Head of International Business

Ad Astra Staffing Solutions Private Limited; Singapore; On-site; SGD 180,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

Ad Astra Staffing Solutions Private Limited is seeking a Head of International Business to lead the company’s global growth across Gulf, Southeast Asia, UK, North America and Australia. The role requires deep Food & FMCG expertise, P&L ownership, and building scalable international teams.

You will shape market-entry strategies, optimize distribution and drive profitability while navigating diverse regulatory and consumer landscapes. Extensive international travel is expected.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of international business, commercial, sales or export leadership experience.
• Strong background in Food/FMCG industries with global exposure.
• Proven track record managing multiple international markets and partnerships.
• Direct responsibility for international performance, pricing and profitability.

Responsibilities

• Take ownership of international business across existing and emerging markets.
• Strengthen distribution networks, relationships with distributors, importers and retailers.
• Drive profitable international growth across FMCG categories.
• Develop market-entry strategies and local partnerships.
• Lead a high-performing international team and set governance processes.
• Utilize digital tools and AI to support market intelligence and operations.

Skills

International business

FMCG leadership

Market development

Strategic partnerships

Job description

Role Overview

We are looking for an experienced Head of International Business to lead and accelerate the company's international growth across multiple global markets.

This is a senior commercial leadership role for an experienced Food & FMCG professional with strong exposure to international business, exports, distribution, market development and commercial growth.

The ideal candidate should have experience across categories such as packaged foods, pantry staples, spices, seasonings, salt, flour/atta, besan, pulses, millets, grains and ready-to-cook/convenience foods.

The role will take overall ownership of the existing international business, strengthen distribution and profitability, build the international business team, develop new markets and identify new growth opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

International Business Leadership

• Take overall ownership of the international business across existing and emerging markets.
• Manage and strengthen international distribution networks and key customer relationships.
• Drive profitable and sustainable international growth across Food & FMCG categories.
• Develop market-wise business plans, targets, KPIs and operating rhythms.
• Drive strategies focused on profitability, cash generation and long-term business growth.
• Monitor international business performance and identify opportunities for improvement.

Market Development & International Expansion

• Lead business development across Gulf, Southeast Asia, UK, North America and Australia.
• Develop and manage relationships with distributors, importers, retailers, modern trade and strategic partners.
• Identify new markets, channels, customers and business opportunities.
• Develop market-entry strategies and establish local partnerships.
• Evaluate and develop opportunities across additional international markets.
• Expand distribution and strengthen the company's presence in existing markets.

Product & Category Expansion

Drive international growth across categories including:

• Pantry staples
• Flour / Atta
• Gram flour / Besan
• Salt
• Spices and spice blends
• Seasonings
• Pulses
• Millets
• Grains and grain-based products
• Ready-to-cook products
• Convenience food products

The candidate will also:

• Identify opportunities to expand into adjacent food categories.
• Adapt product portfolio, pricing, positioning and go-to-market strategies according to individual markets.
• Develop strategies for both ethnic/diaspora markets and mainstream international consumers.
• Identify consumer and category trends across international markets.

Commercial Growth

• Develop and execute international sales and go-to-market strategies.
• Drive customer acquisition and distribution expansion.
• Develop new channels and strategic partnerships.
• Improve pricing, margins and overall commercial performance.
• Negotiate and manage key distributor and customer relationships.
• Monitor market trends, competition and consumer behaviour.
• Identify new opportunities for revenue and business growth.

Team Building & Leadership

• Build and lead a high-performing international business team.
• Define the required organizational structure, capabilities and market coverage.
• Recruit, develop and retain strong commercial talent.
• Establish clear accountability and performance management processes.
• Build a culture of ownership, commercial discipline and performance.

Digital & Business Innovation

• Leverage digital marketing, social media, content and technology to support international growth.
• Explore the use of AI and digital tools for market intelligence, marketing, customer engagement and business operations.
• Develop innovative approaches to market development and customer acquisition.
• Identify new business models and routes to market.
• Use technology and data to improve international business decision-making.

Operational & Financial Management

• Improve distributor and customer economics across international markets.
• Monitor pricing, margins, trade investments, working capital and cash generation.
• Establish disciplined forecasting and regular business reviews.
• Work closely with internal teams to ensure product availability and supply support.
• Ensure international operations remain commercially and financially sustainable.
• Track market-wise profitability and business performance.

Candidate Profile

Essential Experience

• 15+ years of experience in international business, commercial, sales or export leadership.
• Strong experience in the Food / FMCG industry.
• Proven experience managing multiple international markets.
• Direct commercial responsibility for international business performance.
• Strong experience in international sales, exports and business development.
• Experience managing distributors, importers, retailers and strategic customers.
• Experience developing new markets and international partnerships.
• Experience building and scaling international businesses.
• Strong commercial understanding of pricing, margins, profitability and cash generation.
• Experience building and leading international teams.
• Willingness to undertake extensive international travel.