Account Manager - Taste

dsm-firmenich; Johannesburg; On-site; ZAR 550 000 - 750 000; Full time

Job summary

A global leader in flavor solutions is seeking an Account Manager – Technical Sales in Johannesburg. You'll be pivotal in nurturing key client relationships and driving sales within the perfumery and flavors sector. The ideal candidate will have a degree and experience in flavor sales. Join us to innovate and impact the industry while working in a culture that supports your growth.

Benefits

Career development opportunities

Supportive organizational culture

Innovative research environment

Qualifications

• 3-5 years of experience in flavor, fragrance, or ingredient sales, ideally within the FMCG industry.
• Ability to position the company as a key business partner.

Responsibilities

• Define account objectives and develop commercial strategies to achieve sales and profitability targets.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships to secure briefs for profitable projects.
• Lead client projects by translating needs into internal briefs.

Skills

Relationship-building skills

Negotiation skills

Market knowledge

Strategic thinking

Collaborative mindset

Education

Bachelor's or Master's degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or Science

Job description

Job Title: Account Manager - Taste

Location: Cape Town, South Africa

Ready to lead the flavor of success?

Join us as an Account Manager – Technical Sales and become the strategic force behind growing key client partnerships in the world of perfumery, flavors, and ingredients. At dsm‑firmenich, you’ll drive impactful projects, shape the future of taste, and sell with purpose. If you’re passionate about innovation, relationships, and results — this is your moment.

Your Key Responsibilities

• Define account objectives and develop commercial strategies to achieve sales and profitability targets
• Build and maintain strong client relationships to secure briefs for profitable projects
• Identify business opportunities and competitive dynamics, and translate insights into actionable plans
• Lead client projects by translating needs into internal briefs for creation and development teams
• Ensure accurate and up-to-date commercial documentation and data management
• Develop annual sales budgets, monitor performance, and contribute to quarterly sales forecasts

We offer

• Unique career paths across perfumery, flavors and ingredients- explore what drives you and get the support to shape the future of taste
• A science led company, cutting edge research and creativity everywhere – you’ll work on what’s next
• Growth that keeps up with you – you join an industry leader that will develop your expertise and leadership
• A culture that lifts you up – with collaborative teams, shared wins, and people who cheer each other on.
• Customer-first approach, turning ideas into impactful solutions

You bring

• A Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, Science, or a related field
• 3–5 years of experience in flavor, fragrance, or ingredient sales, ideally within the FMCG industry
• Strong relationship-building and negotiation skills, with the ability to position dsm‑firmenich as a key business partner
• Passion for products and deep knowledge of market, consumer behavior, and technical applications
• Strategic thinking and the ability to define and implement action plans based on business opportunities and success factors
• A collaborative mindset and ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams including creation, development, and support

Our application process

Interested in this position? Please apply on-line by uploading your resume in English via our career portal (www.dsm-firmenich.com/careers).

About Dsm-firmenich

At dsm‑firmenich, we don’t just meet expectations – we go beyond them. Join our global team powered by science, creativity, and a shared purpose: to bring progress to life. From elevating health to making fortified food and sustainable skincare, the impact of your work here will be felt by millions – every single day. Whether it’s fragrance that helps you focus, alternative meat that’s better for the planet, or reducing sugar without losing flavor, this is where you help shape the future of nutrition, health, and beauty for everyone, everywhere.

And while you’re making a difference, we’ll make sure you’re growing too. With learning that never stops, a culture that lifts you up and the freedom to move across businesses, teams, and borders. Your voice matters here. And your ideas? They’re essential to our future. Because real progress only happens when we go beyond, together.

Inclusion, belonging and equal opportunity statement

At dsm‑firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.

We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve. We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.

And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.

Agency statement

We’re managing this search directly at dsm‑firmenich. If you’re applying as an individual, we’d love to hear from you. We’re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.