Technical Sales Manager - Food Ingredients

Job Summary

Drive sales growth within key food ingredient accounts by building strong, long-term customer relationships and identifying new business opportunities. Manage a portfolio of strategic customers, including multinational accounts with multiple production sites and stakeholders, requiring effective account management and cross-functional collaboration. Leverage in-depth knowledge of pectin solutions and their applications to understand customer needs, address technical and commercial challenges, and deliver value-added ingredient solutions. Develop and execute account plans, manage opportunities throughout the sales cycle, and serve as a trusted partner to customers while supporting the company's growth objectives across the food and beverage industry.

Where You’ll Make a Difference

• Manage key customers within Germany with a focus on pectin and texturizing solutions primarily used for fruit preparations, jams, and the beverage industry.
• Build strong, long-term relationships with key manufacturers and position the company as a preferred innovation partner.
• Promote pectin and ingredient solutions to both existing and prospective customers across segments such as fruit preparations, beverages, confectionery, and other selected specialty applications.
• Identify emerging market trends, customer needs, and competitive developments, translating insights into tangible business opportunities.
• Manage the full sales cycle, from opportunity identification and pipeline development to pricing, contract negotiations, and closing.
• Develop and execute strategic account plans aligned with broader category and commercial objectives.
• Represent the company at industry events, conferences, and trade shows to strengthen market presence and customer engagement.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Application, R&D, Product Management, Marketing, Finance, and Operations teams to deliver value-driven customer solutions.

What Makes You the Right Fit

• Education as a Food Technologist, Food Technician or Food Scientist.
• +5years of commercial experience in a sales, product management, or business development role within the food ingredients industry.
• Strong technical and practical knowledge of food ingredients; specific experience within the field of pectin highly preferred.
• Demonstrating ability to work independently while thriving in a collaborative, cross-functional environment.
• Strong project management skills with experience leading customer projects involving multiple stakeholders.
• Customer-focused mindset with the ability to build trust and establish long-lasting business relationships.
• Strong communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Fluent in German and English.
• Valid driver's license and willingness to travel up to approximately 40%.

How You Would Stand Out

• Previous experience managing strategic key accounts within the food ingredients sector.
• Strong expertise in pectin, hydrocolloids, or texturizing systems, combined with commercial sales experience.
• Ability to translate complex technical concepts into clear customer value propositions.
• Established network within the food manufacturing and ingredients industries.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills with a passion for innovation and business growth.

Why Choose Us

• Join a global organization with a strong reputation for innovation and customer-focused solutions in the food ingredients industry.
• Work with an innovative portfolio that helps customers create differentiated food and beverage products.
• Be part of a collaborative, diverse, and inclusive team that values expertise, initiative, and continuous development.
• Competitive compensation package including base salary, performance-based incentives, company car, and comprehensive benefits.
• Opportunities for professional growth, learning, and international collaboration.
• A dynamic environment where your contributions directly influence customer success and business growth.

Important Information Regarding This Position

For your awareness, IFF has announced its intention to sell its Food Ingredients Business to CVC Capital Partners. The sale is presently expected to close in the first half of 2027, pending regulatory approvals and other closing conditions. The Food Ingredient business unit will remain a part of IFF until close and, at such time, it will transition to CVC Capital Partners. In applying for this position, you acknowledge your awareness that the position is a part of the Food Ingredient business unit and has been identified to transition to CVC Capital Partners.

We are a global leader in taste, scent, and nutrition, offering our customers a broader range of natural solutions and accelerating our growth strategy. At IFF, we believe that your uniqueness unleashes our potential. We value the diverse mosaic of the ethnicity, national origin, race, age, sex, or veteran status. We strive for an inclusive workplace that allows each of our colleagues to bring their authentic self to work regardless of their religion, gender identity & expression, sexual orientation, or disability.

Visit IFF.com/careers/workplace-diversity-and-inclusion to learn more