International Market Development Manager

The role requires building and strengthening distributor relationships, implementing growth strategies, ensuring compliance with trade regulations, and supporting brand presence through localized sales and marketing initiatives.

Main Purpose 

The International Market Development Manager will be responsible for leading growth and development across international market assigned, with a focus on revenue growth, market expansion, premium brand positioning, and distributor management. The role requires building and strengthening distributor relationships, implementing growth strategies, ensuring compliance with trade regulations, and supporting brand presence through localized sales and marketing initiatives.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

Strategy & Market Development

• Develop and implement commercial strategies to drive market share in competitive European FMCG/consumer goods markets.
• Identify and secure potential new distribution partners in both established and emerging territories.
• Build market-entry strategies for underdeveloped regions and channels.
• Provide market intelligence and consumer insights to guide innovation and positioning strategies.

Distributor & Customer Relationship Management

• Oversee day-to-day distributor relationships, including contract negotiation, incentives, forecasting, reporting, and pricing structures.
• Lead quarterly and annual business reviews with key markets.
• Develop and monitor joint market plans with distributors, including annual volumes, marketing initiatives, and investment strategies.
• Track performance through distributor scorecards and performance reviews.

Sales, Forecasting & Financial Management

• Partner with analysts to manage sales forecasts and ensure timely purchase orders.
• Develop revenue and volume budgets, balancing growth with inventory and cash flow management.
• Monitor profitability, margin improvement, and pricing discipline.
• Provide accurate reporting on sales performance, market updates, and recommended solutions.

Marketing, Brand Development & Trade Promotion

• Support brand growth through localized marketing and promotional campaigns.
• Manage in-market trade activities across on-trade and off-trade channels.
• Enhance brand visibility in premium outlets (e.g., hotels, restaurants, specialty retailers).
• Monitor marketing investments and ensure alignment with regional budgets.

Compliance, Governance & Policy Adherence

• Ensure compliance with trade, advertising, and labeling regulations.
• Collaborate with quality assurance teams to meet market requirements.
• Establish KPIs and monitor commercial performance to ensure corrective actions are implemented where necessary.

Supply Chain & Logistics Coordination

• Collaborate with distributors and supply chain teams to forecast demand and manage stock levels.
• Monitor distributor inventory to maintain continuity of supply.
• Coordinate with logistics teams to ensure timely product availability.

Required Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or related field (required).
• Master’s degree in International Business, Finance, or Strategy (preferred).
• 8–10 years of commercial management experience in FMCG/consumer goods, with proven multi-country distributor management experience.
• Strong track record of delivering growth in competitive markets.
• Advanced training Strategy, Trade Marketing, or Sales Leadership (preferred).
• Strong financial and P&L management skills.
• Multilingual skills are desirable and would be viewed as a strong asset.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Strong negotiation and account management skills.
• In-depth knowledge of FMCG/consumer goods markets.
• Strong stakeholder management across distributors, retailers, and regulators.
• Analytical skills in revenue, pricing, and profitability optimization.
• Technical proficiency: Excel, BI tools (Power BI), ERP systems (SAP).
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to work with cross-functional, multi-regional teams.
• Proactive and solution-oriented mindset.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities under tight deadlines.
• Willingness to travel extensively across assigned markets.