Business Development Manager

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER – ELECTRICAL, CONTROL & INSTRUMENTATION (EC&I)

Location: Durban, KwaZulu-Natal

Employment Type: Permanent

Reporting To: Managing Director

Position Overview

An established engineering and industrial solutions organisation is seeking an experienced and commercially driven Business Development Manager – Electrical, Control & Instrumentation (EC&I) to develop and expand its business across KwaZulu-Natal.

The successful candidate will be responsible for identifying new business opportunities, establishing strategic customer relationships, securing major industrial projects and promoting a comprehensive portfolio of electrical, automation, control and instrumentation products and solutions.

This position requires a technically competent sales professional with strong commercial acumen, an established network within the KwaZulu-Natal industrial market and a proven track record of generating new business within manufacturing, heavy industry and industrial infrastructure.

The ideal candidate will have extensive knowledge of LV/MV electrical systems, switchgear, motor control, drives, PLCs, SCADA, instrumentation and turnkey EC&I projects, with experience engaging industrial plants, engineering consultants and major project stakeholders.

Key Responsibilities

Business Development & Sales Growth

• Identify and develop new business opportunities throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans aligned with business growth objectives.
• Build and maintain relationships with industrial customers, consulting engineers, contractors and end users.
• Generate and manage a strong sales pipeline through structured prospecting and CRM management.
• Identify and secure enquiries, tenders and major industrial project opportunities.
• Develop new customer accounts while strengthening existing business relationships.
• Identify opportunities for both individual product sales and complete engineered solutions.
• Achieve agreed revenue, sales growth and margin targets.
• Convert qualified opportunities into profitable long-term business.

Technical Sales & EC&I Solutions

• Promote a comprehensive range of electrical, control and instrumentation products and solutions, including:
  • LV and MV electrical systems.
  • Switchgear.
  • Variable Speed Drives (VSDs) and motor control.
  • Motor Control Centres (MCCs) and electrical panels.
  • PLC and SCADA systems.
  • Industrial automation solutions.
  • Process instrumentation.
  • Control systems and integration.
  • Electrical infrastructure.
  • Turnkey EC&I projects.
• Assess customer technical requirements and recommend appropriate products or engineered solutions.
• Collaborate with internal engineering and project teams to develop technically suitable solutions.
• Conduct technical product presentations and demonstrations.
• Support the preparation of quotations, technical proposals and tenders.
• Communicate the technical and commercial value of proposed solutions.

KwaZulu-Natal Market Development

• Identify and develop opportunities across the KwaZulu-Natal industrial market.
• Target industries including:
  • Manufacturing and heavy industry.
  • Pulp and paper.
  • Sugar mills and agro-processing.
  • Ports and logistics infrastructure.
  • Water and wastewater treatment.
  • Chemicals and petrochemicals.
  • Automotive manufacturing.
  • Mining and mineral processing.
  • Industrial infrastructure and utilities.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activities and emerging opportunities.
• Identify potential industrial projects before formal tender stages.
• Develop relationships with engineering consultants, EPC/EPCM organisations and industrial contractors.
• Expand the organisation's market presence and customer base throughout the region.
• Identify opportunities involving industrial shutdowns, plant upgrades, maintenance projects and capital investment programmes.

Customer & Strategic Account Management

• Establish and maintain long-term relationships with key industrial customers.
• Engage with engineering managers, plant managers, maintenance managers, project managers and procurement decision-makers.
• Act as the primary commercial contact for strategic accounts within the region.
• Maintain regular customer engagement and provide a high standard of service.
• Identify additional business opportunities within existing accounts.
• Build credibility with both technical and executive stakeholders.
• Support customer retention and long-term account development.

Sales Pipeline, Tendering & Reporting

• Maintain accurate CRM records and sales opportunity information.
• Provide regular sales pipeline, forecasting and performance reports.
• Track opportunities from initial identification through to successful conversion.
• Coordinate tender submissions and commercial proposals.
• Assist with quotations and project commercial reviews.
• Monitor sales performance against agreed targets.
• Maintain visibility of potential revenue, project opportunities and expected sales margins.

