Key Skills

Job Description

The Role & Your Impact We are looking for an experienced commercial leader to join us as Associate Director, Head of Sales Food & Proteins. In this role, you will lead a team of eight sales professionals and drive growth across food segments beyond Dairy, Beverage, and Baking throughout Europe. Combining strategic leadership with hands-on commercial execution, you will play a key role in expanding our market presence, delivering value to customers, and developing new business opportunities. Key Responsibilities: Lead and develop a high-performing sales team of eight professionals across Europe. Drive profitable sales growth by identifying new business opportunities and expanding existing customer relationships. Develop and execute commercial strategies that deliver growth above market and company averages. Lead customer negotiations, value proposition development, and contract discussions. Ensure high customer satisfaction through strong commercial and technical engagement. Own monthly sales planning, forecasting, and financial performance reviews. Collaborate closely with regional Marketing, Technical Services, Applied Research, and global stakeholders. Balance short-term revenue delivery with the exploration of new application areas and future growth opportunities. Optimize route-to-market strategies to secure long-term growth and profitability. What We're Looking For: Proven leadership experience managing and developing a high-performing commercial team. Strong sales and business development background, ideally within food ingredients, enzymes, biotechnology, or related industries. Strong commercial and financial acumen with the ability to translate market opportunities into business results. Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills. Ability to combine strategic thinking with operational execution in a complex and dynamic environment. Fluent English language skills. Collaborative leadership style with the ability to motivate and coach highly skilled professionals. Personal Qualities: Winning mindset with a strong drive for results. Entrepreneurial and proactive "can-do" attitude. Persistence and resilience when pursuing opportunities. Strong interpersonal skills with both customers and internal stakeholders. High integrity, transparency, and professionalism. Ability to prioritize effectively in a fast-paced environment. Working Model: Flexible remote or hybrid setup within Europe, with good access to an international airport. Regular face-to-face leadership and team meetings, primarily in Lyngby, Denmark. Travel required, typically around 35-40%.

Core Responsibilities

Lead and develop a team of eight sales professionals across Europe, driving profitable growth through new business development, customer expansion, negotiations, and effective route-to-market strategies. Own sales planning, forecasting, and financial reviews while collaborating with marketing, technical, research, and global teams to grow current and future markets.

Requirements

The role calls for proven experience leading a high-performing commercial team and a strong sales and business development background, ideally in food ingredients, enzymes, biotechnology, or a related industry. Candidates should bring commercial and financial acumen, excellent communication and negotiation skills, strategic and operational capability, a collaborative leadership style, and fluent English.