Business Development Manager – International Business

Business Development Manager – International Business (Food Service / Ice Cream)

Location:
Dubai & Sharjah, United Arab Emirates

Employment Type:
Full-time

Region Covered:
Middle East & Africa (MEA)

About the Role

We are seeking an experienced
Business Development Manager – International Business
to lead and expand our
ice cream export business
across the MEA region. This role is responsible for developing international markets, managing distributors, driving sales growth, and ensuring seamless execution of export operations with a strong focus on
cold chain management
.

The ideal candidate brings strong FMCG export experience, deep market knowledge, and the ability to build scalable international distribution networks.

Key Responsibilities
Market Expansion & Business Growth

• Develop and execute international business strategies to grow exports in new and existing MEA markets.
• Conduct market research to identify opportunities, consumer trends, competition, and pricing dynamics.
• Identify, evaluate, and onboard suitable distributors and partners.
• Conduct market visits and prepare market intelligence reports to support expansion decisions.
• Represent the brand at international trade fairs and promotional events.

Sales & Distribution Management

• Manage end-to-end export sales cycle: inquiries, quotations, negotiations, POs, and closures.
• Align business goals with distributors and key customers.
• Drive promotions, customer programs, and product visibility as per brand guidelines.
• Forecast quarterly and annual sales and manage export budgets.
• Monitor pricing compliance, stock freshness, and product representation in-store.

Logistics & Cold Chain Operations

• Oversee export logistics including freight forwarders, shipping lines, and cold storage partners.
• Ensure strict adherence to cold chain requirements and international temperature standards.
• Coordinate with production, supply chain, and procurement teams for timely fulfillment.
• Optimize logistics and supply chain processes for cost and efficiency.

Compliance, Documentation & Reporting

• Ensure compliance with international trade regulations, customs, food safety, labeling, and certifications (including Halal and health certificates).
• Coordinate export documentation such as invoices, packing lists, COO, and BLs.
• Liaise with customs authorities and government bodies as required.
• Track sales performance, distributor billing, market effectiveness, and financial health.
• Provide regular sales, performance, and operational reports to management.

Team Leadership & Capability Building

• Lead and mentor distributor sales and operations teams.
• Monitor KPIs, drive performance, and ensure policy and SOP adherence.
• Train teams on systems, processes, and operational excellence.

Technology & Systems

• Leverage IT systems, DMS, and automation tools to track sales, performance, and reporting.

Key Stakeholders

• Internal:
  Sales Leadership, Supply Chain, Production, IT, Finance, Audit, Admin
• External:
  Distributors, Trade Customers, Vendors, Logistics Partners

Candidate Profile

Education & Experience

• Bachelor's degree required.
• 10–15 years of managerial experience
  in FMCG / Dairy / Frozen Food industry within GCC & export markets.
• Strong experience in
  international trade and cold chain logistics
  is mandatory.

Languages

• Fluent in
  English
• Knowledge of
  Tamil and Malayalam
  is highly preferred
• Additional regional languages are an advantage

Skills & Competencies

• Strong knowledge of export regulations, channel management, and global markets
• Proven leadership and team management capability
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills
• Strong analytical and problem-solving abilities
• Proficient in MS Office, sales systems, and DMS platforms
• Willingness to travel extensively across international markets

Why Join Us

• Opportunity to build and scale international markets in a growing MEA region
• Exposure to global trade, distributors, and international operations
• Leadership role with high impact on business growth and strategy