Regional Sales Manager, EU & UK

Olam Agri; Rotterdam; On-site; EUR 90,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

Olam Agri in Rotterdam, Netherlands, seeks a Regional Sales Manager to lead European growth with a focus on private label opportunities and senior retailer partnerships. You will build and manage relationships with millers, brand owners and importers while aligning milling and packaging capabilities with market trends.

The role requires strong commodity expertise, deep European retail knowledge, and the ability to navigate complex procurement.

Qualifications

• 10–15 years of global trade experience in FMCG/commodity sectors.
• Strong understanding of milling processes and origin-specific dynamics.
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-year commercial contracts.
• Strong exposure to European retail and import ecosystems.
• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in International Business, Economics, or a related field.
• Fluency in English (native or business level); second European language desirable.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement a three-year strategic roadmap for the European business.
• Design bespoke private label propositions for major retailers.
• Develop deep relationships with millers in EU/UK and expand product portfolio.
• Manage relationships with brand owners importing goods from exporting countries.
• Drive sustainable supply chain initiatives across India, Thailand and Vietnam.
• Take full accountability for the European sales budget and margins.

Skills

Global trade

FMCG knowledge

Contract management

Retail relationships

Negotiation

EU/UK market

Education

Bachelor’s or Master’s in International Business

Job description

Our vast sourcing network of both small and large-scale millers and farmers, combined with our worldwide sales, distribution and warehousing teams have created our strong position that customers can rely on. We work closely with rice millers, farmers and third-party suppliers to source and supply high-quality rice from rice producing countries in Asia and the Americas. We’ve established key partnerships, such as with the Thai Rice Department and the German development agency (GIZ), to promote sustainable rice cultivation. Through these partnerships we work closely with rice farmers to implement the Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) Standard to improve their livelihoods and reduce environmental impacts of rice farming. We’re world’s first and now the largest sustainable rice producer and supplier. We lead the world’s largest Sustainable Rice Platform (SRP) project in Thailand.

Market-leading Rice Brands

Our rice brands are market-leaders in West Africa. This includes the first branded rice fortified with iron, zinc and B-complex vitamins in both Ghana and Cameroon. The success of our brands is testament to our knowledge of diverse markets, enabling us to cater to the exact, yet varied standards of consumers. Our brands Royal Aroma, Royal Feast, Mama Africa, Mama’s Pride, Riz Mémé, Riz Bijou and Mama Africana offer consumers a range of high-quality, affordable rice in markets including Ghana, Nigeria, Cameroon and Mozambique

For more information please visit: Rice Company & Rice Supplier | Olam Agri

Job Description

A Regional Sales Manager in Olam Agri is responsible for spearheading the expansion of the portfolio across European markets, with a specialized focus on the private label sector. The role requires a professional with deep commodity expertise, strong relationships with key European retailers and major importers, and the ability to navigate complex European procurement processes. The primary objective is to secure long-term, high-volume contracts and establish Olam Agri as a preferred private label partner. The role also involves driving strategic growth, strengthening customer relationships, ensuring regulatory compliance, and collaborating with cross-functional teams to deliver sustainable and profitable business outcomes.

Strategic Commercial Leadership

• Market Entry & Growth: Develop and implement a three-year strategic roadmap for the European business, identifying white-space opportunities in the EU and UK regions.
• Private Label Strategy: Design bespoke product propositions for major retailers, aligning our milling and packaging capabilities with specific market trends (e.g., sustainable sourcing, organic, and premium segments).
• Millers: Develop deep routed relationship with the big millers in EU and UK and develop product portfolio for these customers and develop long term relationship
• Brand Owners:Develop and manage customers who directly import packed goods from exporting countries like India, Thailand and Vietnam
• Sustainable Supply: Develop customers for sustainable supply chains from India, Thailand and Vietnam
• Revenue and Gross Margin Management: Full accountability for the European sales budget, including gross margins delivered by the EU business.

Key Account & Contract Management

• Retail Partnerships: Lead negotiations with category managers at major European retailers to secure private label tenders, also with other customers in the market
• Relationship Management: Build and maintain relationship with senior procurement and other important stakeholder to ensure long-term retention and "preferred supplier" status.
• RFP Excellence: Oversee the end-to-end response process for Request for Proposals (RFPs), ensuring technical specifications, pricing, and sustainability metrics are competitive and compliant.

Operational & Regulatory Oversight

• Supply Chain Synergy: Work closely with origin team and the QC team to ensure product quality meets EU and UK Food Safety Standards with regards to MRL (Maximum Residue Level) requirements and other standards related to importation
• Market Intelligence: Monitor the EU production volumes and the pricing prevalent in the different markets. Work closely with the Research department to help build the Supply & demand scenarios for the EU/UK market.

Job Requirements

Experience

• 10–15 years of experience in global trade, preferably within the FMCG or commodity sector
• Strong understanding of product varieties, milling processes, and origin-specific dynamics
• Demonstrated ability to manage complex, multi-year commercial contracts
• Strong exposure to European retail and import ecosystems

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in International Business, Economics, or a related field
• Strong strategic negotiation and contract management skills
• High analytical proficiency in interpreting trade data, contracts, and supply chain dynamics
• Deep understanding of EU import duties, TRQs (Tariff-Rate Quotas), and food labelling regulations
• Strong cultural intelligence with the ability to work across diverse European markets
• Excellent relationship management and stakeholder engagement skills
• Fluency in English (native or business level); proficiency in a second European language (Dutch, German, French, or Spanish) is highly desirable
• Willingness to travel extensively across the EU and UK

Olam Agri is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, nationality, disability, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, genetic information, or any other characteristic protected by law.