Account Manager – Export Sales
Location: Houston, TX, 77049
Job Summary
We are seeking a commercially driven Account Manager – Export Sales to develop and grow our business across international markets. The role will be responsible for managing existing overseas customers, identifying and developing new export opportunities, achieving sales and profitability targets, and coordinating export orders from enquiry through shipment and payment collection.
The successful candidate will have strong B2B sales and negotiation skills, an understanding of international trade practices, and the ability to build long-term relationships with customers, distributors, and business partners across different markets.
Export Sales & Business Development
- Develop new business opportunities across assigned international markets.
- Identify and onboard new customers, distributors, agents, and channel partners.
- Manage and grow relationships with existing international customers.
- Achieve assigned annual and monthly export sales, volume, and profitability targets.
- Generate enquiries, prepare quotations, and follow up systematically to convert opportunities into confirmed orders.
- Negotiate pricing, volumes, payment terms, delivery schedules, Incoterms, and other commercial conditions.
- Develop market-specific sales strategies based on customer requirements, competition, pricing, and market potential.
- Identify opportunities to introduce additional products and increase share of business with existing customers.
Export Order Management
- Coordinate the complete export order cycle from purchase order confirmation through production, documentation, shipment, and delivery.
- Work closely with production, supply chain, logistics, finance, quality, and other internal departments to ensure timely execution.
- Coordinate required export documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, shipping documents, and other country/customer-specific documents.
- Monitor shipment schedules and proactively communicate order and delivery status to customers.
- Coordinate with freight forwarders, shipping lines, and other service providers as required.
- Ensure compliance with agreed customer specifications and commercial terms.
- Prepare export contracts, Proforma Invoices, and track orders.
- Make plans for export shipments ensuring quality and quantity of goods.
- Stay in touch with forwarders for shipping schedules and documents as necessary.
- Prepare necessary procedures and documents for export activities, especially international payment procedures.
Customer & Market Management
- Maintain regular communication with international customers and develop strong long-term business relationships.
- Conduct customer visits and participate in international exhibitions, trade fairs, and business meetings as required.
- Monitor competitor activities, market pricing, customer trends, and new business opportunities.
- Gather market intelligence and provide recommendations to management regarding pricing, products, and market development.
- Address customer concerns and coordinate internally for timely resolution.
Commercial & Receivables Management
- Monitor account profitability and ensure business is conducted within approved pricing and margin guidelines.
- Follow up on customer payments and ensure receivables are collected according to agreed terms.
- Coordinate with finance on letters of credit, advance payments, credit terms, and other international payment arrangements.
- Maintain accurate sales forecasts, customer records, quotations, and opportunity pipelines in CRM/ERP systems.
- Prepare regular reports on sales performance, pipeline, market development, collections, and forecasts.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Export sales revenue and volume
- Gross margin / profitability
- New international customer acquisition
- New market development
- Growth of existing export accounts
- Customer retention
- Sales pipeline and forecast accuracy
- On-time export order execution
- Receivables and payment collection
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, International Business, Marketing, Commerce, Engineering, or a related field.
- 3–7 years of experience in export sales, international business development, or B2B account management.
- Demonstrated ability to develop international customers and achieve sales targets.
- Good understanding of export procedures, Incoterms 2010 and 2020, international shipping, and export documentation.
- Knowledge of international payment terms, including advance payment and letters of credit, is preferred.
- At least 2 years of experience in logistics.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with CRM/ERP systems.
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally.
Skills & Competencies
- Fluent English in writing and reading; additional languages such as Chinese, Vietnamese, or Portuguese are a plus.
- International business development
- B2B sales and key account management
- Commercial negotiation
- Export and international trade knowledge
- Strong written and verbal communication
- Customer relationship management
- Market research and competitor analysis
- Sales forecasting and pipeline management
- Strong follow-up and execution
- Cross-functional coordination
- Target-oriented and commercially focused