Export Sales Coordinator

Safilo; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 420,000 - 640,000; Full time

Job summary

Safilo is seeking an experienced Export Sales Coordinator to join its International Sales team in Johannesburg. You will drive sustainable growth across Sub-Saharan Africa by building distributor networks, identifying new opportunities, and ensuring effective commercial execution in the region.

The role requires a strong understanding of African markets, a commercial mindset, and the ability to turn insights into results. Fluent English is required; French or Portuguese would be beneficial.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, International Trade, or related field.
• Proven export sales and distributor management experience in SSA.
• Experience with premium consumer goods or eyewear is a plus.
• Strong commercial acumen, negotiation, and multi-stakeholder skills.
• Fluent English; French/Portuguese beneficial.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Sub-Saharan Africa.

Responsibilities

• Drive sales growth and market share across SSA territories.
• Develop local commercial strategies with distributors.
• Identify new opportunities, retail channels, and partnerships.
• Coordinate forecasting, inventory, and order management with cross-functional teams.
• Monitor trends and regulatory developments to guide decisions.

Skills

Export sales

Distributor management

Negotiation

Market analysis

Stakeholder management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business/Economics/International Trade

Tools

MS Excel

CRM systems

Job description

With more than 3.500 employees, the Safilo Group is a worldwide leader in the premium eyewear sector for sunglasses, optical frames and sports eyewear. With an international presence through 30 owned subsidiaries in primary markets – in America, Europe and Asia – and exclusive distributors, Safilo produces and distributes its home brands such as Polaroid, Carrera, Smith and the licensed brands such as BOSS, Hugo, Carolina Herrera, Tommy Hilfiger, Fossil, Kate Spade, Marc Jacobs, Pierre Cardin, Moschino, Levi’s and Missoni.

We are seeking an experienced Export Sales Coordinator to join our International Sales team in Johannesburg. Reporting directly to leadership, you will drive sustainable growth across Sub‑Saharan Africa by developing distributor networks, identifying new business opportunities, and ensuring effective commercial execution across the region. Success in this role requires a strong understanding of African markets, a commercial mindset, and the ability to turn market insights into business results.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive sales growth and market share expansion across assigned territories.
• Develop and execute local commercial strategies in partnership with distributors.
• Identify and activate new business opportunities, retail channels, and distributor partnerships.
• Manage sales performance, negotiations, and achievement of volume and value targets.

Distributor & Operational Management

• Act as the main point of contact for distributor networks, ensuring alignment with company objectives and brand standards.
• Support forecasting, inventory planning, and order management to maximize product availability.
• Collaborate with Supply Chain, Finance, Marketing, and Customer Service teams to ensure smooth business operations.
• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and regulatory developments to support decision‑making and compliance.

Profile

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Economics, International Trade, or a related field.
• Proven experience in export sales, distributor management, or international business development within Sub‑Saharan Africa.
• Experience in premium consumer goods, eyewear, fashion, retail, or related sectors is an advantage.
• Strong commercial acumen, negotiation skills, and ability to manage multiple stakeholders.
• Fluent English is required; French and/or Portuguese would be beneficial.
• Willingness to travel regularly within Sub‑Saharan Africa.

What We Offer

• The opportunity to contribute to the growth of a global leader in the eyewear industry.
• Exposure to an internationally recognized portfolio of brands.
• A dynamic and collaborative working environment.
• Competitive compensation and performance‑based incentives.