Job Overview

A Nigerian beverage company is hiring a Distribution Manager in Abuja with 8–10 years FMCG experience and beverage distribution expertise.

Distribution Manager at Beverage Company – Abuja

Posted: August 14, 2026
Application Deadline: September 15, 2026
Employment Type: Full-time
Location: Abuja (FCT), Nigeria
Job Field: Sales / Marketing / Logistics
Experience: 8–10 years
Salary: ₦500,000–₦1,000,000 per month + performance bonus

Job Overview

A fast-growing Nigerian beverage company is hiring a Distribution Manager to build and lead its nationwide route-to-market and distribution operation.

The company is preparing to launch a portfolio of soft drinks and other non-alcoholic beverages and is looking for an experienced distribution professional who understands the Nigerian FMCG market and has successfully managed beverage distribution at scale.

This is a hands-on leadership role covering distributor appointments, route-to-market development, warehouse and logistics operations, sales availability, distribution technology, and team management.

The successful candidate will play a central role in taking the new beverage brand from its launch stage toward nationwide market coverage.

About the Company and Recruitment Partner

The recruitment is being handled by Work Dey HR Services on behalf of its client, a Nigerian beverage company.

The employer is described as a fast-growing and well-funded business developing a portfolio of soft drinks and non-alcoholic beverages. Its immediate focus is building a strong distribution network capable of supporting nationwide coverage and sustainable growth.

Because the client company is not named in the vacancy, applicants should avoid assuming a particular brand or corporate group. The advertised opportunity is specifically focused on helping establish the client’s distribution infrastructure as the beverage portfolio expands.

What the Distribution Manager Will Lead

The person appointed will be responsible for developing the company’s end-to-end distribution strategy, from route-to-market planning through to distributor performance and product availability.

The role will involve several interconnected areas of the business.

Build the Nationwide Route-to-Market Network

The Distribution Manager will design a scalable route-to-market structure covering major trade channels, including:

• General Trade.
• Modern Trade.
• HoReCa.
• Key Accounts.

The successful candidate will also recruit, appoint, and manage primary distributors and sub-distributors across Nigeria’s six geopolitical zones.

Responsibilities will include determining territory coverage, route structures, truck requirements, and appropriate service frequencies.

A major performance objective will be increasing market penetration and ensuring strong product availability across target outlets.

Manage Distributors and Logistics

Distributor performance will be a major part of the position.

The Distribution Manager will:

• Negotiate distributor agreements.
• Establish distributor KPIs, margins, and incentive structures.
• Monitor distributor profitability and performance.
• Manage distributor credit and commercial relationships.
• Conduct regular business reviews.
• Oversee fleet operations and third-party logistics providers.
• Manage secondary distribution.
• Improve delivery reliability and distribution cost efficiency.
• Implement and monitor a Distribution Management System (DMS).
• Track stock, sales, returns, and collections.

The role requires someone who can balance commercial growth with the operational realities of distribution, logistics, working capital, and cash collection.

Drive Product Availability and Sales Execution

The Distribution Manager will work closely with the Sales Team to ensure products are not only distributed but also properly represented at retail outlets.

This includes supporting:

• Product distribution.
• In-store visibility.
• Cold drink equipment availability.
• Merchandising.
• Perfect Store execution.
• Cold drink availability.

The role will also involve demand forecasting and close coordination with Supply Chain to reduce stockouts.

When new products are introduced, the Distribution Manager will help coordinate the distribution side of launches and trade promotions.

Build and Manage the Distribution Team

The company expects the successful candidate to develop a capable distribution organization as the business grows.

The team may include:

• Regional Distribution Managers.
• Distributor Sales Managers.
• Logistics Officers.

The Distribution Manager will be responsible for setting expectations, developing team capabilities, and creating a performance culture focused on volume, market coverage, availability, and cash collection.

Training will also extend to distributors and their sales teams, particularly around company SOPs, systems, and sales processes.

Budget, Reporting and Compliance

The role includes responsibility for the distribution budget and ongoing cost management.

Key duties include:

• Developing and managing the annual distribution budget.
• Monitoring cost-to-serve.
• Improving logistics efficiency and profitability.
• Preparing weekly and monthly distribution reports.
• Monitoring volume against targets.
• Tracking market coverage.
• Monitoring out-of-stock levels.
• Assessing distributor performance and health.
• Ensuring compliance with company policies.
• Supporting compliance with food safety and relevant regulatory requirements.

The successful candidate will need to use operational and commercial data to identify problems and make practical decisions.

Key Performance Measures

Performance in this role will be assessed against several important distribution indicators, including:

• National distribution coverage.
• Volume delivered versus target.
• Distributor profitability and health.
• Out-of-stock percentage.
• Perfect Store execution.
• Cost-to-serve.
• Logistics efficiency.

These measures indicate that the company is looking for someone who can deliver measurable commercial and operational results rather than simply oversee routine distribution activities.

Qualifications and Experience

Applicants should have a:

• B.Sc or HND in Business, Marketing, Logistics, or a related field.
• MBA is an advantage.

The employer requires 8–10 years of FMCG experience, including at least four years working as a Distribution Manager in a beverage company.

More importantly, candidates must have a proven track record with a reputable non-alcoholic beverage company.

Experience launching a new beverage brand would be a strong advantage.

Technical and Commercial Skills

The ideal candidate should have strong practical knowledge of:

• Nationwide FMCG distribution in Nigeria.
• Distributor management.
• Logistics operations.
• Route-to-market planning.
• Distribution Management Systems (DMS).
• SAP or route accounting systems.
• Commercial negotiations.
• Distributor profitability.
• Supply and demand coordination.

Strong commercial judgement will be important because the role combines distribution growth with profitability and cost management.

Personal Qualities

The position requires a manager who is comfortable working in a fast-moving environment and dealing directly with operational challenges.

The employer is looking for someone who is:

• Data-driven.
• Analytical.
• Target-oriented.
• Resilient.
• Hands-on.
• Comfortable building systems from scratch.
• A strong people manager.
• Commercially minded.
• Comfortable making decisions under pressure.

The position also requires extensive nationwide travel, estimated at around 50% of working time.

Salary and Benefits

The advertised package includes:

₦500,000–₦1,000,000 monthly

plus a performance bonus.

Other stated benefits include:

• Company vehicle.
• Travel allowance.
• Opportunity to help build a national beverage brand from the ground up.
• Career growth within a dynamic and entrepreneurial environment.

The final compensation package may depend on the candidate’s experience and the employer’s terms.

Who Should Apply?

This vacancy is particularly suited to an experienced FMCG distribution professional who has worked directly within the non-alcoholic beverage sector.

A candidate with general logistics experience but without significant beverage distribution experience may not meet the employer’s preferred background.

Those who have previously built distributor networks, expanded geographic coverage, launched FMCG brands, managed DMS systems, or improved product availability should make these achievements prominent in their CV.

Application Deadline

The application closing date is:

September 15, 2026

Applicants should submit their CV before the deadline.

Before Sending Your CV

Because this is a senior FMCG role, applicants should tailor their CV to demonstrate actual distribution results.

Where possible, include measurable achievements such as:

• Geographic coverage expanded.
• Number of distributors managed.
• Sales or volume growth achieved.
• Reduction in stockouts.
• Improvements in distribution costs.
• Number of outlets covered.
• Successful product launches.
• Distributor network size.
• Experience with DMS, SAP, or route accounting systems.

This will give the recruiter a much clearer picture of your suitability than simply listing “distribution management” among your skills

How to Apply

Interested and qualified candidates should send their CV to:

career.wsl@gmail.com

Use “Distribution Manager” as the subject of the email.