Career Overlap Transition record
RecordMove

Distribution manager to import export manager

A distribution manager already meets 48% of what the import export manager role asks for. The move turns on 16 required skills not yet in the profile.

Fig. 1 · Skill transfer ESCO v1.2.1 · directional
From distribution manager
48 % overlap
Partial match
To import export manager
46 You already bring
16 Still to learn
80 Skills in the target role2
Learning distance Substantial retraining

63.1/ 100

1 How much of what an import export manager is expected to do is already part of a distribution manager’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the import export manager role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.

Why

Why this move works

An import export manager role treats 7 of its required skills as things a distribution manager already does. You would walk in with these on day one.

  • create solutions to problems
  • ensure customs compliance
  • have computer literacy
  • international commercial transactions rules
  • international import export regulations
  • perform financial risk management in international trade

What stands in the way is 16 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.

Table 2

Table 2 · What you already bring

Of the 46 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. An import export manager role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of a distribution manager background worth leading with.

Skill the target role also needs Area
  • already held live animal products agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary
  • already held glassware products engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held meat and meat products engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held coffee, tea, cocoa and spice products engineering, manufacturing and construction
  • already held flower and plant products natural sciences, mathematics and statistics
  • already held sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery products engineering, manufacturing and construction

All 46 carried skills, including the 7 the import export manager role treats as required.

Table 3

Table 3 · What you may need to learn

The 34 missing skills fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.

Skill to pick up Tier
01 management skills 5 required, 5 supplementary
  • still to learn direct distribution operations required
  • still to learn set import export strategies required
  • still to learn conduct performance measurement required
  • still to learn manage processes required
  • still to learn meet deadlines required
  • optional, not held encourage teambuilding optional
  • optional, not held managing a business with great care optional
  • optional, not held administer multi-modal logistics optional
  • optional, not held apply strategic thinking optional
  • optional, not held manage tender processes optional
02 information skills 4 required
  • still to learn produce sales reports required
  • still to learn comprehend financial business terminology required
  • still to learn maintain financial records required
  • still to learn monitor international market performance required
03 business, administration and law 3 required, 4 supplementary
  • still to learn embargo regulations required
  • still to learn export control principles required
  • still to learn international business required
  • optional, not held export regulations of dual-use goods optional
  • optional, not held import export regulations of dangerous chemicals optional
  • optional, not held office equipment optional
  • optional, not held sales strategies optional
04 assisting and caring 2 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn abide by business ethical code of conducts required
  • still to learn control trade commercial documentation required
  • optional, not held apply certification and payment procedures optional
05 communication, collaboration and creativity 2 required, 1 supplementary
  • still to learn build rapport with people from different cultural backgrounds required
  • still to learn apply conflict management required
  • optional, not held negotiate sales contracts optional
06 engineering, manufacturing and construction 3 supplementary
  • optional, not held general principles of food law optional
  • optional, not held machine tools optional
  • optional, not held office furniture products optional

3 further areas in the appendix

Table 4

Table 4 · Where to start

The 3 entries an import export manager role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.

Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.

