Jr. Sales Manager Southern Europe & MEA

Job Description

In this role you’ll be part of our international Sales Team, directly reporting to the Regional Southern Europe & MEA Sales Manager, your key responsibilities will be :

1. Drive Sales & Market Growth

• Develop and execute sales strategies in close liaison with your N+1 for dietary supplements, pharmaceuticals, and functional foods.
• Expand business through new customer acquisition and existing account growth through sales and technical promotion of our active ingredients and solutions.
• Support and manage distributors / agents to meet ambitious sales targets.
• Identify CMOs, Brandowners and market trends and position innovative ingredients effectively.

2. Customer & Partner Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with customers at all levels.
• Conduct technical training and joint visits with distributors.
• Manage customer accounts, ensuring smooth order processing, claims, and overdue settlements.
• Use CRM tools (Sales Force) to track opportunities and forecast sales.

3. Market & Business Development

• Identify new business opportunities and build a pipeline for long‑term growth.
• Collaborate with marketing to execute promotional campaigns, trade shows, and industry events.
• Monitor competitor activities and adjust strategies accordingly.

4. Strategic Planning & Execution

• Contribute to annual budgeting, forecasting, and commercial strategy development.
• Implement BU pricing policies and provide sales performance reports.
• Work cross‑functionally with technical, R&D, and marketing teams to support business goals.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (Pharmacy, Science, Food & Nutrition preferred); MBA is a plus.
• 3‑5+ years of B2B sales / marketing / R&D experience, ideally in Food Supplement Ingredients.
• Strong negotiation, communication, and relationship‑building skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset: identify new markets and customer needs.
• Proficiency in English; Spanish is a plus.
• Willing to travel internationally (up to 60%).

Soft Skills

• Results‑driven, with a strong track record in revenue growth & market expansion.
• Ability to position and sell novel ingredients effectively.
• Strong problem‑solving & project management skills.
• Experience managing multiple accounts, distributors, and projects simultaneously.

Additional Information

• The job is based in Desio (MB) - Italy.
• Permanent Contract, Full‑time.

Why Join Us?

• Be part of a growing industry with innovative, high‑demand ingredients.
• Work in a dynamic international environment with career growth opportunities.
• Competitive salary, benefits, smart working and the chance to lead market expansion in a key region.

At Lesaffre, diversity is a strength that enriches our culture and our teams. We are committed to offering you a work environment where you can thrive, regardless of your background, gender, age or abilities. We encourage all applications, as we believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to innovate and meet the challenges of tomorrow.