Durban: BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGER (FRENCH SPEAKING)

ROLE: Business Development Manager (French-speaking) COMPANY: Indian Ocean Export Company (IOEC) INDUSTRY: Export trade: FMCG food, beverages, fruit, veg, wine, alcohol &building supplies. LOCATION: On site, Morningside, Durban. REPORTS TO: Commercial Manager and Commercial Director. PURPOSE OF THE ROLE Indian Ocean Export Company is seeking an experienced Business Development Manager with a proven track record in export trading of foods to lead profitable sales growth for IOEC in the French-speaking territory of Central and West Africa and to expand our customer base. The ideal candidate will combine strategic thinking with hands-on execution, build strong client relationships, and broaden our footprint in French-speaking markets. Fluency in French (written and spoken) and proficiency in English are required. KEY RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDE BUT NOT LIMITED TO: Successfully negotiate a trade (sale) using negotiation and salesman’s skills. Close large, complex deals. Comply with the regulations of the various markets. Negotiate contracts, terms, and renewal opportunities. Align cross-functional teams to ensure delivery against commitments, ensure the sales go through and have the required follow up. Communication is timeously given to all stakeholders, internal and external. Maintain a high level of service to existing and potential clients through relationships and relationship building. Cultivate relationships with C-level stakeholders and decision-makers in target accounts. Seek and identify opportunities in the market. Expand customer base. Maintain existing business. Data-driven decision making: utilise data and performance metrics to guide decision-making and improve portfolio performance. Debtors – making sure debt is being collected in a timeous manner. Report on performance metrics, development plans and market insights to executive leadership o Meet or exceed performance against budget. Achieve profit budgets which the candidate would annually set with the approval of the MD. o Develop and execute a comprehensive business development plan to achieve revenue targets in French-speaking regions. o Prepare and deliver compelling presentations and proposals in both French and English. o Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and regulatory considerations affecting the target markets. o Trip & meeting preparation.