What does an international business manager do?
An international business manager acts as an overseer of an entire company's business operations. They are responsible for their company's international business ventures, sales, overseas manufacturing, and marketing. They address and resolve issues regarding foreign business transactions. They need cultural sensitivity, and they must know how to strengthen the partnership between foreign companies and be innovative with modern technologies. They must also know how to communicate with clients and keep them updated to the latest services their company has to offer.
International business manager responsibilities
Here are examples of responsibilities from real international business manager resumes:
- Manage supplier relationships, negotiations with manufacturers and developing assessment strategies with OEM's.
- Leverage in-depth knowledge of complex manage security solutions as well as extensive technical knowledge of security hardware and software.
- Maintain the ERP keep it update with new marketing info.
- Recruit by UK team to support start-up requirements for new company branch in Jordan.
- Partner with the UK sales team to increase growth, while balancing channel and account priorities.
- Provide headquarters coordination and support for overseas OEM sales organizations.
- Close interaction with production and logistics departments, transportation service providers and custom brokers.
- Absorb knowledge of logistics, export compliance/ documentation, warehouse functionality, and workforce coordination.
- Conceive and bring to market the first network storage appliance with 40 person ISO 9001 team.
- Partner with cross-functional leaders in creative and copywriting to provide direction in development of omni-channel collateral.
International business manager skills and personality traits
We calculated that 11% of International Business Managers are proficient in Financial Statements, International Trade, and Business Development. They’re also known for soft skills such as Creativity, Interpersonal skills, and Organizational skills.
We break down the percentage of International Business Managers that have these skills listed on their resume here:
- Financial Statements, 11%
Worked closely with internal and external auditors to provide support for quarterly and year-end financial statements and interim audits.
- International Trade, 7%
Developed monthly newsletter communicating international trade developments with company-wide circulation.
- Business Development, 7%
Manage relationships with international governments, including Ambassadorial staff to support Chevron's political advocacy and business development.
- Reconciliations, 6%
Prepared and reviewed GL account reconciliations.
- Import Export, 5%
Negotiated new branch of business for import export division.
- International Markets, 4%
Coordinate and facilitate team meetings and activities to promote business export expansion within targeted industry sectors in international markets.
Common skills that an international business manager uses to do their job include "financial statements," "international trade," and "business development." You can find details on the most important international business manager responsibilities below.
Creativity. One of the key soft skills for an international business manager to have is creativity. You can see how this relates to what international business managers do because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to generate new and imaginative ideas." Additionally, an international business manager resume shows how international business managers use creativity: "managed canadian p&l;, creative, advertising, promotions, product development, forecasting, and pricing. "
Interpersonal skills. Another soft skill that's essential for fulfilling international business manager duties is interpersonal skills. The role rewards competence in this skill because "managers must deal with a range of people in different roles, both inside and outside the organization." According to an international business manager resume, here's how international business managers can utilize interpersonal skills in their job responsibilities: "exercised excellent communication and interpersonal skills with a global customer population to establish lasting business relationships"
Organizational skills. international business managers are also known for organizational skills, which are critical to their duties. You can see how this skill relates to international business manager responsibilities, because "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must manage their time and budget efficiently while directing and motivating staff members." An international business manager resume example shows how organizational skills is used in the workplace: "initiated and conducted market projects including business analysis, market analysis, staff training, organizational development and goal setting. "
Analytical skills. international business manager responsibilities often require "analytical skills." The duties that rely on this skill are shown by the fact that "advertising, promotions, and marketing managers must be able to analyze industry trends to determine the most promising strategies for their organization." This resume example shows what international business managers do with analytical skills on a typical day: "provided analysis of acquisitions and joint ventures and assisted tax compliance and reporting efforts. "
Communication skills. Another crucial skill for an international business manager to carry out their responsibilities is "communication skills." A big part of what international business managers relies on this skill, since "managers must be able to communicate effectively with a broad-based team made up of other managers or staff members during the advertising, promotions, and marketing process." How this skill relates to international business manager duties can be seen in an example from an international business manager resume snippet: "manage participation in international trade shows (communications, logistics, budgets and press relations). "
The three companies that hire the most international business managers are:
Compare different international business managers
International business manager vs. Manager, strategy
A strategy manager is an individual who reviews a company's objectives for growth and works with executives to formulate actionable plans to achieve these objectives. To make comprehensive recommendations, strategy managers must conduct data analysis of the organization as well as the overall industry. They must provide assessments of market trends and identify business threats and opportunities. Strategy managers should also work with department heads to develop individual team goals and break them down into actionable steps for the employees to complete.
