Area Sales Manager, East Africa

As Area Sales Manager, East Africa, you will drive profitable growth across East Africa and selected English-speaking West African markets. You will develop new business, grow strategic accounts, manage distributors, lead three customer-facing employees and coordinate the local delivery of a complex cross-functional programme supporting Ingredion's long-term regional growth strategy. 

What you will do: 

• Lead and develop the team: Set clear direction, coach performance and build accountability across two Sales Representatives and one Customer Service Representative. 
• Drive profitable new business: Build and execute growth plans, win new customers and expand share of wallet across Texture and Healthful Solutions, with a focus on solution selling rather than account maintenance. 
• Lead local programme execution: Coordinate cross-functional stakeholders and implementation activities for a major capability investment in Kenya, managing milestones, timelines, risks and delivery outcomes. 
• Own commercial performance: Deliver net sales, gross profit, margin and volume objectives, using data to guide pricing, product mix, forecasting, pipeline priorities and resource deployment. 
• Grow strategic customers and channels: Manage selected regional and global key accounts, lead negotiations and develop distributors serving small and medium-sized customers. 
• Advance priority markets: Drive growth in Kenya, Ethiopia, Nigeria and Ghana while supporting opportunities in Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. 
• Coordinate cross-functional delivery: Partner with Technical Service, Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing and Customer Service to accelerate customer projects and support relevant office and site responsibilities. 

What you will bring: 

• Education and industry knowledge: Bachelor's degree in business, food science, food technology or a related field, or equivalent experience, combined with knowledge of food ingredients, processes and applications. 
• Commercial growth experience: Strong B2B sales and new-business development experience in food ingredients, flavours, beverage ingredients or a comparable solution-based ingredient business. 
• Proven people leadership: Direct experience leading and developing a commercial or customer-facing team. This is essential for the role. 
• Commercial ownership: Experience managing strategic or global key accounts and distributors, with a strong understanding of pricing, gross profit, margins, net sales and product mix. 
• Project execution and mobility: Demonstrated success leading complex cross-functional projects with multiple stakeholders, timelines and deliverables, plus fluent English and willingness to travel regularly across the region. 

Who you are: 

• Growth-driven: You create new opportunities and move beyond maintaining established accounts. 
• A proven people leader: You set expectations, coach experienced employees and create accountability. 
• Commercially astute: You understand how pricing, mix and customer decisions affect profitable growth. 
• A disciplined project leader: You align stakeholders, manage milestones and translate strategy into successful execution. 
• Collaborative and culturally aware: You build credible relationships across customers, functions, distributors and countries. 

Why Join Ingredion? 

• Discover why Ingredion is the ideal place to advance your career with our exceptional rewards and benefits package designed to help you thrive. Create the future with us and enjoy: 
• Total Rewards Package: Competitive salary and performance-based pay recognizing your contributions to our success. 
• Comprehensive Benefits & Wellness Support: Health, long-term savings, and resources for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. 
• Flexible Work Arrangements: We value flexibility to support you both professionally and personally. 
• Career Growth: Learning, training, and development opportunities. 
• Employee Recognition Program: A culture of real-time appreciation, with personalized recognition rewards globally. 
• Employee Referral Program: Refer top talent and earn a bonus if they are hired.