European Business Development Manager Plant-Based Cheese

European Business Development Manager Plant-Based Cheese

Ready to shape a tasty future together?
“Shaping a tasty future”, with passion for taste & indulgence: that makes working at Vandemoortele attractive. You will get all the chances to grow within a people oriented and value driven environment, where cooperation, respect and ambition are key. We believe that actively prioritizing a high level of diversity in our workforce creates a competitive advantage.

Your key responsibilities?

Looking for new profitable growth, Vandemoortele Plant-Based Food Solutions (PBFS) is venturing into the adjacent market of plant-based cheese. To support the market entry, initial product prototypes have already been developed and benchmarked in R&D, yet the first steps in commercialization still need to be taken. The European Business Development Manager will scout for and initiate the first business in plant-based cheese.
The objective would be to segment channels into priority and non-priority customers, finetune the product portfolio requirements for priority customer segments, and then hunt for new business. The main task of the Business Development Manager will be to contact and visit new prospects, understanding their needs and turning them into sales. In this role, the Business Development Manager will report directly to the Strategy & Innovation Manager of PBFS, supported by other key members and functional teams of PBFS: the Marketing Director, the two Commercial Directors, dedicated R&D teams, central marketing teams, and local commercial teams. The main countries to cover are Germany, France, BeNeLux, Spain, and Italy, with potential for further countries in due time. Consequently, the Business Development Manager will be expected to travel 40 to 60% of their time to visit customers, prospects, fairs, and congresses.

• Market Analysis & Segmentation:
  • Conduct market analysis (in collaboration with Marketing) to uncover opportunities and competitive dynamics in the plant-based cheese sector.
  • Segment customers effectively, creating detailed maps of the competitive landscape to identify key players and potential opportunities.
• Customer Targeting & Prioritization:
  • Strategically prioritize customer segments, evaluating volume and growth potential across various subsegments.
  • Develop compelling differentiation arguments to position the products as the go-to choice for customers.
• Customer Acquisition & Relationship Building:
  • Proactively hunt for new customers within priority segments, gaining deep insights into their needs, strategies, products, services, pricing, and environments.
  • Cultivate strong relationships with potential customers through regular visits and personalized engagement.
• Solution Development:
  • Collaborate with R&D to design and deliver innovative product solutions that meet the specific technical requirements of our customers – feedback from the market.
  • Stay ahead of market trends to inform and inspire future product innovations.
• Drive sales growth by negotiating contracts that deliver value for both our customers and our company.
• Take co-responsibility for the Plant-Based Cheese P&L, contributing to the financial success and market leadership of Vandemoortele.

Are you the one we're looking for?

• You hold a master’s degree in Engineering (Chemistry/Agriculture/Bio is a strong plus), Business Engineering, or Economics.
• You have a minimum of 5 years of experience in B2B (technical) sales, ideally in cheese and/or ready meals.
• You have experience in hunting new customers and exploring new markets.
• Above all, you have a very entrepreneurial, driven, and winning spirit.
• You have a well-developed analytical, conceptual, and synthetic mindset. At the same time, you are pragmatic, problem-solving, and looking for initiative.
• You are result-oriented and have an insatiable curiosity for new markets and segments.
• You are highly flexible, proactive, and stress-resistant.
• You are a team player, with a hands-on mentality and a high degree of integrity.
• You are genuinely interested in the business and its markets.
• You can create trustful relations.
• You are willing to travel (short trips) 40 to 60% of your time.
• You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal, in English. Knowledge of additional languages (e.g., German, French) is a plus.

Join us in making sweet memories!
We look forward to welcoming you to our delicious journey!
Submit your updated CV and compelling cover letter (optional) highlighting your relevant experience and motivation.

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