Assistant Manager-International Sales-Africa

Job Title

Assistant Manager International Sales (Africa)

Industry: Beauty & Personal Care / Cosmetics / FMCG
Location: Mumbai
Experience: 810 years
Reporting to: Manager – International Sales
Employment Type: Full-time
Travel Requirement: International travel across assigned African markets

Role Summary

We are looking for a commercially strong and execution-focused sales professional to develop and strengthen our business across African markets.

The role requires close coordination with locally appointed distributors and their sales teams to improve retail coverage, market penetration, product availability, visibility and brand presence.

Candidates with international sales or African-market experience will be preferred. However, candidates who have worked as an Area Sales Manager or Regional Sales Manager with a reputed FMCG company in India may also be considered, provided they possess strong hands-on experience in retail sales, distributor management, secondary sales and market execution.

This is a market-development role and not merely an export documentation or order-processing position.

Key Responsibilities

• Manage and develop business across assigned African markets.
• Work closely with appointed distributors, their managers and field-sales teams.
• Prepare and implement country-wise sales and distribution plans.
• Drive primary sales, secondary sales, numerical distribution and retail penetration.
• Improve product availability, visibility, merchandising and brand presentation across relevant retail channels.
• Conduct market visits and work alongside distributor sales teams to assess and improve field execution.
• Establish and review beat plans, outlet classification, sales targets and salesperson productivity.
• Monitor distributor-wise sales, inventory, stock ageing, receivables and order pipelines.
• Review distributor performance against agreed sales and market-development objectives.
• Identify distribution gaps and opportunities across general trade, modern trade, wholesale, beauty stores and other relevant channels.
• Review product placement, retail pricing, trade margins, promotions and competitor activity.
• Identify opportunities for new products, pack sizes, price points, channels and territories.
• Support distributors in planning sales promotions, retailer schemes and market-launch activities.
• Prepare periodic sales forecasts, market reports and action plans.
• Coordinate with marketing, product development, supply chain, finance and regulatory teams to address market requirements.
• Ensure distributors maintain the company’s expected standards of market and brand representation.
• Support appointment and development of new distributors wherever required.

Candidate Profile

• 8–10 years of sales experience in Beauty & Personal Care, cosmetics, fragrances, toiletries, home care or FMCG.
• International sales, African-market or export distributor-management experience will be preferred.
• Domestic candidates with strong experience as an Area Sales Manager or Regional Sales Manager in a major FMCG company may also apply.
• Strong hands-on experience in retail sales and distribution is essential.
• Must understand primary sales, secondary sales, numerical distribution, beat planning, outlet coverage and merchandising.
• Experience working with distributors, wholesalers, retailers and field-sales teams is required.
• Exposure to general trade is essential; modern-trade exposure will be an added advantage.
• Should be able to analyse markets and convert sales objectives into practical field-level action plans.
• Strong commercial understanding, negotiation ability and analytical skills.
• Ability to influence and guide distributor teams without having direct reporting authority over them.
• Good communication, presentation, relationship-management and problem-solving skills.
• Willingness to travel extensively across assigned African markets.
• Candidates who have worked only in export documentation, logistics or order coordination without market-facing sales experience may not be suitable.

Educational Qualification

Graduate or postgraduate qualification in Sales, Marketing, Business Management, International Business or a related discipline.

Preferred Candidate Background

Candidates may come from:

• Beauty and Personal Care
• Cosmetics and fragrances
• Hair care and skin care
• Toiletries and personal hygiene
• Home care
• Packaged foods or beverages
• Other distributor-led FMCG categories

Key Skills

International Sales, Africa Sales, Export Sales, FMCG Sales, BPC Sales, Cosmetics Sales, Distributor Management, Retail Sales, General Trade, Modern Trade, Primary Sales, Secondary Sales, Market Penetration, Channel Sales, Business Development, Beat Planning, Numerical Distribution, Retail Coverage, Merchandising, Sales Forecasting and Market Development.

Application Details

Candidates should provide the following information while applying:

• Current location
• Current designation
• Current CTC
• Expected CTC
• Notice period
• Markets or territories handled
• Size and type of distributor network managed
• Experience in general trade and retail distribution
• Willingness to travel internationally