Overview
Export Business Development Manager – Africa Jobs in Gauteng, South Africa at Syndicate Personnel Specialists
Title: Export Business Development Manager – Africa
Company: Syndicate Personnel Specialists
Location: Gauteng, South Africa
A leading global player in the adhesive technologies sector is seeking to appoint an experienced Export Business Development Manager to drive strategic expansion across Sub-Saharan and East Africa.
This is a high-impact, greenfield opportunity suited to a commercially astute and entrepreneurial individual who thrives on building markets, establishing distributor networks, and driving business growth across complex and diverse territories.
Based in Johannesburg, the role will require extensive travel across Africa.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop and execute export and go-to-market strategies across assigned African territories.
- Identify, assess and appoint suitable distributors aligned to business and compliance requirements.
- Build and establish new distribution networks across multiple channels including modern trade, retail, hardware, and industrial.
- Conduct in-country market assessments to evaluate commercial opportunities, competitor activity, route-to-market strategies and regulatory requirements.
- Drive new business development initiatives and establish strong commercial partnerships in target markets.
- Analyse market trends and customer insights to identify portfolio expansion and product introduction opportunities.
- Negotiate commercial agreements and distributor partnerships.
- Collaborate closely with technical, marketing and industrial teams to support successful market penetration and growth.
- Manage and influence external sales teams and distributor-based resources within target markets.
- Develop strategic growth plans aligned to regional business objectives.
- Monitor political, regulatory and economic developments impacting export markets.
Minimum Requirements
- Proven export business development experience within Africa.
- Strong experience establishing distribution networks and commercial partnerships from scratch.
- Experience within FMCG, Hardware, DIY
- Strong understanding of distributor management and route-to-market strategy across African markets.
- Strong commercial acumen with the ability to identify market opportunities and drive growth.
- Demonstrated ability to operate independently in a highly entrepreneurial role.
- Strategic thinker with strong negotiation and relationship management skills.
- Willingness to travel extensively across Africa (approximately 80% travel).
- Portuguese language proficiency would be highly advantageous.
Personal Attributes
- Highly self-motivated and commercially driven.
- Hunter mentality with a strong business development orientation.
- Resilient, adaptable and comfortable operating in emerging markets.
- Strong initiative and ability to work with limited existing structures.
- Excellent stakeholder engagement and influencing capability.
- Strategic yet hands-on in execution.
What Makes This Opportunity Unique
This role offers the opportunity to build and shape an export business footprint across Africa for a globally recognised organisation. The successful candidate will play a pivotal role in establishing long-term commercial growth strategies across multiple high-potential markets.