For our customer we are looking for a Business Development Manager Plant Based Cheese. Our customer is a leading European food group that manufactures and sells high-quality food products. The headquarters of our customer are located in Ghent.
The European Business Development Manager will scout for and initiate the new business in plant-based cheese. The objective of the BDM will be to segment and prioritize channels and customers, finetune the product portfolio requirements for priority customer segments and then hunt for new business. He or she will contact and visit new prospects, understanding their needs and turn them into sales.
In the role, the Business Development Manager Plant-Based Cheese will report directly to the Strategy & Innovation Manager of PBFS (Plant Based Food Solutions) but will be in close contact with all other departments R&D, Marketing, local sales, etc.
TASKS & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Market Analysis & Segmentation:
- Conduct market analysis (incollaboration with Marketing) to uncover opportunities and competitive dynamics in the plant-based cheese sector.
- Segment customers effectively, creating detailed maps of the competitive landscape to identify key players and potential opportunities.
- Customer Targeting & Prioritization:
- Strategically prioritize customer segments, evaluating volume and growth potential across various subsegments.
- Develop compelling differentiation arguments to position the products as the go-to choice for customers.
- Customer Acquisition & Relationship Building:
- Proactively hunt for new customers within priority segments, gaining deep insights into their needs, strategies, products, services, pricing, and environments.
- Cultivate strong relationships with potential customers through regular visits and personalized engagement.
- Solution Development:
- Collaborate with R&D to design and deliver innovative product solutions that meet the specific technical requirements of our customers – feedback from the market.
- Stay ahead of market trends to inform and inspire future product innovations.
- Sales Growth & Contract Negotiation:
- Drive sales growth by negotiating contracts that deliver value for both our customers and our company.
- Take co-responsibility for the Plant-Based Cheese P&L, contributing to the financial success and market leadership of Vandemoortele.
YOUR PROFILE
- You hold a master’s degree in Engineering (Chemistry/Agriculture/Bio is a strong plus), Business Engineering, or Economics
- You have min. 5 years of experience in B2B (technical) sales, ideally in cheese and/or ready meals
- You have experience in hunting new customers and exploring new markets
- Above all, you have a very entrepreneurial, driven and winner spirit
- You have a well-developed analytical, conceptual and synthetic mindset. At the same time, you are pragmatic, problem-solving and looking for initiative.
- You are result-oriented and have an insatiable curiosity for new markets and segments
- You are highly flexible, proactive and stress resistant
- You are a team player, with a hands-on mentality and a high degree of integrity
- You are genuinely interested in the business and its markets
- You can create trustful relations
- You are willing to travel (short trips) 40 to 60% of your time
- You have excellent interpersonal and communication skills, written and verbal, in English. Knowledge of additional languages (e.g. German, French) is a plus
THE OFFER
- You will join a “big little family” : their associates are the beating heart of the company – they bring the flavor to the organization.
- They value you as a person: they place great importance on giving their associates the freedom to shape their own professional journey. You will have flexible working hours and the opportunity to work from home 50% of the time. They also invite you to join their sports and well-being activities!
- They care about your future and support your professional journey: They believe in the power of their associates and support their career aspirations by offering internal mobility and promotional opportunities.
- They make products for you to love: They are a team of passionate food enthusiasts. You can kickstart your day with a delicious croissant fresh out of the oven and enjoy tasty food in their company restaurant. In their cozy coffee corners, you will find healthy fruit baskets to enjoy your break to the fullest.
- This is an opportunity to combine an entrepreneurial role within a large organization, and to be involved from the very beginning in developing a promising new business.