While similarities exist, there are also some differences between international business managers and manager, strategy. For instance, international business manager responsibilities require skills such as "financial statements," "international trade," "reconciliations," and "import export." Whereas a manager, strategy is skilled in "project management," "portfolio," "client facing," and "digital marketing." This is part of what separates the two careers.
Managers, strategy really shine in the technology industry with an average salary of $116,769. Comparatively, international business managers tend to make the most money in the finance industry with an average salary of $89,214.On average, managers, strategy reach higher levels of education than international business managers. Managers, strategy are 6.5% more likely to earn a Master's Degree and 0.3% more likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.International business manager vs. Product manager
A product manager is responsible for ensuring product development, providing the best marketing strategies, and effectively handling the sales and marketing team. Product managers' duties include monitoring the market trends and conditions, identifying business opportunities and plan initiatives, and collaborating the product launch process with the appropriate departments. A product manager is also responsible for generating ideas on improving product features, determining timetables and reasonable pricing, and analyzing product sales. A product manager must have excellent strategic and decision-making skills to contribute to its growth and profitability.
While some skills are similar in these professions, other skills aren't so similar. For example, resumes show us that international business manager responsibilities requires skills like "financial statements," "international trade," "reconciliations," and "import export." But a product manager might use other skills in their typical duties, such as, "product management," "qa," "product strategy," and "project management."
On average, product managers earn a higher salary than international business managers. Some industries support higher salaries in each profession. Interestingly enough, product managers earn the most pay in the retail industry with an average salary of $114,839. Whereas international business managers have higher pay in the finance industry, with an average salary of $89,214.product managers earn lower levels of education than international business managers in general. They're 6.7% less likely to graduate with a Master's Degree and 0.3% less likely to earn a Doctoral Degree.International business manager vs. Market manager
A marketing manager is an executive who manages a brand or product's promotion positioning. Marketing managers analyze the trends in the industry and the demand for certain products and services. Typically, they attract more customers to purchase products and/or services and raise brand awareness through marketing campaigns. They research, identify, examine, and evaluate product demand. Also, they review advertising materials like print ads to boost the marketing strategy of the company and strengthen its campaign.
Some important key differences between the two careers include a few of the skills necessary to fulfill the responsibilities of each. Some examples from international business manager resumes include skills like "financial statements," "international trade," "reconciliations," and "import export," whereas a market manager is more likely to list skills in "customer service," "strong analytical," "excellent interpersonal," and "human resources. "
Market managers make a very good living in the manufacturing industry with an average annual salary of $85,133. On the other hand, international business managers are paid the highest salary in the finance industry, with average annual pay of $89,214.When it comes to education, market managers tend to earn lower degree levels compared to international business managers. In fact, they're 12.8% less likely to earn a Master's Degree, and 0.6% less likely to graduate with a Doctoral Degree.International business manager vs. Brand manager
A brand manager is an individual responsible for adapting a brand strategy that targets the potential market for a company's product while maintaining its integrity. Brand managers assist in developing products while managing budgets for the advertising and promotion of their new products. They usually work under the supervision of marketing managers or chief marketing officers (CMOs) to implement and execute their marketing initiatives. Brand managers also provide an analysis of sales forecasts and create reports on product sales.
Types of international business manager
Updated January 8, 2025
