IT Sales Force Automation Manager

POSITION SUMMARY

Ramraj Cotton Group is seeking a Manager IT to own and drive the Sales Force Automation (SFA) platform and its companion mobile application across the company. The role sits at the intersection of technology and trade sales the incumbent will manage the SFA application, lead a team, and act as the primary IT partner to the sales organization, translating field and trade requirements into reliable, scalable software capability.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

SFA Platform & Mobile Application Ownership

• Own the end-to-end lifecycle of the SFA software and its mobile app roadmap, configuration, enhancements, releases, and day-to-day administration.
• Manage platform uptime, performance, and data integrity across beat planning, order booking, sales, scheme/claim management, and reporting modules.
• Evaluate and implement upgrades, integrations (ERP/ DMS/ SAP), and new features in line with evolving trade sales requirements.
• Drive user adoption across the field sales force, distributors, and Sales teams through training, documentation, and support.

Team & Software Delivery Leadership

• Lead, mentor, and manage a team including application developers, and support / QA staff.
• Plan sprints, prioritize the enhancement backlog, and ensure timely, quality delivery of releases and defect fixes.
• Set coding, testing, and release-management standards; conduct code and design reviews for critical changes.
• Manage vendor/OEM relationships where the SFA platform is sourced externally (e.g., Salesforce or comparable SFA/CRM products).

Functional & Business Partnership

• Work closely with the Sales, Trade Marketing, and Distribution teams to understand trade sales processes primary/secondary sales, distributor management, scheme execution, and retail coverage.
• Translate business requirements from field sales and trade teams into functional specifications and system design.
• Publish and present SFA usage, adoption, and performance dashboards to sales and management stakeholders.
• Ensure the platform supports compliance standards and integrates cleanly with downstream ERP/DMS systems.

Governance & Continuous Improvement

• Maintain SLAs for platform support, incident resolution, and change management.
• Institute security, access-control, and data-privacy practices for the SFA application and mobile app in line with IT policy.
• Benchmark the platform against industry best practice and recommend a continuous improvement roadmap.

CANDIDATE PROFILE

Must-Have

• Bachelor's degree in Computer Science, IT, or equivalent disciplines.
• 7 10 years of overall IT experience, with at least 3 years directly managing an SFA/CRM platform and mobile application.
• Proven experience managing a software programming/development team, including hands-on exposure to the SDLC requirements, design, coding, testing, and release.
• Strong functional knowledge of trade sales operations primary and secondary sales, distributor/dealer management, beat plans, schemes, and claims — gained preferably in FMCG, apparel, or consumer-facing distribution businesses.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop the team, balancing technical delivery with people management.
• Strong stakeholder management skills, comfortable working directly with sales leadership and field teams.

Preferred

• Working knowledge of Salesforce or a comparable enterprise CRM / SFA platform, configuration, workflows, and reporting.
• Exposure to mobile app development/management (Android/iOS) for field-force applications.
• Experience integrating SFA with ERP/DMS systems (SAP, or similar) in a multi-location distribution environment.
• Prior experience in the apparel, textile, or FMCG sector.

Personal Attributes

• A go-getter with a strong sense of ownership and a bias for action.
• Collaborative team player who builds trust across IT and business functions.
• Sharp, analytical, and highly smart, able to grasp complex trade sales workflows quickly and translate them into system logic.
• Structured communicator, equally comfortable with field sales staff and senior management.
• Resilient and hands-on, willing to work close to the ground with field teams when needed.

WHAT WE OFFER

• A high-visibility role driving digital transformation of trade sales across a leading Indian apparel, fashion or textile group.
• Direct exposure to IT leadership and cross-functional sales and distribution stakeholders.
• A collaborative environment with the scope to shape the SFA roadmap and grow into broader IT leadership responsibilities.