Job Description

Location

: Based in Northern Ireland and will include a period working abroad

Duration

: 18 months

Start Date

: As soon as possible

Reporting to

: Managing Director (Valpar Micro Matic) and Head of EOT (Micro Matic)

Graduate to Export Programme Invest NI

The Graduate to Export Programme offered by Invest NI helps Northern Ireland companies to achieve growth by supporting them to develop specific export opportunities or market research projects. We are now seeking a Graduate Key Worker as part of this programme, who will undertake a fully funded PG Diploma in International Marketing delivered by the Ulster University and the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade starting Oct 2025 and finishing March 2027. Graduates will spend the first 6 months of the programme in Northern Ireland getting to know our business and commence postgraduate studies. You will then spend up to 12 months in an export market undertaking market research in line with our company strategy and you will have full support from the company along with an academic mentor. Graduates must be in post by mid September latest.

About Micro Matic & the EOT Strategy

Micro Matic is the global leader in beverage dispense solutions. As part of our Everything On Tap (EOT) initiative, we are expanding beyond our traditional beer-focused portfolio to target new and promising customer segments such as restaurant chains, convenience stores and supermarket groups.

To support this journey we are seeking a sharp and analytical Graduate Key Worker to help map out and validate the potential markets for EOT. This role will be instrumental in laying the commercial foundation for how we approach these segments across Europe and Asia.

Role Purpose

You will conduct strategic market research with the goal of helping Micro Matic gain a deeper understanding of the emerging customer landscape. Your findings will help identify where and how to focus our initial business development efforts and equip our Business Development Managers (BDMs) with critical go-to-market intelligence.

Key Responsibilities

Market Sizing & Opportunity Analysis

Define the size of the prize: Quantify the market potential for each customer segment (restaurant chains, supermarkets etc) within the EOT scope Build country-specific market models for each of the primary focus geographies: UK, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Japan and select additional Asian countries

Segmentation & Targeting

Understand beverage products and beverage market trends Map out the most promising customer groups and chain types within each country Develop a short-list of high-priority organisations for early outreach and pilot collaboration

Stakeholder & Contact Mapping

Identify key decision-makers within target organisations (eg Heads of Operations, Beverage Directors, Facility Managers or Procurement Leads) Support the creation of a CRM-ready contact database for handover to the commercial team

Research Reporting

Prepare structured reports and insight packs summarizing: Total addressable market (TAM) by geography and segment Recommended launch targets per country Profiles of key organizations and decision-makers Provide ongoing updates and insights to internal stakeholders via presentations and briefings

Candidate Profile

Eligibility

This programme is open to graduates who have a pre-existing legal status to live and work in Northern Ireland

Education

Graduate within last 5 years - a marketing degree/qualification would be advantageous

Skills & Competencies

Strong desk research skills with the ability to synthesize information across sources Analytical mindset with basic proficiency in Excel or Google Sheets for market sizing Clear and concise communication skills, both written and verbal Fluency in English is required; additional language(s) is desirable but not essential Comfortable navigating business databases including LinkedIn, industry reports and company websites Highly structured approach to problem-solving and prioritisation Curious, proactive and collaborative attitude

What We Offer

A unique opportunity to help shape a new business direction in a global company Real-world experience in B2B marketing, strategy and commercial development Flexible working conditions and exposure to senior leadership A mentorship-driven environment that values initiative and insight Potential to evolve into a longer-term commercial or strategic role

How to Apply

If you are interested in the role, please send your CV to hr@valpar.co.uk and visit the info on our website at https://www.micro-matic.com/valpar/career-news/career.

Please also visit the Invest NI Graduate to Export webpage for further information on how the programme works

Job Types: Fixed term contract, Graduate
Contract length: 18 months

Pay: Up to 32,000.00 per year

Schedule:

Monday to Friday
Work Location: In person

Expected start date: 01/09/2025