Work Dey HR Services - Our client is a fast-growing, well-funded Nigerian beverage company launching a portfolio of soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages. They are building a world-class distribution network to achieve nationwide coverage and become a household name.
They are recruiting to fill the position below:
Job Position: Distribution Manager
Job Location: Abuja (FCT)
Employment Type: Full-time
Job Summary
- We are looking for a battle-tested Distribution Manager with proven experience in building and scaling beverage distribution at similar reputable companies.
Job Purpose
- To design, build, and lead the end-to-end nationwide distribution strategy for the brand.
- The Distribution Manager will be responsible for route-to-market design, distributor management, warehouse operations, and ensuring 100% product availability across all trade channels to drive volume and revenue growth.
Key Responsibilities
Route-to-Market & Network Development:
- Design and implement a scalable nationwide RTM covering General Trade, Modern Trade, HoReCa, and Key Accounts.
- Recruit, appoint, and manage a network of primary distributors and sub-distributors across all 6 geopolitical zones.
- Define territory coverage, route structures, truck requirements, and service frequency.
- Drive market penetration targets and ensure product availability in 90% of target outlets.
Distributor & Logistics Management:
- Negotiate distributor agreements, KPIs, margins, and incentives.
- Manage distributor P&L, credit, and performance. Conduct monthly business reviews.
- Oversee fleet management, 3PLs, and secondary distribution to ensure cost efficiency and on-time delivery.
- Implement DMS and track stock, sales, returns, and collections in real-time.
Sales Execution & Availability:
- Work with the Sales Team to ensure perfect store execution: distribution, visibility, cold drink equipment, and merchandising.
- Own the “Perfect Store” and “Cold Drink Availability” metrics.
- Forecast demand and liaise with Supply Chain to prevent stockouts.
- Drive new product launches and manage trade promotions at distribution level.
Team Leadership & Capability Building:
- Build and lead a team of Regional Distribution Managers, Distributor Sales Managers, and Logistics Officers.
- Train distributors and their sales teams on company SOPs, systems, and sales processes.
- Instill a performance culture focused on volume, coverage, and cash collection.
Reporting, Budget & Compliance:
- Develop and manage the annual distribution budget.
- Monitor distribution cost-to-serve and optimize for profitability.
- Ensure compliance with company policies, food safety, and regulatory requirements.
- Prepare weekly/monthly reports on volume, coverage, out-of-stock, and distributor health.
Key Performance Indicators
- National Distribution Coverage %.
- Volume Delivered vs Target.
- Distributor Profitability & Health Score.
- Out-of-Stock % and Perfect Store Execution.
- Cost-to-Serve and Logistics Efficiency.
Requirements
Education:
- B.Sc / HND in Business, Marketing, Logistics, or related field.
- MBA is an advantage.
Experience:
- 8-10 years of FMCG experience with at least 4 years as a Distribution Manager in a beverage company.
- Must-Have Background Proven track record working reputable non-alcoholic beverage company.
- Experience launching a new brand is a strong plus.
Technical Skills:
- Deep knowledge of nationwide distribution, distributor management, and logistics in Nigeria.
- Experience with DMS, SAP, or any route accounting system.
- Strong negotiation and commercial acumen.
Other Skills:
- Data-driven, analytical, and target-oriented.
- Strong leadership and people management skills.
- Ability to travel extensively nationwide - 50% of time.
- Resilient, hands-on, and comfortable building systems from scratch.
What We Offer
- Competitive Salary: N500,000 - N1,000,000 monthly + performance bonus.
- Company vehicle + travel allowance.
- Opportunity to build a national brand from the ground up.
- Career growth in a dynamic, entrepreneurial environment.
Method of Application
Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to: [email protected] using the Job Position as the subject of the email.
