Import & Export Director

COREcruitment Ltd; England; On-site; GBP 120,000 - 190,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonuses

Travel allowances

Career development

Job summary

COREcruitment Ltd is partnering with a global soft drinks business to appoint an Export Director for the Middle East & APAC. This hands-on commercial leader will shape the regional strategy, drive sales growth and build distribution across priority markets.

You will own forecasts, budgets and performance, manage key trade relationships, and work with global teams to scale the business in a high-growth environment.

Qualifications

• Experience growing sales, distribution and market share in beverage FMCG.
• Established network of distributors, retailers and trade partners.
• Entrepreneurial and hands-on leadership with in-market execution.

Responsibilities

• Develop and own regional growth strategy across MEA & APAC.
• Lead distribution, channel strategy and route-to-market.
• Forecasts, budgets and commercial performance accountability.
• Collaborate with marketing, supply chain and finance.

Skills

MEA & APAC beverage experience

Commercial leadership

Team leadership

Job description

Export Director (Middle East & APAC) – Global Soft Drink Business –Location & Salary negotiable plus package

We are excited to be partnering with one of the leading soft drinks businesses. This business has over 30 years of production and heritage, spanning various other brand acquisitions and product development. The brand itself has a strong track record across both on and off premise accounts, with a high-quality product range.

We are looking for a hands-on commercial leader who understands how to build and scale beverage brands in the Middle East & APAC market. The Export Director will take ownership of the commercial strategy and execution across the Middle East & APAC region, with a particular focus on key volume countries, whilst building the distribution infrastructure, retail partnerships, customer relationships and team capability required to deliver sustainable long-term growth.

The Export Director must come from a background in soft drinks and previous experience in developing new business and scaling up brands. The Export Director will need to bring an established network of distributors, retailers, wholesalers and key trade partners, alongside the commercial capability and energy to open doors, negotiate partnerships and personally drive execution.

What this business offers:

• A competitive salary and performance-based bonuses, including travel allowances and expenses.
• Opportunities for professional development and career growth.
• A collaborative and supportive work culture with a fast-growing brand.

Export Director responsibilities include:

• Develop and own the Middle East & APAC commercial growth strategy, with a clear focus on delivering ambitious sales, distribution and profitability targets.
• Lead growth across the priority states, identifying the key customers, channels, territories and opportunities that will deliver the greatest impact.
• Build and optimise the Middle East & APAC route-to-market, balancing distributor, wholesale, direct and Direct-to-Store Delivery (DSD) models.
• Identify, appoint and manage distribution partners, establishing clear commercial plans, targets, performance measures and accountability.
• Build and manage key on-premises and off- premises relationships, securing listings, ranging, distribution, promotions and long-term customer partnerships.
• Develop strategic relationships with major Middle East & APAC retailers and customers, leading negotiations and joint business plans to accelerate growth.
• Own Middle East & APAC sales forecasting, budgets and commercial performance, with accountability for revenue, margin, trade investment and profitability.
• Provide market intelligence and commercial insight, using customer, competitor and performance data to shape strategy and identify opportunities.
• Work closely with global leadership and cross-functional teams across marketing, supply chain and finance to ensure the Middle East & APAC business has the strategy, resources and execution required to scale.

The Ideal Export Director candidate:

• Proven Middle East & APAC beverage experience with significant commercial experience within the US water, soft drinks or wider FMCG beverage market.
• Track record of growth with a demonstrated history of successfully growing sales, distribution and market share in the United States.
• Strong US network with established relationships across distributors, wholesalers, retailers and key on-trade and off-trade customers.
• Route-to-market expertise with deep understanding of US distribution models, including distributors, wholesale, direct sales and Direct-to-Store Delivery (DSD).
• Entrepreneurial and hands-on — a builder who can develop the strategy but is equally comfortable being in-market, opening doors, winning customers and driving execution.
• Commercial leadership with experience building and leading high-performing teams, with strong ownership of sales, margins, budgets and commercial performance.
• Strategic and execution-focused with the ability to translate a long-term growth strategy into clear priorities, measurable actions and results across multiple markets.