Sales Administration - Manufacturing | Johannesburg

Our client, a well-established manufacturer and distributor based near Sandton, is seeking a highly organised, customer-focused Sales Administrator to join their team.

This role is critical to the success of the sales function and combines sales administration, customer service, order processing, and sales support responsibilities. The successful candidate will be the first point of contact for many customers, handling inbound calls, processing orders, maintaining accurate CRM records, and identifying opportunities to upsell products and services.

The ideal candidate is exceptionally process-driven, detail-oriented, and customer-centric. They understand that every action captured within the CRM has a direct impact on inventory, operations, customer satisfaction, and ultimately business performance.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as a key point of contact for customers via telephone and email.
  
• Process inbound customer orders accurately and efficiently.
  
• Capture and maintain all customer interactions, orders, quotations, and opportunities within the CRM system.
  
• Build positive relationships with customers through professional and responsive service.
  
• Identify opportunities to upsell and cross-sell products during customer interactions.
  
• Maintain a thorough understanding of product offerings and promotions.
  
• Follow up on quotations and customer enquiries.
  
• Liaise with Sales Representatives, Operations, Logistics, and Finance to ensure smooth order fulfilment.
  
• Verify the accuracy of orders and customer information before processing.
  
• Generate sales and customer reports as required.
  
• Resolve customer queries and escalate issues where appropriate.
  
• Ensure adherence to company processes, procedures, and service standards.
  

Key Competencies

Customer Service Excellence

• Demonstrates a genuine passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences.
  
• Builds rapport quickly and professionally.
  
• Maintains a positive, helpful, and solution-oriented attitude.
  

Telephone Skills

• Excellent telephone etiquette and communication skills.
  
• Confident handling high volumes of customer calls.
  
• Able to engage customers professionally while identifying sales opportunities.
  

Attention to Detail

• Produces highly accurate work with minimal errors.
  
• Understands the downstream impact of inaccurate data capture.
  

Process Orientation

• Follows systems, procedures, and workflows consistently.
  
• Appreciates how every step in the CRM process affects the broader business.
  

Commercial Awareness

• Comfortable identifying upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
  
• Understands the importance of customer retention and revenue growth.
  

Minimum Requirements & Desired Experience

Essential Experience

• 5–10 years' experience in a Sales Administration, Sales Support, Internal Sales, or Customer Service role.
  
• 5–10 years' experience working within a manufacturing, distribution, wholesale, or related industrial environment.
  
• 3–5 years' experience in Internal Sales and/or Customer Service, including direct interaction with customers.
  
• 5–10 years' experience using CRM systems as a core part of daily responsibilities.
  
• Proven experience processing customer orders, quotations, sales administration, and maintaining accurate customer records.
  
• Experience handling inbound customer enquiries and order placement via telephone and email.
  
• Demonstrated ability to identify and convert upselling and cross-selling opportunities.
  

Technical Requirements

• Strong CRM proficiency (essential).
  
• Tech-savvy with the ability to learn and navigate systems quickly.
  
• Strong Microsoft Office skills, particularly Excel, Outlook, and Word.
  
• Comfortable working in a highly process-driven environment where accuracy and data integrity are critical.
  
• Excellent administrative and organisational skills.
  

Personal Attributes

• Exceptional attention to detail.
  
• Highly process-driven and methodical.
  
• Customer-centric with a genuine passion for service excellence.
  
• Professional and confident telephone manner.
  
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills.
  
• Commercially minded with a natural ability to identify sales opportunities.
  
• Able to work effectively under pressure while maintaining accuracy.
  
• Strong sense of ownership, accountability, and reliability.
  

Additional Requirements

• Must have a valid driver's licence and own reliable transport.
  
• Comfortable commuting to an office located in an industrial area near Sandton.
  
• Must provide contactable references from previous Sales Managers or Direct Managers who can speak to:
  
• Sales support performance.
  
• Customer service excellence.
  
• Attention to detail and administrative accuracy.
  
• CRM proficiency.
  
• Achievements, successes, and contribution to team performance.