Account Executive – Food & Drink

Network Scientific Ltd.; United Kingdom; Hybrid; GBP 50,000 - 60,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid working

Share option scheme

Uncapped commission

Job summary

Network Scientific Ltd. is seeking an Account Executive to take ownership of Food & Drink commercial activities. You will inherit an established account base and active pipeline while developing significant new business, engaging with R&D and technical teams to convert challenges into testing projects.

You will manage the full sales cycle with a hands-on approach, supported by an expert technical team, and operate with a hybrid working model across the UK, with occasional European travel.

Qualifications

• Proven track record generating own sales pipeline and delivering revenue growth through new business development.
• Experience selling technical products, scientific services, laboratory services, instrumentation, consumables or related solutions into scientific/technical customers.
• Comfort communicating complex technical concepts to scientists, product developers, formulators and R&D professionals.
• Experience managing opportunities through the full sales cycle and closing business at project values typically £5,000–£50,000.
• Experience selling into Food & Beverage manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, contract research organisations, testing laboratories or product development environments would be beneficial.

Responsibilities

• Inherit existing accounts and active pipeline while growing new business opportunities across Food & Drink sectors.
• Engage with R&D teams and technical stakeholders to identify challenges and convert them into testing projects.
• Take a consultative sales approach with the technical team to show how testing programmes solve product performance and formulation issues.
• Build and maintain your own sales pipeline with proactive outreach and account development.
• Manage accounts through the full sales cycle including lead gen, meetings, proposals, quotations and close.
• Travel for customer visits, industry exhibitions and conferences across the UK, with occasional European travel.

Skills

Sales pipeline development

Technical sales

Account management

CRM pipeline management

Education

Scientific or engineering background (advantageous)

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Are you an experienced scientific sales professional with a track record of generating new business and closing technical sales opportunities? Have you successfully sold services, instrumentation, consumables or technical solutions into R&D, formulation, product development or scientific teams?

Our client is a highly respected and rapidly growing specialist testing laboratory that helps some of the world's leading manufacturers solve complex product development and formulation challenges. Working across industries including Food & Beverage, Life Sciences, Personal Care and Advanced Materials, they provide expert rheology, interfacial science and materials characterisation services that help customers understand why products behave the way they do and how they can be improved. Due to continued growth, they are now looking to recruit an Account Executive to take ownership of their Food & Drink commercial activities. This is an excellent opportunity to inherit an established account base and active pipeline whilst developing a significant amount of new business. The role offers a genuine opportunity to help build and shape a growing business unit, with the potential to lead and develop the division in the future.

The Role

• The successful candidate will inherit existing customer accounts and an active pipeline from day one, whilst being responsible for developing and growing new business opportunities across the Food & Drink sector.
• You will engage with R&D teams, formulation scientists, technical managers, process engineers and product developers, identifying challenges and converting these into commercially successful testing projects.
• Working closely with an experienced technical team, you will take a consultative sales approach, helping customers understand how specialist testing programmes can solve product performance, processing and formulation issues.
• You will be responsible for building and maintaining your own sales pipeline, identifying new opportunities and generating business through proactive outreach and account development activities.
• You will manage accounts through the full sales cycle including lead generation, customer meetings, proposal preparation, quotation management and project close.
• The role will involve regular customer visits, attendance at industry exhibitions and conferences across the UK, with occasional European travel.
• You will maintain CRM accuracy, participate in pipeline reviews and contribute to wider commercial strategy alongside the sales leadership team.
• This is a hands‑on commercial role within a growing specialist SME where successful individuals will enjoy significant autonomy and direct access to key business decision makers.

To Be Considered For This Opportunity

• You will have a proven track record of generating your own sales pipeline and delivering revenue growth through new business development.
• You will have experience selling technical products, scientific services, laboratory services, instrumentation, consumables or related solutions into scientific and technical customers.
• A scientific or engineering background would be highly advantageous, although candidates with significant technical sales experience will also be considered.
• You should be comfortable engaging with scientists, product developers, formulators and R&D professionals and able to communicate complex technical concepts effectively.
• You will have experience managing opportunities through the full sales cycle and closing business at project values typically ranging from £5,000 to £50,000.
• Experience selling into Food & Beverage manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, contract research organisations, testing laboratories or product development environments would be particularly beneficial.
• You should be highly motivated, commercially driven and comfortable operating within a growing SME environment where accountability and initiative are key.

You will be rewarded with a friendly, supportive and highly entrepreneurial working environment where your contribution will have a direct impact on the growth and success of the business.

The package includes:

• £50,000 to £60,000 basic salary
• Uncapped commission structure
• Expected earnings of £65,000 to £75,000 at target
• Earnings potential of £90,000+ for over-performance
• Share option scheme
• Hybrid working
• First-quarter commission guarantee during onboarding
• Genuine opportunities for career progression and future leadership responsibilities

This is an excellent opportunity to join a profitable and growing specialist scientific business with an outstanding reputation, a strong customer base and significant growth potential.