Germany Sales Manager Petfood Ingredients DACH m/f/d

GFIC Geiger Food Ingredients Recruitment & Consult.Ing; Deutschland; Hybrid; EUR 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Premium company car

30 days annual leave

Private pension

Healthcare programs

Corporate perks

Home office flexibility

Job summary

GFIC Geiger Food Ingredients Recruitment & Consult.Ing is seeking a driven Sales Manager Pet Food (DACH) to lead regional sales strategy across Germany, Austria, and Switzerland. You will build long-term partnerships with pet food manufacturers, drive innovative concepts with marketing and technical teams, and manage a robust sales pipeline in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment.

The role demands 5+ years in specialty B2B sales within Animal Nutrition or Pet Food, fluent German and

Qualifications

• Degree (BSc/MSc) in Animal Nutrition, Food Technology, or related discipline.
• Minimum 5 years of successful specialty B2B sales within Animal Nutrition, Pet Food, or Human Nutrition.
• Strong commercial track record, solid technical application knowledge, and negotiation skills.
• Fluency in German and English; willingness to travel frequently across the DACH region.
• Competitive base salary with performance-based bonus.

Responsibilities

• Account management and growth of strategic relationships with pet food manufacturers in the DACH region.
• Identify market opportunities, manage sales pipelines, and collaborate with supplier principals on pricing and forecasting.
• Collaborate with marketing and technical teams to create custom product concepts.
• Partner with QA to navigate regulatory frameworks and set up product trial protocols.
• Build networks with research institutions and industry bodies.

Skills

Commercial track record

Technical application knowledge

Negotiation

Networking

German & English fluency

Education

BSc/MSc in Animal Nutrition or Food Technology

Job description

Please note this is a B2B job selling ingredient into Petfood, not selling Petfood.

Location: Flexible / Home Office + Regional Travel

Industry: Pet Food & Specialty Ingredients

Employment Type: Full-Time

GFIC Is looking for a leading global specialty ingredients solution provider.

We source high-value branded specialty ingredients from top international manufacturers and deliver technical support

including pre-mixing, blending, custom formulation, and ingredient testing from our state-of-the-art laboratories across EMEA, the Americas, and Asia-Pacific.

Driven by our core values

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for an energetic, commercially driven, and technically minded Sales Manager Pet Food (DACH) to join our growing team. In this pivotal role, you will lead our regional sales strategy, build long-term customer partnerships, and drive innovation across the pet food industry in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland.

YOUR INGREDIENT PORTFOLIO FOCUS

• Proteins: Plant-Based, Animal-Based & Novel Food (e.g., Insect Protein)
• Hydrocolloids & Thickeners: Functional binding & texturizing solutions (specifically for Wet Food)
• Gut Health, Prebiotics & Wellbeing: Digestive & holistic pet health solutions
• Amino Acids & Vitamins: Essential dietary fortification
• Carbohydrates, Starches & Dietary Fibers: Form & texture optimization
• Fats, Oils & Emulsifiers: Energy sources, Omega fatty acids & emulsion stability
• Minerals & Salts: Balanced essential minerals
• Flavor, Color & Shelf Life: Palatability, visual appeal & natural preservation solutions

Tasks

• Account Management & Growth: Build, manage, and expand strategic relationships with pet food manufacturers and formulators across the DACH region.
• Business Development: Identify market opportunities, manage sales pipelines, and collaborate with key supplier principals on pricing and forecasting.
• Concept Development: Work alongside marketing and technical teams to create custom product concepts and deliver innovative customer-tailored solutions.
• Quality & Compliance: Partner with QA to navigate regulatory frameworks and set up product trial protocols with supply partners.
• Industry Engagement: Build and maintain active networks with research institutions, agricultural universities, and industry bodies.

Requirements

• Education: Degree (BSc/MSc) in Animal Nutrition, Food Technology, or a related scientific discipline.
• Experience: Minimum 5 years of successful specialty B2B sales within Animal Nutrition, Pet Food, or Human Nutrition.
• Skills: Strong commercial track record, solid technical application knowledge, and excellent negotiation/networking skills.
• Mindset: Proactive self-starter who thrives in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced team environment.
• Languages & Mobility: Fluency in German and English; willingness to travel frequently across the DACH region.
• Attractive Compensation: Competitive base salary + performance-aligned bonus structure.
• Mobility & Flexibility: Modern home office setup with full flexibility and a premium company car.
• Generous Time-Off: 30 days of annual leave.
• Comprehensive Benefits: Private pension options, healthcare programs, and corporate perks.
• Culture: Short decision-making paths, high degree of autonomy, and an empowering international environment.

If you are passionate about pet nutrition and eager to drive business growth within a dynamic global organization, we would love to hear from you!