Sales Development Specialist - Rwanda

Role Overview

The Sales Development Specialist will be responsible for managing client coordination, processing quotations, and facilitating communication between various stakeholders to ensure smooth transactions. This role requires monitoring market trends in Rwanda and Burundi to develop strategic marketing initiatives and maintaining up-to-date knowledge on client financial statuses and shipment updates.

Key Responsibilities

• Coordinate with internal teams such as inside sales, pricing, principal office, regional offices, supporting departments, and subcontractors to handle orders, RFQs, and client documentation.
• Track ongoing transactions and quotation statuses daily to ensure timely processing.
• Act as a representative of clients’ interests among all involved parties.
• Evaluate the import/export market dynamics in Rwanda and Burundi to establish effective marketing strategies.
• Maintain awareness of clients’ financial positions and promptly communicate any impacts to their shipments or business such as pricing changes or alterations in government import/export procedures.
• Follow up on payment collections related to freight collect terms and local charges.
• Immediately report any complaints or claims with potential legal or financial risks to senior management.
• Propose marketing tools or approaches to differentiate the company from competitors and identify new business opportunities for up-selling or cross-selling CMA CGM products.
• Conduct market research using print media, internet, networking, and marketing intelligence to discover sales opportunities and lead potential projects.
• Engage prospective customers through calls, appointments, and office visits to foster business relationships.
• Provide customer service by updating clients on pending quotations and consignment statuses, while analyzing workflows for improvement.
• Maintain strong client relationships and assist with business cycle processes including credit facilitation and post-sales issues.
• Organize regular client visits to gather feedback and utilize CRM (LISA) to schedule, report, and track sales activities and visits weekly.
• Prepare and submit monthly sales reports and weekly market intelligence summaries to management.
• Ensure complete and accurate data entry and closure of activities in the LISA/CRM system.
• Negotiate rates with line or trade management on clients’ behalf while ensuring proper filing to minimize disputes and streamline the booking process.
• Collaborate with other departments such as booking to validate rates before cargo possession.
• Support financial dispute resolution involving customers or the company.
• Perform additional related tasks as assigned by the immediate manager.

Required Qualifications and Skills

• Familiarity with CRM systems and proficiency in Microsoft Office suite.
• Analytical skills to assess industry and market conditions.
• High integrity, self-motivation, and ability to manage schedules to meet strict deadlines.
• Proven effectiveness in people management and customer care.
• Ability to initiate and complete tasks independently under challenging circumstances.
• Excellent organizational, supervisory, problem-solving, interpersonal, communication, team-building, and negotiation capabilities.