Sales Manager (Health & Nutrition)

PURPOSE OF JOB The Sales Manager, Health & Nutrition is responsible for driving new business growth across the North American market. This is a highly proactive, results-driven sales role with a primary focus on identifying, developing, and converting new customers and opportunities. The ideal candidate is a hunter who thrives on building a pipeline, opening doors, developing new relationships, and converting opportunities into profitable revenue. This individual will actively pursue opportunities across probiotics, contract manufacturing services, fermentation services, human health and nutrition. A secondary focus of the position will be identifying and developing business opportunities in pet nutrition and emerging technologies involving microbial cultures and related capabilities. Success in this position will be measured by the ability to consistently generate qualified opportunities, advance projects through the sales pipeline, acquire new customers, and deliver sustainable revenue and profitability growth. ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES New Business Development & Revenue Growth Sales Execution & Accountability Customer & Market Development Develop strong relationships with decision-makers, technical stakeholders, formulators, purchasing teams, executives, and other key influencers within target organizations. Understand customer business objectives, technical requirements, commercial challenges, and unmet needs and translate them into opportunities. Develop a strong understanding of the competitive landscape, including competitors, market pricing, capabilities, technologies, and industry trends. Represent at industry conferences, trade shows, customer meetings, networking events, and other business-development activities. Develop relationships throughout the health and nutrition ecosystem that create referrals, partnerships, and new commercial opportunities. Collaborate with existing customers to identify appropriate opportunities for expansion while maintaining a strong primary focus on new business development. PERFORMANCE EXPECTATIONS Success in this role requires more than maintaining existing relationships. The Sales Manager is expected to actively create opportunities and deliver measurable commercial results. Performance will be evaluated based on factors including: New revenue generated New customers acquired Qualified pipeline created Pipeline growth and quality Conversion of opportunities into commercial business Prospecting and customer-meeting activity Achievement of revenue and profitability targets Forecast accuracy CRM discipline and opportunity management Ability to independently create and advance new business opportunities QUALIFICATIONS To perform this position successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential responsibility satisfactorily. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university required. A degree in Life Sciences, Microbiology, Biology, Biotechnology, Food Science, Nutrition, or a related scientific discipline is strongly preferred. An equivalent combination of education and highly relevant industry experience may be considered. Minimum of 3–5 years of successful B2B sales or business development experience, with direct experience in the probiotic industry strongly preferred. Demonstrated knowledge and understanding of probiotics, probiotic strains, microbial cultures, fermentation, and the health and nutrition market. Established experience and relationships within the probiotic, dietary supplement, nutraceutical, microbiome, or related health and nutrition industries are strongly preferred. Demonstrated track record of developing new business, prospecting for new opportunities, and winning new customers, rather than solely managing existing accounts. Proven ability to sell technical, scientific, or customized solutions and effectively communicate with both commercial and technical stakeholders. Experience developing opportunities involving probiotic ingredients, custom fermentation, contract manufacturing, specialty microbial cultures, or related technologies is highly desirable. Proven ability to manage a complex sales pipeline from initial prospecting and qualification through technical development, commercial negotiation, and close. Strong experience using CRM systems to manage prospecting activity, opportunities, pipeline, customer interactions, and forecasting. Proficiency with Microsoft Office and other standard business-development and sales tools.