DIVISION: SALES AND MARKETING

LEVEL OF WORK: LEVEL 1 (Senior/ Top Management)

REPORTS TO: THE GENERAL MANAGER/ DIRECTOR  

ULTIMATE GAS PROFESSIONALS LIMITED is a small but growing company in the business of marketing and distribution of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG)/ Cooking gas in Uganda. The company has until recently (2023) been solely and exclusively distributing TOTAL gas; while also undertaking LPG Consultancy services. The company introduced its own brand of Cylinders/ Cooking gas in the brand name “UGAS”; in order to allow it the flexibility and ability to tailor simplified acquisition packages for a varied range of users in a form of nationalist support towards empowering and helping citizens to easily adopt this much-advantaged clean cooking product. Our aim is to affordably transition as many citizens and Ugandan residents as possible to clean cooking gas; in order to positively impact their lives, health and lifestyles, while inadvertently protecting the country’s environment and tree cover by offering simplified adoption packages to help them to abandon firewood and charcoal usage.

Main Job purpose:

To plan Sales and Marketing activities for the company and ensure delivery and successful execution of the same leveraging the sales force, direct marketing, promotions and exhibition among others.

Grow the company Sales/ Product portfolio and volumes through concerted efforts of new customer generation and on-boarding across the company branches and segments including Corporate, Consumer, Groups, Institutions, as well as Distributor and Retail/ Reseller channels.

Ensure consistent delivery of products and attainment of set sales and revenue targets through effective mobilisation and coordination of supplies and logistics/ resources required for ensuring a consistent smooth sales and marketing operation for the company.

Lead, drive and motivate a team of direct reports and field sales and marketing staff both at head office and at the branches.

Coordinate and liaise with the other departments to ensure seamless cooperation and support towards your department.

Act as the company liaison with external stakeholders and business partners including effective monitoring of competition and market developments in order to turn them in the favor of the company whilst promoting and protecting the UGAS/ company brand.

Prime responsibilities of the position: -

• Develop and update the company’s strategic Business plan(s) and sales/ Marketing strategy.
• Manage Implementation of the company’s business and market Strategy.
• Deliver on Business Plans through achievement of set forecasts and sales targets.
• Develop and prepare periodic Reports on sales performance and prospects lists as may be required by the General manager/ Director from time to time.
• Ensure business expansion and penetration through identification of new suitable resellers and other sales channels in suitable locations within the company’s resource abilities.
• Directly engage in and/ or take the lead support role in corporate sales initiatives including signing on a bulk of direct Corporate, group and Institutional staff customers.
• Ensure timely and consistent product/ stock availability at all customer points of sale at all times including at Reseller Points, commercial customer points, promotional points, etc.
• Constantly monitor stocks and sales patterns at customer outlets and ensure consistent and timely replenishments at all times.
• Liaise with the Stock Accountant to recommend re-order volumes based on need and projected sales for the subsequent period including for the gas/ LPG, Cylinders & Accessories.
• Ensuring reconciled product & cylinder stocks between the company & resellers/ distributors, and attending to customer complaints to this effect to their full conclusion & satisfaction.
• Reconcile regularly with all customers in terms of their credit outstandings in order to ensure that the company is at par with their own records and is protected from exposure to risk of oversupplying poor paying customers.
• Undertake periodical market intelligence activities to ensure that there is no dumping of foreign product at the company reseller/ customer sites either by competition, staff, suppliers, etc.
• Constantly observe & report on the market in respect of the competition landscape, competitor moves and strategies, general industry developments, price changes and comparisons, etc.
• Engaging whenever possible in marketing promotion initiatives which may include mini-exhibitions, trade activations e.g. at supermarkets, customer sites, schools, institutions, etc.
• Manage the company brand and marketing communication activities including advertisement, Activations and generation/ distribution of required branding and promotional materials.
• Leading the company PR activities & CSR engagements while acting as the company’s face and leading brand ambassador with the support of your marketing team in the background.
• Develop, manage and supervise a highly productive and motivated support team of sales and marketing staff through the adoption of Performance management and monitoring procedures.
• Ensure conformance to Regulatory & company HSEQ (Health, Safety, Environment & Quality) standards & guidelines across all company stakeholders e.g. suppliers, sales channels & customers.
• Representing the Company at both Regulatory and Industry-level engagements & Associations.
• Looking out for and leading in the preparation of bids and or motivations for opportunistic consumer financing schemes which may place the company in a good competitive position.
• Deliver on any other business-related demands as may be requested by the General Manager/ Director(s) from time to time.
• Undertaking all of the above tasks both directly and through your team of direct reports and support staff.
• Reporting to the General Manager/ Company Director(s).

Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) of the position: -

• Ensure an up-to-date company business/ marketing plan is in place all the time.
• Ensure that all required business/ sales performance reports are presented.
• Ensure the company’s Sales targets are achieved.
• Ensure new Distributor and Reseller outlets are established as per business Strategy.
• Ensure that Corporate, Group & Individual Client set targets are achieved.
• Ensure that promotions and marketing initiatives are consistently conducted as per plan.
• Ensure sufficient stocking at all company branches and outlets at all times.
• Ensure timely delivery of supplies across the company sales channels and networks.
• Ensure that the Sales and Field Marketing and promotions teams are motivated and meeting their performance targets.
• Ensure that customer service levels are enhanced and maintained at acceptable Levels.
• Ensure zero product safety incidents at the company premises and in the reseller premises.
• Ensure that all company customers pay up outstanding dues within specified timeframes.
• Ensure zero dumping of foreign product at all company and resellers sites.

Required Academic Qualifications and Experience: -

• Qualification in a relevant Business-Related Degree.
• Additional Professional Marketing/ Sales qualifications an added advantage but not a must.
• Minimum 5 year’s business-related job experience desired with at least half of it at Mid-Management level in a large organisation, or Senior Management with a small organisation.
• Previous experience in the Oil/ Gas industry desired but not a must.

Vital Skills/ Competencies and Attributes: -

• Good Knowledge and understanding of sales and marketing principles.
• Understanding of Retail and Distribution/ Dealer Structures and Management.
• High level of integrity and Leadership Abilities.
• Excellent Communication skills both oral and written.
• Good Computer Skills- MS Office.
• Results-oriented and Target driven with a strong sales drive.
• Good interpersonal & people management skills.
• Ability to work long hours & on weekends when required.
• Ability to work under pressure and meet stipulated deadlines.