Customer Development Support - Hard Discount

Nicols; Waals-Brabant; On-site; EUR 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Job summary

Nicols seeks a Customer Development Support to grow strategic accounts across Europe, focusing on Lidl and Aldi. You will coordinate tender processes, manage project data, and support commercial efforts between Sales and internal teams.

Ideal candidates bring at least 3 years in FMCG (private label a plus), strong organizational skills, and fluent business English; German or French language skills are advantageous. The role is based in France, Germany, or Belgium.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in the FMCG industry, ideally Private Label.
• Experience in sales support, customer development support, account support, or commercial project management.
• Fluent English at business level; knowledge of German is a strong asset and French is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Support the Sales Manager in Lidl and Aldi account management and coordination.
• Prepare, consolidate, and coordinate information for customer meetings, business reviews and negotiations.
• Manage administrative follow-up of commercial agreements and data in ERP systems.
• Coordinate responses to tenders and proactive commercial proposals within internal processes.
• Translate customer requirements into actionable requests for R&D, Supply Chain, Logistics and other departments.

Job description

Company description

Nicols is a family‑owned international manufacturing group and a leading European player in home care and cleaning products. Founded in 1947 in Belgium, Nicols has grown over generations while keeping a strong entrepreneurial and people‑centered culture.

Today, we develop and manufacture a wide range of wiping & scouring products, household cleaning solutions, toilet care products, air fresheners and home fragrances, both for our own brands and for private label and contract manufacturing partners.

With more than 650 employees, 4 locations in Belgium, France, Poland and China, and products distributed in over 40 countries, Nicols combines industrial excellence, cost‑efficient innovation, and high quality standards to serve some of Europe’s largest retailers.

Job description

Join a dynamic team at the heart of commercial development for leading Hard Discount retailers across Europe

Are you organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable working in a fast-paced environment where priorities can change quickly? Do you have a strong customer focus and enjoy coordinating multiple stakeholders towards a common goal?

We are looking for a Customer Development Support professional to support the growth of our strategic accounts, Lidl and Aldi, two of the leading players in the European Hard Discount market.

In this role, you will play a key part in coordinating customer projects, managing tender processes, and providing both administrative and commercial support. You will act as a critical link between the sales teams and the various departments within the company, ensuring timely, accurate, and customer-focused responses.

Key Responsibilities

Customer Development Support

• Support the Sales Manager in the day-to-day management of Lidl and Aldi accounts.
• Prepare, consolidate, and coordinate all information required for customer meetings, business reviews, and commercial negotiations.
• Manage the administrative follow-up of commercial agreements and ensure the accuracy of data maintained in our ERP system.
• Collect, consolidate, and analyze relevant information to support business decisions.

Tender Management & Customer Projects

• Analyze customer requests and ensure their efficient handling.
• Coordinate responses to tenders and proactive commercial proposals in compliance with internal processes.
• Translate customer requirements into actionable requests for the contributing departments (R&D, Supply Chain, Logistics, Quality, Planning, etc.).
• Anticipate stakeholder needs to ensure deadlines, often demanding in the Hard Discount environment, are consistently met.
• Manage multiple projects simultaneously and participate in regular customer follow-up meetings.

Internal Coordination

• Work closely with Product Line Management, Logistics, Supply Chain, and other support functions.
• Ensure efficient communication and information flow among all stakeholders.
• Identify risks, bottlenecks, or customer process changes and communicate them proactively to the relevant teams.

Candidate Profile

Experience

• You have at least 3 years of experience in the FMCG industry, ideally within the Private Label sector.
• You have held a position in sales support, customer development support, account support, or commercial project management.
• Direct experience working with Lidl, Aldi, or another major Hard Discount retailer is considered a significant asset.
• Experience gained within Lidl or Aldi will be highly valued.

Skills & Competencies

• You are known for your rigor, organizational skills, and ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously.
• You demonstrate strong planning and anticipation skills and can structure your work effectively in a complex and continuously evolving environment.
• You are curious, proactive, and eager to understand commercial and operational business processes.
• You enjoy collaborating with multiple internal and external stakeholders.
• You are comfortable using IT tools and analyzing commercial data.

Languages

• Fluent English is mandatory and must be mastered at a professional business level.
• Knowledge of German is a strong asset.
• Knowledge of French is a plus.

What Will Make the Difference

• A solid understanding of German business culture and the operating models of Lidl and Aldi.
• Previous experience collaborating with Hard Discount retailers (Lidl, Aldi, or similar) will be considered a decisive advantage.
• The ability to thrive in a demanding international environment where priorities can change rapidly.
• Strong results orientation combined with excellent customer service skills.

Why Join Us?

• A key role within a fast-growing international organization.
• The opportunity to work with strategic customers among the most important retailers in the European market.
• A diverse position combining project coordination, commercial support, and cross-functional collaboration.
• A stimulating environment where autonomy, initiative, and teamwork are highly valued.

This function can be based in France, Germany or Belgium.