Account Manager

Job Title:             Account Manager – West Africa

FLSA Status:       Exempt - Salaried

Reports to:         VP – EH

Location:             West Africa

About Cooper Machinery Services:

Cooper Machinery Services provides natural gas compression equipment and services to customers globally in the Oil & Gas, Power, Transportation, and Marine sectors. With a proud heritage dating back to 1833, Cooper Machinery Services is the OEM for legendary product lines including Cooper-Bessemer™, Ajax™, Superior™, Gemini, TSI, CSI, Enterprise, and Joy. Headquartered in Houston, TX, but with commercial and services hubs around the world, Cooper Machinery Services provides world-class services to more than 22,000 units in its installed base.

Our strength is our people. Each employee plays an integral role in our success and growth. With a commitment to our vision that strong relationships drive strong results and better business, our people make Cooper Machinery Services legendary.

Job Overview:

The Account Manager – West Africa will be responsible for driving sales growth across the region by developing strategic relationships, identifying new business opportunities, and promoting Cooper Machinery Services’ portfolio of reciprocating engines, compressors, parts, and services. The role requires a customer-centric and results-driven approach, ensuring alignment with regional and corporate sales objectives.

The ideal candidate will have a strong technical background in gas compression, oil & gas production facilities, and rotating equipment, combined with a proven ability to manage complex sales cycles and drive revenue growth.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

Sales & Business Development

• Drive the sales of reciprocating products, services, and parts, focusing on reciprocating engines and compressors.
• Develop and execute a regional sales strategy to maximize revenue and market share.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities, including expansion into underdeveloped customer accounts.
• Manage the entire sales cycle, from lead generation and proposal development to contract negotiation and closing deals.

Customer Relationship Management

• Develop and maintain strong, long-term relationships with key customers and stakeholders in the oil & gas, power generation, and industrial sectors.
• Understand customer operational challenges and business objectives, providing tailored solutions that enhance productivity and efficiency.
• Act as a trusted advisor, educating customers on Cooper’s innovative technology and service offerings.

Technical & Commercial Solution Selling

• Work closely with technical sales support to design and present customized solutions that address customer needs.
• Leverage in-depth product knowledge to articulate value propositions and provide competitive differentiation.
• Ensure customer satisfaction by collaborating with service teams to support after-sales needs and technical troubleshooting.

Sales Execution & Reporting

• Maintain accurate sales pipeline tracking and forecasting using CRM (Microsoft Dynamics).
• Develop regular sales reports and business reviews to measure progress against regional targets.
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer feedback to refine sales strategies and enhance business performance.
• Collaborate with regional sales leadership and operations teams to optimize order fulfillment and service execution.

Market Expansion & Strategic Partnerships

• Identify new market opportunities and distribution channels within West Africa.
• Develop strategic alliances with industry partners, resellers, and key stakeholders.
• Stay informed about local regulations, business conditions, and economic trends impacting the industry.

Travel & Customer Engagement

• Commit to approximately 30% to 50% travel within the West Africa region to engage with customers, attend industry events, and support sales efforts.
• Represent Cooper Machinery Services at trade shows, industry conferences, and networking events to strengthen brand presence and market penetration.

Required Skills and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business, or a related field preferred.
• 7+ years of experience in sales within the oil & gas, power, or industrial equipment sectors.
• 5+ years of experience in selling gas compression, reciprocating engines, or rotating equipment.
• Proven track record of meeting and exceeding sales targets in a B2B environment.
• Strong understanding of oilfield, production facilities, and compression operations.
• Demonstrated ability to develop strategic customer relationships and drive revenue growth.
• Technical aptitude with reciprocating compressors, engines, and related equipment.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Proficiency in CRM (Microsoft Dynamics), Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Strong commitment to safety, quality, and customer service excellence.

Desired Characteristics

Experience working in West Africa, with a strong understanding of the region’s business environment.

A self-starter with a proactive approach to business development and sales execution.

Ability to navigate complex sales cycles and manage multiple stakeholders.

Results-oriented, with a sense of urgency and commitment to delivering measurable business impact.

Strong teamwork and collaboration skills in a matrixed organization.

Cooper Machinery Services is an equal opportunity employer and gives all qualified applicants consideration of employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, any other characteristic protected by l