Sales Lead
Hiiro Group Animal Feed · Holeta, Oromia, Ethiopia · Full-time, with regular field travel · 1 position
Apply for this position →About Hiiro Group Animal Feed
Hiiro Group Animal Feed is a growing agro-industrial business based in Holeta, Oromia. Our animal feed mill produces poultry, dairy and fattening feed for farmers, livestock producers, cooperatives and commercial customers.
As we expand our market presence, we are seeking an experienced, resourceful and results-oriented Sales Lead to drive sales growth, develop new markets, build distribution networks and establish the company's sales and marketing capability.
About the Role
Reporting directly to the General Manager, the Sales Lead takes primary responsibility for developing and leading Hiiro's sales and marketing: identifying opportunities, winning and keeping customers, expanding market coverage and turning sales plans into measurable results.
This is a hands-on leadership role that requires initiative, commercial judgment and a willingness to work directly with customers and markets. As the company grows, the Sales Lead will also build and supervise a sales team, subject to management approval.
The Sales Lead works closely with the Operations Manager so that customer demand, production capacity, product availability and deliveries stay aligned.
Key Responsibilities
1.Sales Strategy and Market Development
- —Develop and implement practical sales and marketing plans aligned with the company's objectives.
- —Identify and win new customers, including farmers, livestock producers, cooperatives, distributors and institutional buyers.
- —Develop sales forecasts, recommend realistic sales targets and implement plans to achieve targets agreed with the General Manager.
- —Grow sales across Holeta and surrounding markets, and identify new regions, customer segments and opportunities.
2.Customer and Distributor Relationships
- —Build strong, long-term relationships with customers and distribution partners.
- —Identify, recruit and develop distributors and wholesale partners in existing and new markets.
- —Keep in regular contact with customers to encourage repeat purchases and loyalty.
- —Respond promptly and honestly to customer inquiries, concerns and complaints.
3.Sales Team Development
- —Assess sales staffing needs as the business grows and propose how to build the team.
- —Take part in recruiting, onboarding and training sales staff, subject to management approval.
- —Supervise sales staff, set clear responsibilities and monitor performance.
- —Build a disciplined, results-oriented sales culture with practical procedures and reporting.
4.Sales and Operations Coordination
- —Work with the Operations Manager to align orders and sales forecasts with production, inventory and delivery capacity.
- —Communicate customer requirements and expected demand accurately and early, and coordinate order confirmations and deliveries.
- —Report quality concerns and complaints promptly, and follow up with customers once operations has investigated and acted.
- —Make sure customer commitments match approved pricing, payment policies and confirmed operational capacity.
5.Marketing and Product Promotion
- —Plan, execute and evaluate cost-effective marketing activities that generate customer inquiries, strengthen brand awareness and contribute to measurable sales growth.
- —Represent Hiiro at livestock markets, farmer meetings, agricultural exhibitions and cooperative gatherings.
- —Know Hiiro's feed products well and describe their uses and benefits accurately.
- —Gather customer feedback on product quality, performance, pricing and market needs.
6.Performance and Reporting
- —Take responsibility for achieving agreed sales volume, revenue and market development targets.
- —Follow approved pricing, discount, payment and credit policies, and support timely payment collection.
- —Keep accurate customer records, orders and sales reports.
- —Report regularly to the General Manager on sales, progress against targets, market developments and customer feedback.
- —Monitor competitors, pricing trends and changes in demand, and recommend ways to strengthen Hiiro's market position.
Qualifications and Experience
Required
- —Bachelor's degree or equivalent relevant professional experience, in marketing, business, economics, agriculture or a related field.
- —Proven direct sales experience in the private sector, preferably in agricultural inputs, animal feed or agro-processing, with a record of winning customers and meeting targets.
- —Strong communication, negotiation and organizational skills.
- —Able to plan and run sales activities independently and take responsibility for results.
- —Fluency in Afaan Oromo and Amharic.
- —Good understanding of Ethiopian agricultural markets and business practices.
- —Willing and able to travel regularly to customers and markets.
- —Comfortable keeping sales records and using phones, spreadsheets and messaging tools.
Preferred
- —Experience selling animal feed, livestock products or agricultural inputs.
- —Experience building or managing sales teams, distributor networks or new territories.
- —Existing relationships with farmers, cooperatives, commercial livestock producers or agricultural distributors.
- —Familiarity with Holeta and surrounding markets.
- —English language proficiency.
Personal Attributes
- —Initiative and persistence: develops opportunities and follows through without constant supervision.
- —Entrepreneurial thinking: spots opportunities and helps build the company's commercial capability.
- —Leadership potential: able to build and guide a sales team as the business grows.
- —Integrity: represents products honestly, keeps accurate records and respects company policies.
- —Customer focus: builds trust through responsiveness, reliable service and long-term relationships.
- —Commercial judgment and collaboration: understands competition, pricing and profitable sales, and works well with operations and management.
What We Offer
- —Competitive salary commensurate with qualifications, experience and responsibilities.
- —A key commercial leadership role reporting directly to the General Manager, with real autonomy to develop markets and sales initiatives.
- —The opportunity to build and lead a sales team as the company grows.
- —A growing product range and new markets to develop.
- —A central role in building a trusted Ethiopian animal feed brand, with room to grow professionally.
Location and Employment
- Duty station:
- Holeta, Oromia, Ethiopia
- Market coverage:
- Holeta and surrounding markets, with opportunities for wider expansion
- Employment type:
- Full-time, with regular field travel
- Number of positions:
- One (1)
How to Apply
Apply online: select Sales Lead, answer a few short screening questions and upload:
- Your updated CV.
- Optional: a cover letter outlining your relevant sales experience, knowledge of local markets and interest in the position.
Only a CV is required at this stage; the cover letter is optional and further documents may be requested later. Applications are evaluated on relevant sales experience, market knowledge and demonstrated results.
Application deadline: Open until filled. Applications are reviewed as they are received, and only shortlisted candidates will be contacted.