An exciting opportunity has opened for a dynamic Commercial Manager to join a vibrant, fast-paced FMCG company. This role is ideal for a commercially driven professional with strong experience in both ocean and air freight, looking to take the next step in their career. You will lead and manage a team of four Business Development Managers, driving revenue growth and expanding market presence while playing a key strategic role within the business. With the added benefit of travel opportunities, this position offers the perfect blend of leadership, industry exposure, and career progression in an energetic and forward-thinking environment.
Seeking a commercially astute individual with strong financial acumen, sound risk management skills, and a resilient, driven character. Experience across the African, Indian Ocean Island, and Middle East markets will be highly advantageous.
Responsibilities:
- Manage a team of Business Development Managers to deliver revenue, margin, and profit targets aligned to key business budgets.
- Ensure pricing discipline, profitable deal structuring, and debtor control, supported by monthly performance reviews and corrective actions.
- Oversee commercial governance including contracts, rebates, approvals, and risk identification to protect revenue and margins.
- Partner with Finance on budgeting, forecasting, and cost management, including participation in quarterly review cycles.
- Escalate key risks with clear mitigation plans and financial impact assessments.
- Act as the primary link between the BDM team and senior leadership, providing clear reporting on performance, trends, and risks.
- Use data and performance insights to drive decision-making and improve team output.
- Lead training, coaching, and capability development to strengthen commercial and sales effectiveness.
- Drive a high-performance culture through structured performance management and continuous improvement.
- Improve operational efficiency by streamlining processes, leveraging tools, and enhancing overall team productivity.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business, Commerce, or a related field.
- Minimum 6+ years’ experience in a Commercial Manager role within the FMCG sector.
- Proven experience in export trading across ocean and air freight, preferably within African, Middle East, and Indian Ocean Island markets.
- Willingness and ability to travel extensively, including travel cycles of up to six weeks at a time.
- Experience managing multiple brands or product portfolios simultaneously.
- Strong experience in analytics, reporting, and data interpretation using QlikView and Qlik Sense.
- Proficiency in French, Portuguese, or Spanish will be advantageous but is not essential.
- Valid driver’s licence and passport.
- Strong computer literacy, including MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and file management within Windows environments.