Unilever is currently hiring for a Business Admin Support - Exports
Function: Customer Development
Reports to: BNLS Channel Lead
Location: Durban
Terms & Conditions: Full-time
Purpose
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.
LEADERSHIP BEHAVIOURS
Care deeply: caring deeply about how consumers experience our brands every day, everywhere; about our people's growth and development, and our impact on the planet. You care about your performance, to a point where it hurts when you don't win. Always brings their best self. Has emotional intelligence to take feedback, manage mood and motivations and build empathy for others. Sets high standards for themselves. Has humility, understanding that leadership is service to others, inside and outside of Unilever.
Focus on what counts: We set clear and stretching goals and recognise maximum performance impact. Generates intensity and focus to motivate people to deliver results at speed.
Stay three steps ahead: We think boldly and creatively to make breakthroughs in performance. We are always curious and confident – anticipating and staying ahead of consumer needs and external trends to beat the competition. Approaches delivery with an iterative and incremental, test - do - learn approach. Has an owner's mindset, using data and insight to make decisions.
Deliver with excellence: We deliver everything we do with excellence and pace. We take personal ownership and hold each other to account – always finding a way to do what we said we will do. Takes personal responsibility and accountability for execution and results.
Unilever is an organisation committed to equity, inclusion and diversity to drive our business results and create a better future, every day, for our diverse employees, global consumers, partners, and communities. We believe a diverse workforce allows us to match our growth ambitions and drive inclusion across the business. At Unilever we are interested in every individual bringing their ‘Whole Self’ to work and this includes you! Thus if you require any support or access requirements, we encourage you to advise us at the time of your application so that we can support you through your recruitment journey.
Skills Required
- Matric qualification
- At least three years of relevant experience in customer development, category or commercial operations, finance, supply chain, or business administration
- Ability to manage multiple workstreams, engage senior stakeholders confidently, and deliver accurate outputs with limited supervision
- Advanced Excel capability, including lookups, pivot tables, data validation, reconciliations, dashboards, and tracker design
- Proficiency in Microsoft 365, Copilot, and approved AI tools
- Strong analytical, problem-solving, data storytelling, communication, organization, accuracy, confidentiality, and ownership skills
- Relevant tertiary qualification in business, finance, commercial management, or a related field
- Practical exposure to pricing, claims, trade term agreements, customer investment, reporting, and category distributor operations
Unilever Compensation & Benefits Highlights
The following summarizes recurring compensation and benefits themes identified from responses generated by popular LLMs to common candidate questions about Unilever and has not been reviewed or approved by Unilever.
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Healthcare Strength — Healthcare coverage is described as comprehensive, spanning medical, dental, vision, life insurance, and occupational health support alongside a 24/7 employee assistance program. Wellbeing offerings such as health checks, resilience tools, and counseling support the perceived depth of health-related benefits.
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Retirement Support — Retirement support includes a 401(k) match that reaches up to 5% of base salary, strengthening the overall value of the package. Share and savings options are also referenced as part of longer-term financial support beyond salary.
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Flexible Benefits — Benefits customization is enabled through tools such as a “My Reward” system and a “Benefits Envelope” that allows employees to personalize selections. Flexible working approaches are also associated with improved overall satisfaction, reinforcing perceived choice and adaptability in the total rewards offering.
Unilever Insights
What We Do
Be part of the world’s most successful, purpose-led business. Work with brands that are well-loved around the world, that improve the lives of our consumers and the communities around us. We promote innovation, big and small, to make our business win and grow; and we believe in business as a force for good. Unleash your curiosity, challenge ideas and disrupt processes; use your energy to make this happen. Our brilliant business leaders and colleagues provide mentorship and inspiration, so you can be at your best. Our portfolio ranges from nutritionally balanced foods to indulgent ice creams, affordable soaps, luxurious shampoos and everyday household care products. We produce world-leading brands including Lipton, Knorr, Dove, Axe, Hellmann’s and Omo, alongside trusted local names and innovative-forward thinking brands like Ben & Jerry’s, The Dollar Shave Club and Dermalogica. Every individual here can bring their purpose to life through their work. Join us and you’ll be surrounded by inspiring leaders and supportive peers. Among them, you’ll channel your purpose, bring fresh ideas to the table, and simply be you. As you work to make a real impact on the business and the world, we’ll work to help you become a better you.









