Head of Sales, Europe - Bioactive Ingredients — Beauty & Personal Care (Germany)

Overview

Debut is a vertically integrated, AI‑enabled biotech building the next generation of bioactive ingredients for beauty and personal care. We use proprietary datasets and computational screening to move from discovery to retail shelf in under 24 months—a fraction of the industry standard. Our ingredients are already in products with L'Oréal and Natura, and we are now bringing that platform to Europe. The Head of Sales, Bioactive Ingredients for Beauty & Personal Care in Europe is the founding commercial role, reporting directly to the CEO, and will own the European go‑to‑market strategy for our ingredient portfolio.

Responsibilities

• Own and execute the commercial strategy for ingredient sales across Europe, focusing on deep integration of Debut's active ingredient portfolio into contract manufacturer formulation libraries and market penetration of high‑performing, novel biotechnology‑derived ingredients across EU‑based beauty brands.
• Identify, engage, and develop deep partnerships with contract manufacturers and beauty brands across Europe to achieve broad ingredient adoption across all major CM labs and key brand accounts.
• Serve as the primary relationship holder and commercial point of contact for both CMs and EU‑based beauty brands, driving ingredient specification, formulation integration, securing long‑term supply agreements, and establishing Debut's actives as the preferred performance ingredient.
• Travel to meet clients, attend industry events, conduct product presentations, and close business; travel to the United States 1–2 times per year as needed.
• Plan and organize regional trade shows and industry events in coordination with marketing and other sales hires, including identifying shows, managing logistics, coordinating booth presence, and arranging senior leadership and technical team presentations.
• Translate local market intelligence—including regional trends, CM needs, brand priorities, competitive dynamics, regulatory shifts, and customer feedback—into actionable insights that inform global commercial strategy, product roadmap, and go‑to‑market planning.
• Develop and maintain a robust sales pipeline with clear forecasting, reporting progress, pipeline health, market intelligence, and partnership development directly to the CEO.
• Work autonomously and at pace to capitalize on market opportunities with minimal day‑to‑day oversight while aligning with global objectives.
• Collaborate with R&D, formulations, marketing, and operations teams to ensure customer needs are met and Debut's ingredient value proposition is effectively communicated to both contract manufacturers and beauty brand partners.
• Represent Debut at trade shows, industry conferences, and customer events across the region and build a team as needed for broader penetration.

Qualifications

• 10+ years selling specialty cosmetic actives or functional ingredients into the European beauty and personal care industry.
• Active, current network of formulators and procurement contacts at major EU contract manufacturers (France, Italy, Germany, Iberia).
• Direct relationships with R&D and product development leaders at European beauty brands.
• Track record of opening new accounts and closing technical sales with long evaluation cycles.
• Comfort operating as the first person on the ground building process rather than inheriting it.
• Fluent English plus French or German; additional European languages a plus.
• Willingness to travel extensively across Europe, with 1–2 trips per year to Debut HQ in the US.
• Experience launching a novel ingredient platform (not just selling an established catalog).
• Scientific background in biochemistry, cosmetic science, or chemistry preferred.
• Prior experience building a team or regional office preferred.

Physical Requirements

• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking during customer meetings, trade shows, and extended travel.
• Repetitive use of hands to operate computers, mobile devices, and presentation equipment.
• Ability to carry and transport sales materials and samples weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Frequent air travel, including long‑haul international flights across time zones.
• Ability to navigate diverse physical environments including manufacturing facilities, trade show floors, and customer offices.

Employment Conditions

Debut is an equal‑opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without regard to gender, age, nationality, ethnic or social origin, race, religion or belief, disability, marital status, pregnancy, family situation, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic protected under applicable law. Employment decisions are based on merit, qualifications, and business needs.

Additional Information

• Location: France or Germany (remote‑flexible with heavy in‑market EU travel and 1–2 trips to the US each year).
• Reports To: CEO.
• Type: Full‑time.
• Salary: €130–160k + performance‑based incentives, commensurate with experience and location. OTE range from €200–240k depending on performance.