Account Manager – Export Sales (Mandarin Speaking)
Employment Type
Full-Time
Location
Houston, TX, 77049
Job Summary
We are seeking a commercially driven Account Manager – Export Sales (Mandarin Speaking) to develop and grow our international business, with a particular focus on Mandarin-speaking customers, distributors, suppliers, and business partners.
Fluency in Mandarin Chinese is a mandatory requirement for this position.
The successful candidate must be able to communicate confidently and professionally in Mandarin in a business environment, including customer meetings, commercial negotiations, presentations, telephone/video calls, and written correspondence.
Mandatory Language Requirement
- Fluent Mandarin Chinese is required.
- Must be able to conduct business discussions and commercial negotiations in Mandarin.
- Must be comfortable communicating directly with Mandarin-speaking customers and business partners.
- Strong written and verbal Mandarin communication skills are required.
- Professional working proficiency in English is also required.
- Candidates who are not proficient in Mandarin will not be considered for this position.
Key Responsibilities
Export Sales & Business Development
- Develop new export business opportunities across assigned international markets, with a strong focus on Mandarin-speaking customers and partners.
- Identify, approach, and onboard new customers, distributors, agents, and channel partners.
- Use Mandarin language capabilities to establish and strengthen relationships with key customers and decision-makers.
- Manage and grow existing international customer accounts.
- Achieve assigned export sales, volume, and profitability targets.
- Generate enquiries, prepare quotations, and actively follow up to convert opportunities into confirmed orders.
- Conduct customer meetings, presentations, negotiations, and business reviews in Mandarin when required.
- Negotiate pricing, volumes, payment terms, delivery schedules, Incoterms, and other commercial conditions.
- Identify opportunities to increase sales across existing accounts through new products, applications, and business opportunities.
Customer Relationship Management
- Act as the primary point of contact for assigned Mandarin-speaking customers and business partners.
- Develop strong, long-term relationships with customers and key stakeholders.
- Communicate effectively across cultural and business environments.
- Understand customer requirements, purchasing processes, commercial expectations, and market dynamics.
- Provide prompt and professional responses to customer enquiries and commercial requests.
- Coordinate internally to resolve customer concerns and maintain high levels of customer satisfaction.
- Conduct international customer visits and participate in exhibitions, trade fairs, and business meetings as required.
Export Order Management
- Coordinate the complete export order cycle from customer enquiry and purchase order through production, documentation, shipment, and delivery.
- Work closely with production, supply chain, logistics, finance, quality, and other internal departments.
- Coordinate export documentation, including commercial invoices, packing lists, certificates of origin, shipping documents, and other required documentation.
- Monitor shipment and delivery schedules and proactively communicate updates to customers.
- Coordinate with freight forwarders, shipping lines, and logistics partners where required.
- Ensure customer specifications and agreed commercial terms are accurately communicated and executed.
Market Development & Intelligence
- Research and identify new customers, markets, applications, and sales opportunities.
- Monitor competitor activities, pricing, market trends, and customer requirements.
- Leverage Mandarin language skills to gather relevant market and customer intelligence from Mandarin-speaking markets and business networks.
- Provide management with regular updates regarding market opportunities, competitive developments, customer feedback, and pricing.
- Support the development of market-specific commercial strategies.
Commercial & Receivables Management
- Monitor account profitability and ensure sales are aligned with approved pricing and margin requirements.
- Follow up on customer payments and ensure receivables are collected according to agreed terms.
- Coordinate with finance regarding letters of credit, advance payments, credit terms, and other international payment arrangements.
- Maintain accurate customer information, quotations, opportunities, and sales activities in CRM/ERP systems.
- Prepare regular sales reports, forecasts, pipeline updates, and account development plans.
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
- Export sales revenue and volume
- Gross margin and account profitability
- New international customer acquisition
- Development of Mandarin-speaking customer accounts
- Growth of existing export accounts
- New market and business development
- Customer retention
- Sales pipeline conversion 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.
- Fluency in Mandarin Chinese – mandatory.
- Strong professional working proficiency in English.
- 3–7 years of experience in export sales, international business development, B2B sales, or key account management preferred.
- Proven ability to develop customer relationships and generate new business.
- Experience working with Mandarin-speaking customers or markets is strongly preferred.
- Good understanding of export procedures, Incoterms, international shipping, and export documentation.
- Knowledge of international payment terms, including advance payments and letters of credit, is preferred.
- Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with CRM/ERP systems.
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally as required.
Skills & Competencies
- Fluent Mandarin and strong English communication
- International B2B sales and business development
- Cross-cultural communication and relationship management
- Commercial negotiation and closing
- Key account management
- Export and international trade knowledge
- Customer acquisition and market development
- Sales forecasting and pipeline management
- Strong follow-up and execution
- Commercial and financial awareness
- Ability to work effectively across multiple departments
- Self-motivated, target-oriented, and results-driven
Critical Requirement
Mandarin fluency is an essential requirement of this role and not simply a preferred qualification.
The Account Manager will be expected to use Mandarin regularly to build relationships, conduct commercial discussions, negotiate business, and support the growth of our export customer base.