Business Development Manager, Export Markets

Constantly looking for better ways to nourish the world, General Mills has been operating in the Middle East for almost 20 years. Managing businesses in more than 20 countries, we offer trusted, quality brands and exceptional opportunities for those with the entrepreneurial spirit, initiative and cultural awareness to excel.

We have been innovating in significant ways, not just in our brands and products, but also in adapting to the communities we proudly serve. Exceptional employee engagement happens when an organization is conscious and purposeful about it. In a bid to make food the world loves, we pay utmost attention to the capabilities of our people and the strengths of our culture.

We ensure a workplace that enables learning to happen anytime, anywhere. Some of our big brands are Betty Crocker, Nature Valley, Green Giant, Old El Paso & Haagen Dazs.

Functional Overview

The Business Development Manager, Export Markets is responsible for delivering net sales, margin and business plan commitments across assigned export markets. This role leads distributor partnerships, identifies profitable growth opportunities, and develops market expansion plans to increase the reach of General Mills brands across existing and new geographies.

The role combines strategic market development with strong commercial execution. The successful candidate will own distributor performance, lead business planning and forecasting, and work cross-functionally to deliver sustainable, long-term profitable growth across the region.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead market and distributor strategies for assigned export markets in the Middle East and Africa, with a clear focus on profitable growth, geographic expansion and business delivery
• Own the relationship with distributors and drive strong performance through clear objectives, robust reviews and effective joint business planning
• Deliver monthly, quarterly and annual sales, promotion, demand and financial forecasts in partnership with Supply Chain and Finance to ensure strong planning accuracy and visibility
• Identify risks, gaps, vulnerabilities and growth opportunities within the business plan, and recommend actions to improve delivery against targets
• Work closely with distributors and external agencies to develop and execute trade marketing plans that strengthen brand presence and deliver strong return on investment
• Recommend and implement commercial strategies and tactics to unlock growth in existing markets and support entry into new markets
• Lead opportunities in frontier and emerging markets, ensuring business cases and execution plans are commercially sound and aligned with long-range growth priorities
• Partner closely with cross-functional teams, including Marketing, Shopper, Sales, Supply Chain and Finance, to ensure effective delivery of market plans
• Bring strong consumer and shopper understanding to commercial decision-making and translate market insight into practical growth opportunities

Experience and qualifications

• 10+ years of relevant experience in sales, business development or commercial roles within a multinational FMCG environment
• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred
• Strong experience across Middle East markets; Africa market exposure is an advantage
• Proven track record of managing distributor-led businesses and delivering results across export or emerging markets
• Strong commercial and strategic planning capability, with experience building and executing market growth plans
• Solid understanding of demand planning, financial forecasting and trade investment management
• Strong analytical, problem-solving and decision-making skills
• Excellent communication, influencing, selling and negotiation skills
• Strong understanding of customer, category and route-to-market dynamics

COMPANY OVERVIEW

We exist to make food the world loves. But we do more than that. Our company is a place that prioritizes being a force for good, a place to expand learning, explore new perspectives and reimagine new possibilities, every day. We look for people who want to bring their best — bold thinkers with big hearts who challenge one other and grow together.

Because becoming the undisputed leader in food means surrounding ourselves with people who are hungry for what’s next.