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International Sales Manager

Company

Athena Marketing International (www.athenaintl.com) (AMI) is a leading international marketing and export management firm established in 2004. We launch and grow CPG brands globally and represent some of the most innovative companies in the Food, Beverage, and Nutrition categories.

 

Position Summary

The International Sales Manager will play a key role in building a world-class professional services firm. This position will report to the President and will support our North American branded customers and international distributor / retailer partners in over 130 countries worldwide. There will be close interaction with our other Sales executives, both internal and external. The successful candidate must be willing to be a “hands on” enabler in the current high growth phase of our company.

This position will have the responsibility for managing our worldwide international distributor/importer/retailer partners, and for a wide variety of North American customers in multiple product categories. She/he will manage branded customer accounts and grow existing international partner sales. This role will also be responsible for researching various import procedures and regulations in a large variety of countries worldwide. The International Sales Manager will ensure that export sales are managed in compliance with U.S. and international regulations. An understanding of export documentation required in various export markets is preferred for this role. Finally, there will be a growing amount of customer management in this role and interface with CEOs and senior executives of our customers, as the successful candidate learns and grows professionally.

The winning candidate will have spent time in a food and beverage or Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) manufacturing company, preferably with international Sales and/or inside sales responsibilities. She/he may also have worked in a smaller, resource-restricted environment that requires a hands-on, entrepreneurial management style. This role requires a detailed, “roll up the sleeves” type person who thrives on making things happen. Being a global company, AMI employees often work closely with our worldwide customers on different time zones. Experience in a sales brokerage or consulting role will be beneficial.

This is a full-time, 40-hour per week position and is 100% remote.

 

Major Responsibilities

  • Manage all assigned export markets and customer brands to ensure each international customer is managed properly and professionally with outstanding sales growth.
    • Advise specific documentation and procedures required for foreign market entry.
    • Assist customers with processing of international Purchase Orders to ensure efficient importation of products at foreign destinations.
    • Communicate with international customers and U.S. government agencies on a timely basis.
    • Manage all international customers and meet/exceed customer sales expectations.
    • Manage Sales Account Executive(s) and ensure customer success and goal achievement.
  • Improve international customer satisfaction by providing timely invoices, pricing, product updates, features and benefits, and relevant market research.
  • Solicit international customer feedback and use it to improve AMI service levels.
  • Identify, assess and recruit qualified international distributors and importers of food, beverage, and consumer packaged goods.
  • Expand AMI customers’ international sales and distribution and increase their global brand exposure.
  • Manage and attend international trade shows and major industry events; international travel will be required.
  • Conduct appropriate market research in foreign countries to understand category and competitors.
  • Correspond with and build a network of international distributors and importers to increase sales.
  • Conduct due diligence of potential foreign distribution partners, which may include international visits.
  • Develop effective business relationships with key U.S. government and international officials, food and beverage industry representatives and trade organizations worldwide to ensure that the interests of AMI are effectively promoted and protected.

 

Key Selection Criteria

Ideal Experience

  • A proven Sales professional with 3-7 years of successful progression in a food, beverage or consumer packaged goods company.
  • A track record of International Sales experience would be valuable, and a clearly articulated desire to build a world-class professional services company.
  • Knowledge of export processes, purchasing, and regulations for food and beverage products is preferred but not required.
  • Experience with food manufacturing, ingredients and technical issues would be beneficial.
  • Knowledge of foreign import regulations and requirements is helpful.
  • Experience building Sales teams as well as forming solid business relationships and contacts at all levels of organizations.
  • Freight forwarding and international logistics background would also be helpful.
  • Demonstrated ability to work with business executives of foreign cultures.

 

Aptitudes and Skills

  • Outstanding organizational and analytical capabilities.
  • Good written and verbal communication skills.
  • Ability to recognize needs of customers. Good leadership skills, detail oriented, and accurate.
  • Strong verbal and written skills, as well as MS Office computer skills.
  • High initiative and self-directed – able to work independently.
  • Strong time management skills.

 

Compensation

Athena Marketing International (AMI) offers a competitive compensation package that includes base compensation commensurate with a candidate’s background and experience, bonus opportunities, sales commissions, health care benefits, paid vacation time and employer-contributed 401(K) Retirement Plan.