Minimum Requirements

• National Diploma, BTech, Degree or relevant Trade Qualification in Electrical Engineering, Instrumentation, Automation, Process Control or a related technical discipline.
• Minimum of 8–10 years' relevant experience within the electrical, automation, control or instrumentation industry.
• Minimum of 5 years' experience in business development, technical sales or key account management within the EC&I sector.
• Proven track record of generating new business and securing major industrial orders or projects.
• Strong technical understanding of LV/MV electrical systems, switchgear, motor control, drives, MCCs, PLCs, SCADA and instrumentation.
• Experience selling technical products, engineered solutions or industrial projects.
• Established customer relationships within the KwaZulu-Natal industrial market.
• Experience engaging consulting engineers, EPC/EPCM contractors, industrial plants and end users.
• Strong commercial, negotiation and closing capabilities.
• Experience using CRM systems and managing sales pipelines.
• Ability and willingness to travel throughout KwaZulu-Natal.
• Stable and explainable employment history.

Advantageous Experience

• Existing relationships with major industrial customers in Durban, Pinetown, Richards Bay, Pietermaritzburg and surrounding industrial areas.
• Experience selling ABB, Siemens, Schneider Electric, Rockwell Automation, WEG or similar industrial products and solutions.
• Experience in both technical product sales and turnkey project sales.
• Exposure to industrial plant upgrades, shutdowns, capital projects and maintenance-related opportunities.
• Experience working with engineering consultants and EPC/EPCM organisations.
• Experience securing large industrial contracts and profitable projects.
• Strong understanding of industrial procurement and tendering processes.
• Experience within manufacturing, pulp and paper, sugar processing, ports, petrochemicals, automotive or heavy industry.

Key Competencies

The successful candidate will demonstrate:

• Strong technical knowledge of EC&I products and solutions.
• Excellent business development and new-business generation skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and financial acumen.
• Proven negotiation and closing ability.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills.
• Confidence engaging with senior technical and commercial stakeholders.
• A proactive, self-motivated and results-driven approach.
• Strong customer relationship management.
• Excellent planning and organisational skills.
• Ability to identify and convert major industrial project opportunities.
• Strong pipeline management and forecasting discipline.
• High levels of professionalism and integrity.
• A customer-focused approach.
• A stable career history and demonstrated professional commitment.

The Ideal Candidate

The ideal candidate is a mature, technically qualified EC&I business development professional with extensive industrial sales experience, strong KwaZulu-Natal customer relationships and a demonstrated ability to secure profitable business.

You understand the technical and commercial requirements of industrial manufacturing and heavy-industry customers and can confidently engage engineers, maintenance managers, project stakeholders and procurement decision-makers.

You have a proven track record of identifying new business opportunities, developing strategic accounts and securing industrial electrical, automation and control projects.

You are comfortable selling both technical products and complete engineered solutions and can demonstrate measurable sales achievements, including revenue growth, major projects secured and margin performance.

Application Requirements

Applicants should submit an updated CV clearly demonstrating:

• Relevant technical qualifications.
• Experience within electrical, automation, control and instrumentation.
• Business development and technical sales experience.
• EC&I products, systems and solutions previously sold.
• Industrial sectors and KwaZulu-Natal markets serviced.
• Major customers, accounts or projects secured.
• Quantifiable sales achievements and revenue growth.
• Experience generating new business.
• Employment history and reasons for leaving.
• Availability and notice period.

If you have extensive EC&I technical sales experience, established KwaZulu-Natal industrial relationships and a proven ability to develop new business and secure major projects, we would like to hear from you.

Apply now by submitting your updated CV.

Only candidates meeting the minimum technical experience, qualification and business development requirements will be considered.