The Business Operations & Commercial Support role enables disciplined commercial delivery across BNLE markets (Botswana, Namibia, Lesotho & Eswatini). Working closely with the Key Account Managers who lead these markets, the role coordinates and leads critical customer and distributor processes, converts data into actionable insight, and ensures strong governance across pricing, claims, agreements, trading terms, TTS and budgets. This is a self-directed WL1 role requiring confident engagement with internal teams and senior external stakeholders, including distributor Finance Directors.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Market operations: Coordinate commercial administration across BNLE, maintaining clear priorities, action logs and timely follow through with Key Account Managers.
Governance and agreements: Maintain merchandising agreements, customer contracts, trading terms, incentives, extension letters and proof-of-export documentation, ensuring approvals, signatures, records and expiry dates are controlled.
Pricing: Coordinate price changes, deal prices, price files and customer communications; align inputs across Customer Development, Finance, Customer Service and distributors, and resolve discrepancies promptly.
Claims management: Validate, process and track pricing, stock, rebate, marketing and other customer claims through to resolution, with complete supporting documentation and clear ageing visibility.
TTS and budget control: Maintain TTS, accrual, purchase order and budget trackers; monitor commitments and actuals, flag risks early, and support accurate reconciliations, forecasting and payments with Finance.
Growth and JBP tracking: Support Joint Business Planning by consolidating targets, performance, initiatives and milestones into market growth trackers; produce regular sales, customer and execution reporting with actionable insights.
Customer and distributor enablement: Coordinate listings, pack and product information, regulatory certificates, innovation requirements, customer setup and administrative queries with Supply Chain, CSP, Master Data, AR and Debtors.
Order and service coordination: Track orders, stock availability, delivery dependencies, statements and payments, escalating risks and driving closure across internal and external teams.
Data and digital productivity: Build reliable Excel-based reporting and use Microsoft Copilot and approved AI tools to improve analysis, automate routine work, strengthen controls and accelerate decision support.
Stakeholder management: Build effective working relationships across Customer Development, Finance, Supply Chain, Marketing and distributor teams, engaging confidently with senior stakeholders while maintaining accountability and governance.
KEY SKILLS
Commercially curious self-starter able to work independently, anticipate requirements and drive actions to closure.
Advanced Excel capability, including lookups, pivot tables, data validation, reconciliations, dashboards and tracker design.
Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Copilot and approved AI tools, with sound judgement on accuracy, confidentiality and responsible use.
Strong understanding of Joint Business Planning, customer investment, TTS, budgets, accruals, pricing and claims governance.
Strong analytical, problem-solving and data storytelling skills, with the ability to convert information into clear actions and business insight.
Confident written and verbal communicator able to engage effectively with Key Account Managers, cross-functional teams and senior distributor stakeholders.
High standards of organisation, accuracy, confidentiality, ownership and delivery against deadlines across multiple markets.
EXPERIENCES & QUALIFICATIONS
Matric required; a relevant tertiary qualification in business, finance, commercial management or a related field is advantageous.
Min three years' relevant experience in customer development, category & commercial operations, finance, supply chain or business administration.
Practical exposure to pricing, claims, trade term agreements, customer investment, reporting and category distributor operations is preferred.
Demonstrated ability to manage multiple workstreams, engage senior stakeholders confidently and deliver accurate outputs with limited supervision.