National Sales Manager, GT (FMCG)

A leading global recruitment partner is seeking a National Sales Manager for General Trade within the Fast Moving Consumer Goods sector, based in Kuala Lumpur. This is an exceptional opportunity to oversee and shape the entire sales operations function at a national level, driving strategic initiatives that impact both business growth and team development.

What you'll do:

As the National Sales Manager General Trade Fast Moving Consumer Goods, you will play a pivotal role in shaping the future of sales operations across Malaysia. Your day-to-day activities will involve designing and executing route-to-market strategies that drive distribution excellence while collaborating with marketing teams to deliver impactful commercial plans. You will harness advanced analytics tools to provide actionable insights into both category performance and market trends, ensuring your team remains ahead of industry shifts. By partnering with retail operations, you will optimise merchandising services and budgets for maximum efficiency. Your responsibilities also include overseeing trade spend management processes to maintain profitability and supervising associates who support category management objectives. Success in this role requires a passion for nurturing talent, fostering interdependent relationships across departments, and consistently delivering results through thoughtful planning and empathetic leadership.

• Oversee the full spectrum of sales operations functions nationwide, ensuring seamless implementation of strategic action plans that align with organisational objectives.
• Develop and execute effective route-to-market strategies to maximise distribution depth and breadth across all core channels, ensuring optimal market penetration.
• Establish clear success metrics and measured KPIs for each channel, tracking performance through robust scorecards and joint business planning processes.
• Co-lead perfect store execution initiatives by developing comprehensive toolkits for in-store excellence tailored to regional requirements.
• Provide strategic channel expertise by identifying new distribution opportunities, optimising channel structures, and enhancing coverage for sustainable growth.
• Collaborate closely with customer marketing teams to build commercial plans by channel, ensuring targeted executions for specific customers based on actionable insights.
• Deploy and manage advanced sales analytical tools, including demand forecasting systems, to support accurate sales projections and informed decision-making.
• Partner with retail operations to optimise merchandiser services, ensuring efficient budget deployment and maximised trade opportunities.
• Monitor overall trade spend management to ensure expenditures remain within budget while implementing processes that enhance profitability by account group.
• Supervise associates responsible for merchandising and category management, providing guidance to achieve category objectives while maintaining compliance with best practices.

What you bring:

To excel as National Sales Manager General Trade Fast Moving Consumer Goods, you will bring extensive experience from the FMCG industry ideally spanning both direct sales roles focused on general trade channels as well as internal project leadership involving route-to-market strategies. Your educational background includes at least a bachelor’s degree in business administration or a related discipline. You possess fluency in English which enables you to communicate clearly with diverse teams regionally. Your proven track record demonstrates not only technical proficiency but also emotional intelligence; you are adept at building dependable teams grounded in mutual respect. Analytical thinking comes naturally to you, you are comfortable interpreting complex data sets using advanced software tools and you have successfully managed large-scale projects requiring careful coordination among multiple stakeholders. Your deep understanding of different channel structures allows you to identify growth opportunities quickly while your interpersonal sensitivity ensures harmonious collaboration throughout the organisation.

• Minimum Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related field is required as foundational academic preparation for this position.
• At least 10 years’ experience within the FMCG sector encompassing both external selling roles (preferably in general trade) and internal project-based positions such as route-to-market initiatives.
• Fluency in English (written and verbal) is essential for effective communication with regional teams and stakeholders at all levels.
• Demonstrated ability to lead your own team with warmth while collaborating effectively with peers across multiple functions.
• Proven analytical skills supported by strong computer literacy in Microsoft Office applications are necessary for managing complex data sets and reporting requirements.
• Experience managing successful projects from inception through execution is vital for achieving business objectives within set timelines.
• Strong interpersonal skills are required to foster trust-based relationships within your team as well as with external partners.
• Clear understanding of go-to-market principles across various channels including supermarkets, hypermarkets, wholesale distributors, and club formats enhances your effectiveness in this role.
• Familiarity with syndicated data sources such as Nielsen or Dunnhumby supports informed decision-making based on market intelligence.
• Ability to manage up and across the organisation ensures alignment of goals while promoting a culture of shared success.

What sets this company apart:

This organisation stands out as a trusted leader within the fast moving consumer goods sector due to its unwavering commitment to employee development, inclusivity, and work-life balance. Employees benefit from flexible working opportunities designed to accommodate individual needs without compromising on productivity or engagement. The company invests heavily in training programmes that empower staff at every level ensuring continuous professional growth alongside generous pension contributions that secure long-term wellbeing. A culture rooted in collaboration means everyone’s voice is heard; supportive leadership fosters an environment where sharing ideas is encouraged and achievements are celebrated collectively. By joining this team, you become part of a network dedicated not only to commercial success but also to nurturing positive relationships built on trust, empathy, and shared purpose.

What's next:

If you are ready to make a meaningful impact within Malaysia’s thriving FMCG sector while advancing your career in an environment that values collaboration and personal growth, this is your moment!

Apply today by clicking on the link provided your next rewarding career move awaits.

Do note that we will only be in touch if your application is shortlisted.

Agensi Pekerjaan Robert Walters Sdn Bhd
Business Registration Number : 729828-T
Licence Number : JTKSM 423C