Regional Service Manager Africa

Career at Damen

About Damen Services

Damen is a family-owned, client-driven organization that has been in operation since 1927. Our primary business involves ships, but we are not just shipbuilders. We are a global operation of diverse people with a range of skills that deliver innovation and quality to the maritime sector. Our business priority is to deliver for the needs of the present, while working to solve the challenges of the future.

Damen Services is a team of creative, entrepreneurial, and motivated people who support each other and enjoy coming to work each day. We interact directly with Damen customers around the world, helping them find solutions to challenging situations and improve the performance of their fleet. Our team goes the distance for each other and for our customers, and we all take pride in our ability to put groups of skilled, ‘can-do’ team members together to find and implement solutions. Damen Services provides lifecycle support services with a strong focus on Damen built vessels. The range of services stretches from reactive and corrective, triggered by calls from our customers, up to services with a pro-active market approach and predictive maintenance elements.

The role:

As Account Manager (Regional Service Manager) you are responsible for the complete after-sales of a specific region and work together with the new build sales department in selling vessels and by offering services products to our African customers. The product portfolio includes repair, maintenance and overhaul contracts, long term maintenance contracts, spare part packages, training programs and digital Services.

It’s up to you to keep the customer happy during their operation and to ensure that the next vessel will also be delivered by Damen. You will approach new and existing customers for sales of services packages during one of your trips (approx. 10 trips per year) to Africa. You will be the first service-related point of contact for customers, ranging from port authorities, navies/coast guards and oil & gas companies. The adequate and timely follow-up of warranty claims for new vessels is monitored by you, and you make sure that customer satisfaction is always as high as possible. In order to realize the revenue and profit targets, you will work together with project managers and engineers to make sure the Damen products match the customer's demand, and that operational projects are executed correctly. You can signal market developments and act quickly to initiate product improvements.

Responsibilities:

• Innovate: Function as one single point of contact for the customers.
• Specify: Hold consultations with the (potential) clients about the technical, functional and other specifications of the possible assignment.
• Collaborate: Manage complex relations with both internal and external stakeholders.
• Estimate: Gather market information on the assigned region to prepare and implement a business plan.
• Monitor: Monitor project progress and timely identification of deviations from specifications and contracts.

Skills and experiences:

We’re looking for pioneers who dare to innovate and take ownership. Our future Account Manager should come prepared with the following:

• A completed technical/commercial education (at least bachelor's degree);
• Preferably multiple years of experience in a services/maritime environment;
• Excellent communication skills for negotiating, discussing commercial leads and convincing the client in English; French language skills are a plus;
• Willingness to make short business trips (approx. 10 weeks per year) related to your work area in Africa;
• Customer oriented, service oriented, focused, driven and proactive;
• Familiarity with the cultural and business aspects of doing business in the region;
• Managerial knowledge about combining technical, logistical and commercial aspects of tenders;
• Can-do mentality; customer-oriented, service-oriented, focused, and proactive.

What we offer:

At Damen we realize supporting and managing many talented individuals is of great essence. We understand that the key to success is to find the right person for the right job. That is why we continually invest in your development. Damen offers you:

• A dynamic international working environment focusing on technology and innovation;
• At least 40 days of annual leave;
• Profit sharing & pension allowance;
• Continuous focus on professional and personal development through our Damen Academy;
• An active social environment in terms of business culture, events & sports.

Recruiter: Ankie van Hees
Email: ankie.van.hees@damen.com

Why Damen?

Damen has 35 shipyards on five different continents and operates in more than 100 countries. We are still growing and that gives you options. You contribute to this growth while benefitting from the diverse development and career opportunities that our company offers. We will continue to challenge you. With our extensive portfolio of products and solutions you will never get bored and never stop learning. We offer you a world of possibilities. Working at Damen means contributing to the highest quality in shipbuilding, with an eye to the future and future generations. We want to make the world a better place by becoming the most sustainable maritime solution provider. For that, we need you. Become part of our family.