Focus Markets: Middle East, Africa & Southeast Asia
Department: Sales & Marketing
Position: Export Manager
Education: MBA / Postgraduate Degree in International Business, Export Management, Sales & Marketing, or a related field
Experience: 10 to 15 Years
Location: Vadodara, Gujarat
1. Job Purpose
To drive international business growth by developing export markets, acquiring new customers, managing international distributors and channel partners, and achieving export sales targets across the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asian countries.
The role involves identifying new business opportunities, managing international customer relationships, coordinating export operations, ensuring compliance with international trade regulations, and expanding the company's global market presence.
2. Key Responsibilities
A. International Business Development & Export Sales
- Develop and execute export sales strategies for the Middle East, African, and Southeast Asian markets.
- Identify and develop new international customers, distributors, dealers, agents, and business partners.
- Generate new business opportunities through market research, networking, trade fairs, exhibitions, and customer visits.
- Achieve export sales targets, revenue growth, and profitability objectives.
- Explore new geographical markets and expand the company's international customer base.
- Prepare and negotiate commercial proposals, quotations, pricing, and business agreements with overseas customers.
B. Market Research & Strategic Planning
- Conduct market research to identify potential countries, customer segments, industry trends, and business opportunities.
- Analyze competitor activities, product pricing, market demand, and regional business trends.
- Develop country-wise sales plans and market entry strategies.
- Identify potential distributors and evaluate their business capabilities and market reach.
- Monitor international market developments and recommend strategies to improve market share and profitability.
C. Customer Relationship & Distributor Management
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with international customers, distributors, agents, and channel partners.
- Conduct regular follow-ups with overseas customers to generate enquiries and convert them into business orders.
- Understand customer requirements and coordinate with internal teams to provide appropriate product solutions.
- Handle customer negotiations, commercial discussions, complaints, and after-sales requirements.
- Undertake international business visits to strengthen customer relationships and explore new opportunities.
D. Export Operations & Documentation
- Manage the complete export order execution process, from order confirmation to shipment and delivery.
- Coordinate with production, planning, logistics, finance, and documentation teams to ensure timely order execution.
- Ensure preparation and verification of export documentation, including:
- Commercial Invoice
- Packing List
- Shipping Bill
- Bill of Loading / Airway Bill
- Certificate of Origin
- Insurance Documents
- Letter of Credit (LC) Documents
- Coordinate with freight forwarders, customs agents, shipping lines, and banks.
- Ensure compliance with applicable export regulations, customs procedures, DGFT guidelines, and international trade requirements.
- Have a working understanding of Incoterms and international shipping procedures.
E. Payment Collection & Financial Management
- Monitor export payments and ensure timely realization of export proceeds.
- Coordinate with banks and customers regarding advance payments, Letters of Credit (LC), and other international payment terms.
- Monitor outstanding export receivables and follow up on overdue payments.
- Assess customer creditworthiness and minimize international payment risks.
- Coordinate with the finance team for export documentation, foreign exchange transactions, and payment reconciliation.
3. Educational Qualifications
- Bachelor's degree in International Business, Marketing, Commerce, Science, Finance, or Business Administration is preferred.
- MBA/PGDM in International Business, Marketing, or Sales Management will be an added advantage.
4. Experience
- 10 to 15 years of experience in Export Sales, International Business Development, or Export Management (preferred).
- Minimum 5 years of experience as an Export Manager / International Business Development Manager is mandatory.
- Experience in handling international markets, particularly the Middle East, Africa, and Southeast Asia.
- Candidates with an established international customer or distributor network will be preferred.
- Experience in manufacturing, engineering, or industrial product exports will be an added advantage.
5. Required Skills & Competencies
- Strong international sales and business development skills.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
- Knowledge of export documentation, customs procedures, Advance Licence and international trade regulations.
- Understanding of Incoterms, LC, payment terms, and export logistics.
- Strong market research and business development capabilities.
- Knowledge of SAP ERP systems will be an added advantage.
- Ability and willingness to travel.
- Strong customer relationship management and commercial acumen.
6. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Achievement of annual export sales targets.
- Development of new international customers and distributors.
- Revenue growth across assigned geographical markets.
- New market penetration and geographical expansion.
- Improvement in export sales profitability.
- Timely execution and delivery of export orders.
- Timely realization of export payments.
- Growth in customer retention and repeat business.