Sulzer is a leading engineering company with a proud heritage of innovation. Join our global team to grow your expertise and develop innovative solutions that enable a prosperous and more sustainable society.
About the role
At Sulzer, we're looking for an ambitious and experienced Head of Sales Africa to lead our commercial activities across the region within our Energy & Industrial Business Unit (EIBU). This is a pivotal leadership role with responsibility for driving profitable growth, shaping regional sales strategy, developing key customer partnerships, and leading a talented commercial team across diverse and dynamic markets.
Working closely with regional and global stakeholders, you will identify new business opportunities, strengthen our position with strategic customers, and ensure Sulzer remains the partner of choice for rotating equipment, pumping solutions, and aftermarket services throughout Africa. You will combine commercial acumen, technical understanding, and inspirational leadership to deliver sustainable business growth while supporting customers operating in critical energy and industrial sectors.
Your main tasks and responsibilities:
- Overall responsibility to ensure that tenders meet company commercial guidelines and have the necessary sign off in accordance with the delegation of authority guidelines.
- Responsible for developing and implementing growth plans in line with the regional strategy.
- Maintain contact with key customers and stay ahead of impending projects.
- Ensure effective client relationship building and put in place management processes (including acting on feedback from Customer Satisfaction Surveys) to positively influence the client and create a pre-disposition to view Sulzer as the preferred source of supply.
- Develop and manage sales channels, sales planning, regional sales agents, segment training and promotional activities.
- Develop, manage and motivate a regional sales team (talent attracting, developing, and retaining the required skills, according to the strategy and growth plan).
- Work together with other teams to develop sales strategies for the region and produce accurate sales forecasts.
- Maintain knowledge of market and industry trends, competitors, and leading customer strategies
- Responsible for budget planning, forecasting and monthly reporting.
- Maintain relevant areas of CRM database, ensuring that Sulzer sales forecast and best prospect lists are provided to schedule.
- Attendance at monthly sales operations meetings and completion of fortnightly updates to relevant areas of the business to ensure overall visibility of sales pipeline and order status.
To succeed in this role, you will need:
- Post-graduate training in a mechanical engineering OEM preferably (although not essential) and with a strong knowledge about centrifugal pump or rotating equipment industry.
- Solid background of sales management (min. 4 years) in an engineering services fast moving and growing environment.
- Strong people management experience, evidence of setting up a successful team and used to matrix organization.
- Experience in setting up new business opportunities.
- Regional experience > 8 years.
- Experience with international companies preferably with good exposure to African market as well as customers in the region.
- Experience with Salesforce or similar CRM tools. Reasonable knowledge of MS Office suite (Word, PowerPoint, Excel & analytical tools).
Personal Characteristics:
- Strong developing & leadership skills.
- Willing to go the extra mile, every time.
- Results oriented and with a clear ambition to grow the business.
- Oriented towards teamwork and building a successful team.
- Culturally sensitive and able to work within a culturally diverse environment
- Lateral thinker and can demonstrate creative problem-solving skills.
- Level-headed and able to remain calm in difficult and stressful situations.
- Able to collaborate with others at all levels in the organization.
- Able to develop and maintain cross-functional links with a view to maximizing cross-selling opportunities.
- English fluent.
What we offer you
Medical
Provident Fund
Employee Assistance Program
Sulzer is an equal opportunity employer. We believe in the strength of a diverse workforce and are committed to offering an inclusive work environment.
We are proud to be recognized as a Top Employer 2026 in Brazil, Canada, China, Finland, Germany, Ireland, Mexico, Switzerland, South Africa, the UK and the USA.
