Our Client is a multi- national food logistics and facilities provider. Founded in 1957 its headquarters are in Europe and are renowned as a market leader and an innovative distributor of wholesale food products and food logistics concepts. They are experts in the handling of customs procedures, cross border transactions and dealing with local cultures, languages and bureaucracy.

They distribute food products across all temperature spans including fresh produce and also deliver soft drinks and bottled water. They have sites in Europe, Africa, Middle East and Near Asia, a fleet of 40 foot multi : temperature trucks and vans delivering to sites on a daily basis, many of which are difficult to reach or in dangerous areas!

Over the years the business has developed from food logistics to include the provision of other complex service solutions. They now provide extensive catering operations- both military feeding and commercial catering and have an expanding Retail Division which includes bakeries, coffee shops, hairdressing and beautician salons and PX / Duty Free retail stores which sell groceries, electrical and other duty free items etc. They also have a Site Services Division which provides construction of buildings and offices, general facilities management, fuel management, vehicle and plant maintenance services.


The Role:
This is a key role within our client?s retail / PX organisation in Afghanistan whose customers are military and civilian personnel of countries who are supporting the peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan.

The primary objectives of the role will be:

§ Provide Leadership to the Key Accounts team through operational, financial and organizational direction within the Kabul Afghanistan environment in the areas of marketing, direct sales, profit management, budget planning and supervision in order to ensure efficient and economically sound operations.

§ To profitably manage the Key Accounts area of our Client, to deliver operational excellence exceeding customer service expectations and enhance the strategic capabilities of the company.

§ Develop and implement marketing strategies, sales strategies in conjunction with the General Manager existing in the Kabul Market, in addition to developing new initiatives.

§ To develop a weekly newsletter to all Key Accounts customers outlining the weekly specials and products on offer.

Key Tasks will be:

Financial
§ Adhere to budgets established by the General Manager in addition to implementing measures to ensure strict financial compliance.

§ Ensure strict compliance of all Client?s cash policies currently in place.

Marketing
§ Prepare marketing plans for weekly newsletters, offers of the month and any items of product the General Manager deems necessary to distribute to the key accounts market
§ Regularly survey the local competition to provide the General Manager with feedback on who our Client?s competition is and ways so they can combat this competition.
§ Ensure that our Client is effectively presented to customers and its local market.
§ Use the marketing function to build long-term stability for the company.
§ Monitor and work to improve customer service levels.

Operations
§ Efficiently and effectively organize our Client?s operations to maximize profitability.
§ Identify and address operational problems in a timely fashion.

Knowledge and Skills:

To meet this unique challenge, you will ideally be an ambitious retail professional with your retail experience ideally gained in an international recognised retail / duty free operation.

Experience of having worked in a PX / NAAFI/ AFFES Store would be ideal as would working in a retail environment, such as apparel and grocery items

With outstanding leadership ability and a strong customer focus, you will have the confidence to win credibility and make an immediate contribution.

You will have the ability to form sound marketing strategies, implement and follow up.

A high standard of computer application skills is required particularly in Microsoft Excel, Word, Outlook and ideally experience in Retail application software.

You should possess excellent communication skills in English and ideally one other language and be able to adapt to rapid changes in a positive manner and work to tight deadlines.

Superb inter-personal skills and instant credibility are essential as you will be inter-facing with a number of people from different backgrounds, nationalities and religions.

You will be resourceful with a flexible outlook, have the ability to multi-task in order to handle competing priorities and be able to fit in to an international dynamic and multi-cultural environment.

Finally you should possess a Drivers Licence.

Whilst our Client?s operation is somewhat unique they are in it for the long term. Accordingly they seek a career minded Retailer and are looking for a minimum of 18 month?s commitmen