Business Development Manager - Food and Nutra

MSH; United States; Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary

Performance-based commission

Job summary

MSH is seeking a senior sales leader to build the U.S. market for food, nutraceutical, personal care, and flavor/fragrance ingredients. You will own the full sales cycle from initial conversations to close, leveraging an established supply portfolio and industry relationships to win large logos.

The role requires a self-directed hunter mindset, 7–12 years of sales or BD experience, and a track record of new-logo wins. Expect up to 50% travel and close collaboration with a U.S.-based co-founder.

Qualifications

• 7-12 years of sales or business development experience.
• At least 5 recent years selling food, nutraceutical, personal care or flavor/fragrance ingredients.
• Distributor-side experience selling into manufacturers.
• Bachelor's degree; MBA a plus.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a U.S. sales strategy for food, nutraceutical, personal care and flavor/fragrance ingredients.
• Open doors with manufacturers, brands and formulators, drawing on existing industry relationships.
• Turn early wins into repeat, long-term customer relationships.
• Own forecasting, pipeline management and KPI reporting.
• Lead pricing discussions, commercial negotiations and deal closure.
• Bring market intelligence back to the business: demand signals, pricing, regulatory and competitive trends.
• Travel regularly (up to 50%) to meet customers on-site across procurement, R&D/formulation and senior leadership.

Skills

Hunter mentality

Account management

Negotiation skills

Industry knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry or related field

Tools

CRM software

Job description

Our client is a fast-growing, VC-backed specialty chemicals and ingredients company, tracking well north of $200M in revenue this year and scaling quickly. The business runs an asset-light model. It owns its R&D and process technology, develops custom chemical and ingredient solutions, and produces them through a global network of contract manufacturing partners rather than its own plants. It recently closed a strategic funding round backed by major global corporates.

The U.S. is already one of the company’s fastest-growing markets, and a regional sales team is in place. The next step is bringing on market experts who go deep in specific industries. This role leads that effort for Food & Beverage, Nutraceuticals, Beauty & Personal Care, and Flavors & Fragrances.

The Role

This is a hunter role with real ownership of a category. You'll build the company's U.S. presence with food, nutrition and personal care manufacturers and brands, using a target customer list and an established supply portfolio behind you. Categories include botanical extracts, nutraceutical ingredients, natural colors, flavors, proteins and fibers. You'll own the full sales cycle from first conversation through close and long-term relationship. You'll work closely with company leadership, including a co-founder based in the U.S.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a U.S. sales strategy for food, nutraceutical, personal care and flavor/fragrance ingredients.
• Open doors with manufacturers, brands and formulators, drawing on your existing industry relationships.
• Turn early wins into repeat, long-term customer relationships.
• Own forecasting, pipeline management and KPI reporting.
• Lead pricing discussions, commercial negotiations and deal closure.
• Bring market intelligence back to the business: demand signals, pricing, regulatory and competitive trends.
• Travel regularly (up to 50%) to meet customers on-site across procurement, R&D/formulation and senior leadership.

What We're Looking For

• Experience: 7-12 years of sales or business development experience, including at least 5 recent years selling food, nutraceutical, personal care or flavor/fragrance ingredients.
• Background: Distributor-side experience selling into manufacturers.
• Track record: Proven new-logo wins and relationships that can open a first conversation.
• Mentality: A self-directed hunter who wants to own a category and build it.
• Location: Based near a major ingredients hub with easy access to travel.
• Education: Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Nutrition, Chemistry or a related field; MBA a plus.

Competitive base commensurate with experience, plus a performance-based commission plan.

Why Apply

• Lead a category at a high-growth, well-funded company. You build it, with real supply and a target list behind you.
• Directly shape the company's product roadmap through your market insight.
• Work side by side with company leadership, including a U.S.-based co-founder.
• Join a small but fast-growing U.S. team at an early stage.