Commercial Manager

Commercial Manager - Agricultural Exports (Maize / Soya / Tobacco)

Location: Lusaka, Zambia

About the Opportunity

Our client is an established player in Southern Africa's agricultural commodities and logistics sector, with a strong presence in the export of maize, soya, and tobacco across regional and international markets. They are seeking an experienced Commercial Manager to drive commercial strategy, strengthen client relationships, and grow export volumes from their Lusaka base.

Key Responsibilities

- Develop and execute commercial strategies to grow export volumes of maize, soya, tobacco and related agricultural commodities.

- Build and manage relationships with exporters, buyers, transporters, and other trade stakeholders across regional corridors.

- Negotiate commercial terms, pricing, and contracts with clients and suppliers.

- Oversee export documentation, customs compliance, and regulatory requirements for cross-border agricultural trade.

- Identify new business opportunities and expand the client base within the agricultural export sector.

- Monitor market trends, pricing benchmarks, and competitor activity to inform commercial decisions.

- Collaborate with logistics, operations and finance teams to ensure smooth end-to-end execution of export contracts.

- Prepare and present commercial performance reports to senior management.

- Manage and mentor a commercial/sales team to achieve revenue and volume targets.

Requirements

- Minimum 8-10 years' commercial management experience, with a strong track record in agricultural commodity exports (maize, soya, tobacco or similar).

- Solid understanding of export documentation, customs processes, and regional trade corridors (COMESA/SADC).

- Proven experience in business development, key account management, and contract negotiation.

- Strong network within Zambia's agricultural, logistics, and export community.

- Excellent leadership, communication, and stakeholder management skills.

- Degree in Business, Commerce, Agriculture, Logistics/Supply Chain or a related field (MBA advantageous).

- Based in or willing to relocate to Lusaka, Zambia.

This is a confidential search on behalf of our client. Full details of the organisation will be shared with shortlisted candidates.