BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (MARKET: MAURITIUS)

Indian Ocean Export Company; Durban; On-site; ZAR 200,000 - 300,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading export trading firm in Durban is seeking a Business Development Manager (BDM) experienced in FMCG and commodities. The BDM will generate new sales opportunities, develop market presence, and achieve profit budgets. The ideal candidate will have strong numerical skills and experience in South African FMCG products. This role involves regular international travel to engage with stakeholders.

Qualifications

• Solid FMCG export Trade and business development experience with Indian Ocean Island markets is advantageous.
• Excellent knowledge of South African FMCG products and perishable produce is advantageous.
• Strong numerical/financial acumen; ability to read and interpret numbers.

Responsibilities

• Achieve profit budgets: Set and drive annual profit budgets.
• Prospect and identify new sales opportunities in target markets.
• Negotiate and close trade deals using professional techniques.
• Maintain high service levels through strategic relationship building.
• Ensure compliance with regulations across diverse markets.
• Manage and control trade risks for each sale.
• Anticipate market demands, know what to sell and when.

Skills

Relationship management

Mathematical & analytical ability

Negotiation & sales

Market intelligence

Regulatory & compliance

Risk management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, or related field

Job description

Overview

Role: Business Development Manager (BDM)

Company: IOEC

Site: Morningside, Durban

Purpose:

We seek a Business Development Manager (BDM) experienced in export trading of FMCG and commodities. The BDM is responsible for building and developing high-value relationships to generate new sales opportunities and expand our market presence. The successful candidate will be responsible for setting and achieving profit budgets, identifying and anticipating market demands to determine what to sell and when; closing sales opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve profit budgets: Set annual profit budgets with MD approval and drive to meet/exceed them.
• Opportunity identification: Prospect and identify new sales opportunities in target markets.
• Trade negotiations: Negotiate and close trade deals using professional sales techniques.
• Client relationship management: Maintain high service levels through strategic relationship building and ongoing client engagement. Actively build, maintain, and leverage a broad and diverse professional network to achieve business objectives.
• Regulatory compliance: Ensure compliance with regulations across diverse markets.
• Financial & logistical controls: Work within the company’s logistical and financial frameworks.
• Risk management: Manage and control trade risks for each sale.
• Market insight: Anticipate market demands, know what to sell and when.

Minimum requirements

Traits:

The ideal candidate is a mature, professional capable of handling a diverse client base with a commercially minded outlook; they rapidly assimilate information, demonstrate a strong numerical acumen, and exhibit meticulous attention to detail. They maintain a big-picture perspective while adeptly managing the finer points, enabling a rapid conversion of opportunity into tangible sales.

Experience

• Solid FMCG export Trade and business development experience with Indian Ocean Island markets would be advantageous.
• Excellent knowledge of South African FMCG products and perishable produce is advantageous.
• Strong numerical/financial acumen; ability to read and interpret numbers.
• Working knowledge of INCO terms (both buying and selling).
• Experienced in networking at International Food Trade Shows

Qualifications

• Matric,
• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Finance, or a related field.

Skills & Competencies

• Relationship management: Build and sustain strategic client relationships.
• Mathematical & analytical ability: Reading financials, margins, and KPIs.
• Negotiation & sales: Proven capability to close deals and grow revenue.
• Market intelligence: Anticipate demand, identify pricing and product opportunities.
• Regulatory & compliance: Navigate multi-market regulatory landscapes.
• Risk management: Assess and mitigate trade risks. Assertive, with risk-aware decision-making.
• Communication: Clear, persuasive, and cross-cultural communication.

Operational

• Role is onsite, Durban. However this role requires regular international travel to target markets (approximately every 6 weeks, about 10 days per trip) to engage with stakeholders.
• Valid passport, valid driver’s license.

Compensation

Package: Market-related base salary (dependent on experience) + performance-based commission aligned to budget achievement.