Technical Sales Manager - Plant Proteins

Company Description

Louis Dreyfus Company is a leading merchant and processor of agricultural goods. Our activities span the entire value chain from farm to fork, across a broad range of business lines, we leverage our global reach and extensive asset network to serve our customers and consumers around the world. Structured as a matrix organization of six geographical regions and ten platforms, Louis Dreyfus Company is active in over 100 countries and employs approximately 18,000 people globally.

Job Description

The Sales Manager will play a key role in driving growth within the plant protein segment by delivering innovative solutions to customers in the food and nutrition industries. The ideal candidate brings strong commercial acumen, pea proteins sales experience, excels at negotiating and closing deals, and consistently delivers on business commitments. They are naturally curious and creative, identifying new opportunities and solutions, and thrive in fast-paced, evolving environments. This role requires a proactive, customer-focused mindset and the ability to collaborate cross-functionally to bring plant-based innovations to market. 

• Support Global Commercial Director in the design of US commercial strategy for the plant proteins business (Definition of sales objectives and business goals, growth targets, customer portfolio, strategy accounts plan, commercial activities, marketing activities, team and LDC capability building). 

• Deliver the US commercial strategy. 

• Be LDC representative and point of contact for US customers across their entire buying cycle, ensuring a first-class service and a positive customer experience with all LDC functions. 

• Represent LDC for US customers requiring technical support, in close collaboration with the applications team. 

• Deliver business goals and growth targets for the defined customers portfolio, through managing existing business, developing new customers and customer projects, with differentiated and innovative products and creating new cross-selling opportunities. 

• Conduct sales and account development activities including on-site visits and technical support to achieve pipeline, revenue goals and objectives. 

• Nurture customer relationships, ensuring a positive customer experience across all LDC functions, across entire customer buying cycle. 

• Manage internal relationships and network across different departments (Applications team, R&D team, supply chain, finance, quality etc.) to ensure flawless communication and customer service. 

• Manage pricing, contracts and sales forecasts and supply chain in collaboration with Supply Chain 

• Manage the technical support and product development support for customers, in collaboration with applications team, according to customer brief, for the formulation of a wide range of food & beverage and sports nutrition products using plant proteins, plant based functional and texturizing specialty solutions. 

• Work with applications team to analyze customer processes and formulations, provide recommendations on ingredient selection and/or process adjustments for cost savings, quality improvements and identify new product innovation opportunities to drive business growth in target accounts 

• Support technical teams in conducting trials related to customer projects (prototyping, development or fine tuning of recipes / process developments in the presence of customers or not, prototyping). 

• Network with customers, industry players and partners and build relationships within the food industry, including visits at LDC facilities, participation in conferences and industry events. 

• Record and share relevant customer activities and project updates via regular reporting and using knowledge management and CRM tools. 

• Takes full responsibility for delivering on commitments, meeting deadlines, and achieving results with minimal supervision. 

Qualifications

Education: Bachelors degree required

Basic qualification:  

• Five (5) or more years of experience in the food industry, as sales or business developer or technical scientist 

• Experience within Pea Proteins sales 

• Experience in R&D product development and go-to-market 

Basic qualifications: 

• In-depth knowledge in Food Science 

• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills. 

• Commercial Acumen, Persuasive i.e. negotiates to close successfully 

• Strong understanding of market dynamics, customer needs, a