International Trader (Seafood Industry)

Job Title: International Trader – Global Sourcing & Market Development

Position reports to: Sales Director

Based at: Paarden Eiland, Cape Town, South Africa

Salary: Market-related

Contract type: Permanent employment with a 6-month probation period.

Working hours: 08h00 – 17h00, weekends as required.

Company information: Import, export and distribute seafood products

The role focuses on identifying profitable trading opportunities by sourcing products from multiple international origin markets and placing them into suitable destination markets worldwide.

The successful candidate will manage the full international trading cycle, including:

• Global and local product sourcing

• International sales development

• Supplier and customer relationship management

• Market intelligence analysis

• Commercial negotiation

• Contract execution

• Logistics coordination

• Trade finance management

• Regulatory compliance

• Risk management

This role is not limited to South African exports and requires active sourcing and trading between multiple international origin and destination markets.

Experience needed: 5+ yrs relevant work experience

Qualifications/Skills

• International sourcing strategy

• Global logistics and freight

• Incoterms

• Trade finance instruments

• Customs and compliance processes

• Foreign exchange risk

• ERP / CRM systems

• Advanced Excel

Key responsibilities: Global Product Sourcing

• Identify and secure product supply from international markets

• Develop and maintain global supplier relationships

• Source products from multiple producing countries

• Negotiate competitive supplier agreements

• Assess supplier capability, reliability, and quality standards

• Diversify sourcing to mitigate supply risk

• Identify new product opportunities globally

International Market Development

• Developing international customer relationships

• Identifying new market opportunities

• Expanding sales into existing and emerging global markets

• Conducting international market analysis

• Matching origin supply to destination demand

• Building long-term strategic customer partnerships

Commercial Trading & Deal Execution

• Structuring profitable international transactions

• Negotiating purchase and sales contracts

• Managing product allocation and pricing strategy

• Securing commercially viable margin opportunities

• Managing trade execution from contract to final delivery

• Resolving operational and commercial challenges during execution

Pricing Strategy & Margin Management

• Analyse international pricing trends by country and specie

• Monitor supply and demand dynamics

• Evaluate freight and logistics cost movements

• Assess currency impacts on profitability

• Develop pricing strategies to maximise margin

• Identify regional arbitrage opportunities

Supplier & Customer Relationship Management

Suppliers

• Fishing company and vessel owners

• Producers

• Processors

• Exporters

• Manufacturers

• International agents

Customers

• Importers

• Distributors

• Wholesalers

• Retail groups

• Foodservice operators

Contract Negotiation & Administration

• International sales agreements

• Supply contracts

• Payment terms

• Incoterms

• Volume commitments

• Pricing structures

• Commercial claims resolution

Logistics & Trade Execution

• Freight bookings

• Shipping schedules

• Customs requirements

• Documentation management

• Port coordination

• Delivery tracking

• Supply chain issue resolution

Ensure timely and compliant movement of goods globally.

Trade Finance & Risk Management

• Letters of Credit

• Documentary collections

• TT payment structures

• Credit risk assessments

• Currency exposure management

• Margin protection strategies

• Counterparty due diligence

Regulatory Compliance

• International trade regulations

• Export and import legislation

• Customs requirements

• Country-specific compliance standards

• Product certification requirements

• Trade sanctions and restrictions

Market Intelligence

• Global supply trends

• International pricing movements

• Competitor activity

• Freight market changes

• Geopolitical developments affecting trade

• Emerging market opportunities

Provide strategic recommendations to the Sales Director.

AUTHORITY LEVEL

• Negotiate commercial terms within approved margin thresholds

• Develop and secure new supplier agreements

• Open and develop new international customer accounts

• Execute approved transactions

• Recommend strategic sourcing and market expansion opportunities to the Sales Director

Core Competencies

• Strong commercial acumen

• Advanced negotiation capability

• Strategic thinking

• Analytical decision-making

• Relationship-building skills

• High attention to detail

• Problem-solving ability

• Strong execution discipline

• Global market awareness

Personal Attributes

• Entrepreneurial mindset

• Highly self-motivated

• Results-driven

• Commercially aggressive yet disciplined

• Ethical and trustworthy

• Resilient under pressure

• Strong communicator

• Adaptable across international business cultures