Exports Manager needed at Ferrero

About the Role:

• 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 in Emphasis is placed on sustainable growth while navigating import/export regulations, tariffs, and food safety standards specific to confectionery.

Main Responsibilities:

• This role is responsible for managing and growing relationships with major retail, wholesale, and distribution clients for confectionery products in the FMCG sector across African markets. This role emphasizes strategic account planning, sales growth, negotiation of trade terms, and leveraging customer insights to drive category performance. In the African context, it involves navigating diverse retail landscapes, from modern trade chains to informal markets, while focusing on sustainable partnerships and adapting to economic variability in countries like Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Angola, , Mozambique, Zambia, and Malawi) to be succesfful in the role the encumbant should ensure the growth of Ferrero products developing sales, distribution channel and visibility in the reference market implement goals, sales strategies, channels and customer plans for the area managed prepare Sales  Forecast, budgets and objectives for the various reference markets and  identify opportunities and threats in the markets through ad –hoc analytical work relating to Route to Market, distribution, pricing etc with emphasis on the below:
• Negotiations
• Field Management
• Planning and Control
• Marketing and Trade Marketing
• Sales strategy
• Budget, forecast, and sales objectives management
• Customer plans and sales development
• Planning and control

About You:

• Strong export experience in  SADC countries;
• Market Knowledge: Modern traditional/Impulse Channel, and experience working with Distributors,
• Financial acumen, P&L, Value chain, promotional management
• Strong understanding in logistics
• Exceptional understanding in forecasting
• Strong Negotiation /selling Skills,
• Strong Leadership
• Ability to work autonomously and independently
• Education: Bachelor’s degree in Business, International Trade, Marketing, or a related field; a post graduate qualification in the above mentioned is advantageous
• Skills: Strong commercial acumen, negotiation, communication, and leadership abilities; proficiency in market analysis tools and CRM systems; fluency in English, Portugues would be advantageous.
• Other: 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.
• Experience: 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