International Acquisition Manager
Key Skills
Job Description
(Full-time – 38 hours per week) Do you want to help shape Action’s international expansion and build strong acquisition capabilities across our countries? Are you an experienced real estate acquisition professional who knows how to identify the right locations, negotiate strong lease agreements and coach others to succeed? At Action, we are looking for an International Acquisition Manager who will help develop store pipelines in new countries and strengthen the capabilities of Acquisition Managers across our international organisation. Your daily tasks As International Acquisition Manager, you are the point of reference and trainer for Country Acquisition Managers. Your focus is on creating value, improving effectiveness and ensuring quality in both new and existing countries. You support local teams in building strong store pipelines and help Acquisition Managers work successfully within Action’s matrix organisation and centralised decision-making process. You will: Guide and coach new Acquisition Managers in researching and analysing real estate markets, identifying leads, visiting potential locations and presenting strong store opportunities. Support the development of new-country store pipelines, particularly during the early stages of market entry. Oversee and contribute to training and onboarding programmes for Acquisition Managers, including tours and practical onboarding in the Netherlands and Belgium. Teach Acquisition Managers how to translate the requirements of Logistics, Store Operations, Legal and Construction into effective searches and final negotiations. Coach Acquisition Managers in negotiating lease contracts and commercial conditions that support Action’s expansion strategy. Work closely with Group Real Estate colleagues across Construction, Support, Legal, Drafting, Process Coordination and Business Development. Build internal and external support and ownership for potential Action store locations. Initiate, maintain and expand relationships with relevant external stakeholders, including project developers and government representatives. Provide clear direction, constructive feedback and hands-on coaching to strengthen the skills and performance of Acquisition Managers. Keep up to date with developments in the real estate market, competitor activity and the Acquisition Manager role, translating insights into practical improvements. Your team You will be part of the Group Real Estate department and report directly to the International Acquisition & Construction Manager Group. You will work closely with Country Acquisition Managers and colleagues across the different Real Estate domains and other functions involved in Action’s international expansion. The role has a strong international focus. You will spend significant time supporting priority market-entry countries, while remaining flexible to attend meetings in Zwaagdijk and join local real estate professionals to assess locations, opportunities and prospects. This is you You are an experienced acquisition professional who combines strong real estate expertise with a practical and people-focused approach. You know how to create structure, work across cultures and coach others while maintaining pace, discipline and a clear focus on results. A bachelor’s or master’s degree, preferably in Business Economics, Business Administration, Law, Real Estate or a related field, combined with at least 6 years of relevant working experience. Proven experience as a Country Acquisition Manager or in a comparable senior real estate acquisition role. Strong experience in negotiating lease contracts and contract management. Excellent written and spoken English; Dutch is preferred. Experience working in an international and multicultural environment. Strong leadership, communication and coaching skills, with a proactive and pragmatic approach. Highly organised and able to structure activities and projects, meet deadlines and perform effectively under time pressure. Willingness and flexibility to travel frequently, including at least bi-weekly travel to the priority market-entry country and periods at Action’s International Headquarters. What we offer Surprisingly much! From our headquarters in the Netherlands, you will have an impact across Europe. With more than 3,500+ stores in 14+ countries, Action is growing fast and so can you. An international role with direct impact on Action’s expansion and the development of our Real Estate organisation. A market-based salary and attractive benefits package. 24 vacation days, with the option to purchase additional days. A good pension scheme and travel allowance. 15% employee discount at Action. Extensive opportunities for growth and development within an international environment. How we contribute to society At Action, we believe in making a positive impact—not only for our customers, but also for our employees and society. We support over 2,000 children through SOS Children’s Villages. Our workforce represents over 120 nationalities. We are continuously improving sustainability across our products and operations. Interested? We are proud to be an inclusive employer and encourage everyone who recognizes themselves in this profile to apply. Take action and apply now!
Core Responsibilities
Coach and train Country Acquisition Managers in identifying store locations, developing market-entry pipelines, and negotiating lease agreements. Coordinate with Group Real Estate and other functions, build stakeholder support for potential locations, and improve acquisition practices across international markets.
Requirements
Requires a bachelor’s or master’s degree, preferably in a relevant business, legal, or real estate field, and at least six years of relevant experience in acquisition or a comparable senior real estate role. Candidates should have strong lease negotiation and contract management experience, excellent English, international experience, leadership and coaching skills, and flexibility to travel frequently.
Benefits
- Market-Based Salary
- Attractive Benefits Package
- 24 Vacation Days
- Option to Purchase Additional Vacation Days
- Pension Scheme
- Travel Allowance
- 15% Employee Discount
- Growth and Development Opportunities
About Action
Industry: Retail
Company size: 10,001+ employees
Working at Action is different to working anywhere else. The core of what we do is simple: surprising our customers with a broad and ever-changing assortment of everyday necessities (like cleaning or sanitary products) or products that make daily life easier or more enjoyable, always at the lowest price. And we’re not doing this alone. We provide jobs to more than 84,000 colleagues helping us build on our success and a great shopping experience for our customers. Action is growing fast and our growth will continue in the coming years. The first store opened in 1993, and today, we have over 3,400 stores across 16 countries – with more opening every week. Our growth comes with a responsibility that we accept and embrace. We believe that it is possible to continue to offer our surprising assortment at the lowest price, while improving the quality and sustainability of our products. We make sure Action customers feel good about their visit to our stores – small prices, big smiles. Being cost-conscious makes us, by nature, very aware of conserving resources and limiting waste. Even so, we have an ambitious sustainability agenda and have made a lot of progress in recent years. Serving our customers, our employees are the beating heart of Action. Next to our formula, they are the foundation of our success. At Action, you can expect personal attention, strong benefits, safe working conditions, and ample opportunities for personal growth and development. Every new store we open means new jobs. We create thousands of new jobs yearly, on every level. We work together to grow Action. And as Action grows, we all grow with the company.