International Trading, Sales & Logistics Manager

About the Company

This role is with a newly launched international trading business headquartered in Doha’s Qatar Free Zones (QFZ). The organization is focused on building a worldwide sourcing and export network for industrial and construction-related products.

The product portfolio includes insulation and protection materials, steel bars and reinforcement steel bars, building and construction materials, water treatment and purification chemicals, and cement products.

The company operates purely as a trading and export house; it does not manufacture goods. As the business is at its foundation stage, the founding team is being assembled now, and key hires are expected to help create the company’s structure, systems, supplier relationships, customer base, and international operating model from the beginning.

Role Overview

The business is seeking a driven and highly experienced International Trading, Sales & Logistics Manager to join as a founding team member and take ownership of international trading and export growth.

This is a build-from-scratch leadership position rather than a standard day-to-day operations role. The selected professional will be central to expanding into overseas markets, developing suppliers and buyers, setting up export workflows, and putting efficient trading and logistics processes in place.

The person in this role will collaborate closely with senior leadership and the future Trade Finance & Risk function to help create a scalable, secure, and commercially strong trading platform.

Key Responsibilities

• Create and implement strategies for entering international markets.
• Source, engage, and convert global customers to build the initial client portfolio.
• Develop long-term commercial relationships with traders, distributors, and industrial buyers.
• Represent the company across international markets and relevant trade events.
• Shape the commercial approach for target regions.
• Negotiate export transactions, pricing, and trading terms.
• Define delivery terms, Incoterms, and responsibility allocation.
• Coordinate secure payment arrangements with the Trade Finance & Risk function.
• Track market movements, competition, and global trading trends.
• Identify, assess, and onboard suppliers across product categories.
• Build a dependable and competitive supplier network.
• Negotiate procurement conditions and delivery timelines.
• Maintain continuity and reliability in supply arrangements.
• Set up export logistics processes from the ground up.
• Work with freight forwarders, shipping lines, and customs brokers/agents.
• Establish standard operating procedures for documentation and shipment execution.
• Ensure smooth end-to-end delivery from supplier to customer.
• Develop international logistics partnerships.
• Help design the company’s commercial and operational framework.
• Contribute to workflow design, reporting mechanisms, and trading procedures.
• Support implementation of CRM and supplier/customer tracking systems.
• Assist in building scalable operating models for global trade.
• Coordinate internally with Finance, Trade Finance & Risk, and senior management.
• Share regular updates on pipeline progress, market development, and operational status.
• Support financial and operational planning.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in International Business, Supply Chain, Logistics, or a related discipline.
• 5 to 10 years of experience in international trading, export sales, or logistics.
• Strong evidence of success in export sales or international trade.
• Background in commodity trading or multi-product export environments.
• Solid understanding of Incoterms 2020 and export documentation.
• Excellent commercial judgment and negotiation capability.
• Entrepreneurial, hands-on approach suited to a startup environment.
• Fluency in English is required; Arabic and French are highly important.

Preferred Background

• Experience with commodity trading companies.
• Exposure to international trading houses.
• Work history in export startups or newly established trading businesses.
• Sector exposure in steel, cement, construction materials, or industrial chemicals.

Core Competencies

• Ownership-driven, entrepreneurial mindset.
• International business development.
• Export trading and negotiation.
• Supply chain and logistics design.
• Supplier and customer development.
• Strategic thinking.
• Ability to execute in uncertain or changing environments.

Performance Measures

• Expansion of the initial customer base.
• Growth of the supplier network.
• Export volume and overall profitability.
• Successful completion of end-to-end trade transactions.
• Progress in market expansion.
• Efficiency and cost control within logistics.
• Contribution to scalable systems and processes.

Why This Role Stands Out

This is a rare opportunity to join a newly established international trading company at its inception. The role goes beyond managing existing activity; it involves actively shaping the company’s international footprint, operating model, and long-term trading capability.

The work and decisions made in this position will directly influence growth and global positioning.

Why Join

• Become part of a founding team in a fast-growing trading business.
• Work from a strategic global trade hub in Qatar Free Zones.
• Help build international markets from the ground level.
• Influence the company’s structure and operating model from day one.
• Collaborate closely with senior leadership and finance/risk teams.

Application Instructions

Interested candidates should email an updated CV along with a short cover letter to careers@pillarglobaltrading.com. The position title must be included in the email subject line. Applications are accepted by email only; messages on LinkedIn will not be reviewed.

Additional Information

This is a founding-team position in an international trading company based in Doha, Qatar.