position. Get to know more about Sandvik and apply here

Sandvik is an equal opportunity employer, striving for practices and programs that are bias free and in which employees are treated fairly to ensure fair opportunity with the best outcome for every individual securing no discrimination on grounds including but not limited to, age, gender, gender expression, race, ethnicity, language, religion, sexual orientation, or disability. To ensure an inclusive, equitable and diverse work environment where