Business Development Manager CEE&MEA

Barry Callebaut Manufacturing Iberica SA.; Zürich; Vor Ort; CHF 140.000 - 210.000; Vollzeit

Zusammenfassung

Barry Callebaut is seeking a Business Development Manager to lead the premium powder growth across Central Eastern Europe and Middle East Africa, driving high-value opportunities and shaping the region's strategy in collaboration with Global Cocoa and Chocolate teams.

You will coordinate cross-functional initiatives, analyze markets, and nurture partnerships, with travel up to 40% and English fluency; French is a plus. The role targets B2B growth in a dynamic food industry.

Qualifikationen

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Industrial & Food Engineering.
• 10+ years in sales, business development or related commercial leadership roles.
• Expertise in structuring and negotiating complex commercial agreements and partnerships.
• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical capability, and financial acumen.
• Strong understanding of market dynamics and sales processes.
• Ability to lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams.
• Fluent in English; speaking French is preferred due to the region’s customer base.
• Regular travel within region and to BC locations (Louviers, Hamburg, Zurich) required (≈40% of time).
• Strategic planning and execution; Project management.

Aufgaben

• Define and execute premium powder growth agenda across the region.
• Anticipate market trends, customer needs, and competitive dynamics, translating them into actionable strategies with cross-functions.
• Coordinate powder activities across teams and regions, acting as a bridge between sales and internal stakeholders.
• Develop a strong network of contacts within the Group to support day-to-day business in the region and pro-actively support sales.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to penetrate high-potential customer segments and geographies.

Kenntnisse

Strategic thinking

Analytical ability

Financial acumen

Cross-functional leadership

Sales planning

Negotiation

Team collaboration

English fluency

Project management

Market dynamics

Ausbildung

Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration

Industrial & Food Engineering

Jobbeschreibung

At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world’s leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!

About the role

The Business Development Manager is a strategic leadership role responsible for driving and executing the premium powder growth agenda across the Central Eastern Europe and Middle East Africa region. This position identifies, develops, and secures high-value business opportunities in both existing and emerging markets, ensuring sustainable and profitable growth. Acting as a trusted thought partner to the Global Cocoa and Chocolate teams, the Business Development Manager plays a key role in shaping the region’s long-term growth strategy, strengthening market positioning, and translating strategic priorities into actionable business development initiatives aligned with Global Cocoa and broader Group objectives.

Key Responsibilities Include

Strategic Growth Leadership

• Define and execute premium powder growth agenda across the region (defining right product/customer mix with sales teams)
• Anticipate market trends, customer needs, and competitive dynamics, translating them into actionable strategies with cross-functions (R&D, QA, Supply Chain)

Business Continuity

• Coordinate powder activities across teams and regions, acting as a bridge between sales and internal stakeholders
• Develop a strong network of contacts within the Group - Customer Care, Marketing, Sourcing, Finance and Supply Chain - in order to support day to day business in the region and pro-actively supports the sales team, distributors & customers
• Lead cross-functional initiatives to penetrate high-potential customer segments and geographies (alignment with Chocolate)

Market Dynamics and Analysis

• Utilize data and other functional tools to research potential territories and markets, preparing reports with findings and recommendations
• Understanding regional dynamics and presenting comprehensive demand per sub-region annually are the essentials of the role (lead workshops on competition landscape, market sizing and consumption trends)

Best Practices Implementation

• Build strong relationships with counterparts within Global Cocoa and Chocolate Regions and introduce best practices to the region from internal and external sources

About You

• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration, Industrial & Food Engineering
• 10+ years in sales, business development or related commercial leadership roles, ideally within global or complex markets (experience in B2B, Food industry is preferred)
• Expertise in structuring and negotiating complex commercial agreements and partnerships
• Exceptional strategic thinking, analytical capability, and financial acumen
• Strong understanding of market dynamics and sales processes
• Ability to lead and collaborate with cross-functional teams
• Fluent in English; speaking French is preferred due to the region’s customer base or and any other language in the region
• Regular travel within region and to BC locations (Louviers, Hamburg, Zurich) required (on average 40% of work time)
• Strategic planning and execution
• Project management

At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we’ve experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong. #oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.