Taurai Chingwa
Operations Team Leader - Sales & Market Research
Summary
Proactive and achievement-oriented Market Research and Sales Leader bringing over 10 years (minimum 8 in middle to senior managerial positions), of sales and market research with special emphasis on emerging markets. Experience in the provision of sales-driving market insights to the FMCG industry in South Africa. Route to market (RTM) specialist with over 8 years establishing and leading market research teams in South Africa and SADC.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
3
3
Languages
Work History
Operations Team Leader
Shimba Marketing & Distribution
Pretoria, South Africa
04.2023 - Current
- Conduct training and mentored team members to promote productivity and commitment to friendly service.
- Build strong relationships with customers through positive attitude and attentive response.
- Communicate KPIs outlined in annual plan to inform employees of expectations and deliverables.
- Work with team to identify areas of improvement and devised solutions based on findings.
- Engage in product training, demonstrations, consumer awareness, branding, and acquisition initiatives to raise awareness and revenues.
- Achieve sales goals and service targets by cultivating and securing new customer relationships.
- Recruit, interview and hire employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Exceed sales quotas and increased profitability through effective sales strategy and business planning.
- Evaluate staff performance and provided coaching to address inefficiencies.
- Liaise with sales, marketing, and management teams to develop solutions and accomplish shared objectives.
- Develop effective improvement plans in alignment with goals and specifications.
- Hold one-on-one meetings with sales team members to identify selling hurdles and offered insight into best remedy.
- Build relationships with customers and community to establish long-term business growth.
Head of Operations
Datafy
Pretoria, South Africa
01.2018 - 04.2022
- Planning, organising, controlling, and coordinating research and development activities within the organisation
- Interviewed and hired talented individuals with top-level strengths, improving organizational talent, and skill set.
- Financial and human resources planning.
- Training and development of merchandisers, consumer survey teams, and retail data collection teams.
- Monitoring competitor profiles and activities on behalf of clients.
- Managing all executional elements of commercial activities in trade.
- Retail trade visits with employees, superiors, and clients.
- Support client objectives to drive sales and improve their overall business performance
- Daily, weekly, and monthly internal reports
Training Manager
Executrac
Pretoria, South Africa
04.2014 - 12.2017
- Recruitment and selection of merchandisers and field data gathering teams.
- Organized and edited training manuals, multimedia visual aids, and other educational materials.
- Training, development, and motivation of field teams.
- Communicated all learning and performance objectives, schedules, and training assessments to upper management.
- Driving market execution elements through RED (Right Execution Daily)
- Carrying out market visits, audits, and on-the-job training with employees and clients.
- Conducted research and analysis of learning needs of employees to develop targeted training programs.
- Evaluated success of training programs and recommended improvements to upper management to enhance effectiveness.
Field Surveyor
Executrac
Pretoria, South Africa
03.2013 - 03.2014
- Gathering retail data in allocated area on behalf of company clients.
- Reporting in-store execution elements on behalf of company clients.
- Reporting in-store competitor activities.
- Achieving daily, weekly, and monthly volume and quality targets, Conducting general tasks assigned by superiors.
Education
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
Great Zimbabwe University
Masvingo, Zimbabwe 07.2018 - 11.2020
Certificate of Higher Education - Basic, Intermediate, & Advanced Project Management
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa 01.2017 - 12.2017
Certificate of Higher Education - Programme in Human Resource Management
University of South Africa
Pretoria, South Africa 01.2016 - 12.2016
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Zimbabwe
Harare, Zimbabwe 08.2002 - 08.2005
Skills
Project management
Customer service, client relations
Coordinating training, creative problem solving
Reports generation and analysis
Client-focused operational improvement
Customer needs assessment, reporting
Excel in [areas of expertise] Computer Literate
Organization results-oriented
Report writing, personnel mentoring
Computer proficient, excellent communication
Point of sale system operations
POS system knowledge
Employee training
Project Management
Market Analysis
Sales operation
Verbal and written communication
Direct sales
Systems and software programs
Questionnaire development
Research reporting
Research design
Research and analysis
Hobbies
Reading, Sports, Travelling
Timeline
Operations Team Leader
Shimba Marketing & Distribution
04.2023 - Current
Master of Business Administration - Business Administration
Great Zimbabwe University
07.2018 - 11.2020
Head of Operations
Datafy
01.2018 - 04.2022
Certificate of Higher Education - Basic, Intermediate, & Advanced Project Management
University of South Africa
01.2017 - 12.2017
Certificate of Higher Education - Programme in Human Resource Management
University of South Africa
01.2016 - 12.2016
Training Manager
Executrac
04.2014 - 12.2017
Field Surveyor
Executrac
03.2013 - 03.2014
Bachelor of Science - Psychology
University of Zimbabwe
08.2002 - 08.2005