Business Development Manager – Export Markets

Our client is a leading New Zealand manufacturer of high-quality, specialised food ingredients that support the food and beverage manufacturing industries locally and across global markets.

They also produce performance-driven stockfeed ingredients and value-added raw-material blends for the agricultural sector.

Through trusted distributor partnerships, they deliver to customers across New Zealand, Australia and the wider Asia–Pacific region.The OpportunityDue to sustained growth, they are now seeking to appoint experienced Business Development Manager (potentially two BDMs) to take ownership of growing the companies Export Sales sector.

You will identify, develop, and secure new international customers, to ensure that export growth targets are met while maintaining profitability, compliance, and customer satisfaction.

The Role in more detail :

Prospect, engage, and convert new international customers (e.g. food manufacturers, petfood market, ingredient formulators, animal feed, and industrial users).

The market focus : Initial target countries include Australia, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Thailand, Japan, and Korea.

Establish and grow relationships with distributors, agents, and importers; optimise route-to-market per country.

Lead proposal development, quoting, contract negotiations, and closing of deals.

Manage the export sales pipeline from first contact through fulfilment and after-sales support.

Achieve or exceed export sales targets (volume, revenue, margin).

Act as the primary point of contact for export customers, ensuring high levels of responsiveness, and retention.

Resolve issues, coordinate with internal departments (quality, production, logistics, R&D) to deliver to customer expectations.

Monitor performance and deepen share via line extensions, new applications, and development projects.

Track competitors and ingredient / technology trends.

Evaluate market potential, demand drivers, barriers to entry, tariffs, non-tariff barriers, and logistics constraints.

With the support of the finance team, calculate landed costs and prepare export quotations, incorporating freight, insurance, exchange rates, and Incoterms (FIS, CIF, FOB, CNF, Ex Works) to support accurate pricing and margin analysis.

Maintain accurate CRM, forecasts, pipeline reports, and management update.

Ensure compliance with NZ and destination country rules (e.g. food safety, labelling, GF, chemical regulations).

Regular overseas travel and customer visits required.

Represent the company at international industry events, trade shows and conferences.

About You :

A strategic, out of the box thinker.

An opportunity-seeker, proactive and self-motivated

Is resilient adaptable and holds cultural intelligence for dealing with diverse international clients.

Strong problem solver with analytical and decision-making ability

Customer-obsessed : committed to understanding and meeting customer needs.

Collaborative : works across functions, builds internal alliances

Enthusiasm to grow knowledge and remain up to date on regulatory trends (clean label, non-GMO, allergens, etc.), which are increasingly important for global ingredient markets.

Key Qualifications & Experience

Proven track record of 5 years minimum in Export Sales / Business Development, ideally in food ingredients / food manufacturing sectors.

Strong technical / application knowledge functional ingredients or food processing is highly desirable.

An understanding of international trade, export / import regulations, logistics, and compliance.

Strong negotiation skills, commercial acumen, ability to structure deals (pricing, margins, terms).

Experience in pricing structures, margin analysis, and international trade terms (FIS, CIF, FOB, CNF, Ex Works).

Experience managing multi-stakeholder and cross-functional projects.

Excellent interpersonal, presentation, and written communication skills.

Willingness to travel internationally (often).

Ability to work independently, manage multiple markets / projects in parallel, prioritise and deliver to targets.

Competent in CRM tools, MS Office (especially Excel), data analysis, forecasting.

It would be beneficial for one BDM to be able to speak an Asian market language.

Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese

Understanding that this role will require work outside standard business hours to liaise with clients in different time zones.

Why Apply?

Lead growth across priority Australian and Asia-Pacific markets.

Blend new-business hunting with strategic key-account development.

Join a quality-led manufacturer with strong backing and room to scale.

Be rewarded with a remuneration package with a base and uncapped commission incentive.

Competitive remuneration package, including bonuses and commissions, as well as

Medical insurance for you and your family (Children under 21)

Life insurance, 1-year annual salary payout

GP Doctor's visit insurance

Super Annuation of total of 7.5% (includes compulsory kiwi saver)

Please click the "APPLY NOW" button or contact Lisa Baggaley at Kings Recruitment —

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Please note that only those shortlisted will be contacted and this will happen within one week of your application.