Exports Manager

Ferrero International S.A.; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 1 148 000 - 1 477 000; Full time

Job summary

A leading confectionery company is seeking an Export Manager for African Markets to drive international sales growth of products like chocolates and sweets. This senior-level role requires managing distributor relationships and developing export strategies while navigating economic conditions and logistics across countries such as Namibia and Zambia. Ideal candidates will have 7-10 years of export management experience in FMCG and be equipped with strong communication, negotiation, and market analysis skills. Willingness to travel extensively across Africa is essential.

Qualifications

• 7–10 years in export management within FMCG or food manufacturing.
• Strong understanding of African market regulations.
• Proven track record in managing multi-region exports.

Responsibilities

• Manage relationships with retail, wholesale, and distribution clients.
• Implement sales strategies and prepare sales forecasts and budgets.
• Negotiate trade terms and grow Ferrero products visibility.

Skills

Export experience in SADC countries

Financial acumen – P&L management

Negotiation and selling skills

Logistics understanding

Market analysis and CRM proficiency

Fluency in English

Portuguese (advantageous)

Ability to work autonomously

Ability to handle high-pressure environments

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Trade, Marketing or related field

Postgraduate qualification (advantageous)

Job description

Export Manager – African Markets

The Export Manager is a senior‑level role responsible for driving international sales growth for confectionery products such as chocolates, sweets, and related items in the Fast‑Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG) sector. This position involves developing and executing export strategies across African markets, managing distributor relationships, ensuring regulatory compliance, and identifying expansion opportunities to increase revenue and market share. The role requires a deep understanding of African trade dynamics, including challenging economic conditions, logistics complexities, and cultural nuances. Emphasis is placed on sustainable growth while navigating import/export regulations, tariffs, and food safety standards specific to confectionery.

Responsibilities

• Managing and growing relationships with major retail, wholesale, and distribution clients for confectionery products in the FMCG sector across African markets.
• Strategic account planning, sales growth, negotiation of trade terms, and leveraging customer insights to drive category performance.
• Navigating diverse retail landscapes, from modern trade chains to informal markets, focusing on sustainable partnerships and adapting to economic variability in countries such as Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi.
• Growing Ferrero products through sales, distribution channel, and visibility in the reference market, implementing goals, sales strategies, channels, and customer plans.
• Preparing sales forecast, budgets, and objectives for various reference markets and identifying opportunities and threats through ad‑hoc analytical work on route‑to‑market, distribution, and pricing.
• Overseeing negotiations, field management, planning and control, marketing and trade marketing, sales strategy, budget, forecast, and sales objectives management, as well as customer plans and sales development.

Qualifications

• Strong export experience in SADC countries.
• Market knowledge: modern, traditional, impulse channel and experience working with distributors.
• Financial acumen – P&L, value chain and promotional management.
• Strong understanding of logistics.
• Strong negotiation and selling skills.
• Ability to work autonomously and independently.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Trade, Marketing, or a related field; postgraduate qualification advantageous.
• Strong commercial acumen, negotiation, communication, and leadership abilities; proficiency in market analysis tools and CRM systems; fluency in English; Portuguese advantageous.
• Willingness to travel extensively (up to 50% of time) across Africa.
• Ability to handle high‑pressure environments with persistence and grit; knowledge of African market regulations, logistics, and cultural sensitivities.
• 7–10 years in export management within the FMCG or food manufacturing industry, with specific exposure to confectionery, bakery, or similar perishable goods; proven track record in managing multi‑region exports, particularly in Africa.

About Ferrero

Ferrero began its journey in the small town of Alba in Piedmont, Italy, in the 1940s. Today, it is one of the world’s largest sweet‑packaged food companies, with many iconic brands sold in countries all over the world. Ferrero is committed to building a diverse and inclusive culture in which all employees feel welcomed and appreciated and have the same opportunities. We believe all our people are equally talented in their own way. In nurturing the curiosity and natural abilities of our employees, we provide them, generation after generation, the means to succeed personally and professionally, enabling them to craft their journey at Ferrero. The diversity of our talents is what makes our work environment multicultural, innovative, and highly rewarding.