Appendix

Appendix · The rest of the record

All 46 skills that carry over
Skill Type
  • already held create solutions to problems skill
  • already held ensure customs compliance skill
  • already held have computer literacy skill
  • already held international commercial transactions rules knowledge
  • already held international import export regulations knowledge
  • already held perform financial risk management in international trade skill
  • already held speak different languages skill
  • already held agricultural equipment knowledge
  • already held agricultural raw materials, seeds and animal feed products knowledge
  • already held beverage products knowledge
  • already held chemical products knowledge
  • already held clothing and footwear products knowledge
  • already held coffee, tea, cocoa and spice products knowledge
  • already held computer equipment knowledge
  • already held construction products knowledge
  • already held dairy and edible oil products knowledge
  • already held electrical household appliances products knowledge
  • already held electronic and telecommunication equipment knowledge
  • already held employment law knowledge
  • already held fish, crustacean and mollusc products knowledge
  • already held flower and plant products knowledge
  • already held fruit and vegetable products knowledge
  • already held furniture, carpet and lighting equipment products knowledge
  • already held glassware products knowledge
  • already held hardware, plumbing and heating equipment products knowledge
  • already held hides, skins and leather products knowledge
  • already held household products knowledge
  • already held industrial tools knowledge
  • already held live animal products knowledge
  • already held machinery products knowledge
  • already held meat and meat products knowledge
  • already held metal and metal ore products knowledge
  • already held mining, construction and civil engineering machinery products knowledge
  • already held perfume and cosmetic products knowledge
  • already held pharmaceutical products knowledge
  • already held plan transport operations skill
  • already held sugar, chocolate and sugar confectionery products knowledge
  • already held teamwork principles knowledge
  • already held textile industry machinery products knowledge
  • already held textile products, textile semi-finished products and raw materials knowledge
  • already held tobacco products knowledge
  • already held types of aircraft knowledge
  • already held types of maritime vessels knowledge
  • already held waste and scrap products knowledge
  • already held watches and jewellery products knowledge
  • already held wood products knowledge
The 3 learning areas not shown above
Skill to pick up Tier
07 natural sciences, mathematics and statistics 2 supplementary
  • optional, not held protective measures against the introduction of organisms optional
  • optional, not held regulations on substances optional
08 agriculture, forestry, fisheries and veterinary 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held animal health rules of distribution of products of animal origin optional
09 services 1 supplementary
  • optional, not held food hygiene rules optional
18 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
Skill to pick up Tier
  • optional, not held animal health rules of distribution of products of animal origin optional
  • optional, not held apply certification and payment procedures optional
  • optional, not held encourage teambuilding optional
  • optional, not held export regulations of dual-use goods optional
  • optional, not held food hygiene rules optional
  • optional, not held general principles of food law optional
  • optional, not held import export regulations of dangerous chemicals optional
  • optional, not held machine tools optional
  • optional, not held managing a business with great care optional
  • optional, not held negotiate sales contracts optional
  • optional, not held office equipment optional
  • optional, not held office furniture products optional
  • optional, not held protective measures against the introduction of organisms optional
  • optional, not held regulations on substances optional
  • optional, not held sales strategies optional
  • optional, not held administer multi-modal logistics optional
  • optional, not held apply strategic thinking optional
  • optional, not held manage tender processes optional
32 held skills the import export manager role does not ask for
Skill Type
  • not needed by the target role adhere to organisational guidelines skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse business plans skill
  • not needed by the target role analyse supply chain trends skill
  • not needed by the target role carry out inventory control accuracy skill
  • not needed by the target role carry out statistical forecasts skill
  • not needed by the target role communicate with shipment forwarders skill
  • not needed by the target role develop financial statistics reports skill
  • not needed by the target role direct logistical functions skill
  • not needed by the target role ensure client orientation skill
  • not needed by the target role ensure regulatory compliance concerning distribution activities skill
  • not needed by the target role freight transport methods knowledge
  • not needed by the target role handle carriers skill
  • not needed by the target role hazardous freight regulations knowledge
  • not needed by the target role implement strategic planning skill
  • not needed by the target role manage financial risk skill
  • not needed by the target role manage freight payment methods skill
  • not needed by the target role manage staff skill
  • not needed by the target role manufacture ingredients skill
  • not needed by the target role minimise shipping cost skill
  • not needed by the target role monitor security procedures in warehouse operations skill
  • not needed by the target role monitor stock level skill
  • not needed by the target role oversee freight-related financial documentation skill
  • not needed by the target role perform multiple tasks at the same time skill
  • not needed by the target role perform risk analysis skill
  • not needed by the target role present reports skill
  • not needed by the target role supply chain management knowledge
  • not needed by the target role think proactively skill
  • not needed by the target role track shipments skill
  • not needed by the target role track shipping sites skill
  • not needed by the target role train employees skill
  • not needed by the target role transportation software related to an ERP system knowledge
  • not needed by the target role use a warehouse management system skill
14 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice

Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.

Skill to pick up Tier
  • still to learn embargo regulations required
  • still to learn export control principles required
  • still to learn international business required
  • optional, not held animal health rules of distribution of products of animal origin optional
  • optional, not held export regulations of dual-use goods optional
  • optional, not held food hygiene rules optional
  • optional, not held general principles of food law optional
  • optional, not held import export regulations of dangerous chemicals optional
  • optional, not held machine tools optional
  • optional, not held office equipment optional
  • optional, not held office furniture products optional
  • optional, not held protective measures against the introduction of organisms optional
  • optional, not held regulations on substances optional
  • optional, not held sales strategies optional
Index

Other moves recorded from distribution manager

Full index of moves from distribution manager

FAQ

Common questions about this move

Can a distribution manager become an import export manager?

Yes, and it is a substantial move. A distribution manager already covers 48% of what an import export manager is expected to do: 46 skills carry over, 7 of which the import export manager role treats as required.

What skills does a distribution manager need to become an import export manager?

16 required skills are missing, plus 18 optional ones. They fall into 9 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by management skills. The single most important is abide by business ethical code of conducts.

How hard is the move from distribution manager to import export manager?

Its learning distance is 63.1 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.

Note

How this record was compiled

Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.