Business Development Manager BeLux - Custom Flavors

Business Development Manager BeLux - Custom Flavors

Our client, a leading European specialist in custom flavours and functional solutions for the food and beverage industry, is looking for a Business Development Manager for the BeLux market. As part of an internationally renowned group (around 250 employees worldwide, 30 locally), you will join a growing, dynamic SME environment that combines entrepreneurial spirit with the strength of a global player. You will report directly to the Managing Director Benelux, have a tangible impact on the commercial strategy, and contribute to the launch of around 1,500 new products every year across chocolate, biscuits, beers, liqueurs, confectionery and more. Based from the Benelux hub with hybrid working and only one fixed day per week on site in Forest, this role offers both autonomy and strong support to grow your career through targeted training, close coaching, and clear success paths.

Benefits

• Competitive and concrete package : full‑time permanent contract (38h), competitive salary, company car with fuel card, annual bonus of €4,000-€5,500, €10 meal vouchers, group and hospitalisation insurance (DKV), eco‑, Saint‑Nicholas/Sint‑Maarten and sports vouchers.
• Work‑life balance you actually feel : fixed hours from 8:00 to 16:45 (Friday to 13:00), 20 legal holidays + 4 extra days between Christmas and New Year, plus the option to purchase extra days off with your bonus.
• Human‑centred, hybrid culture : people‑first environment with strong focus on safety, customer satisfaction and wellbeing, hybrid working (only 1 day/week in Forest), free parking, personal guidance, extra training and a structured, swift selection and onboarding process.

Role Responsibilities

• Drive and grow the BeLux portfolio (50% hunting / 50% farming) in the B2B food industry (chocolate, biscuits, beers, liqueurs, confectionery, etc.), actively developing new business while nurturing and expanding existing key accounts to support the group's growth ambitions.
• Co‑create innovative flavour and ingredient solutions with cross‑functional teams (R&D, production, quality, marketing), steering projects from brief to launch and helping bring around 1,500 new products to market each year that delight consumers.
• Shape and execute the commercial strategy for your region together with the Managing Director Benelux, translating market insights into action plans, building long‑term partnerships, and contributing directly to the company's strategic positioning in BeLux.

Requirements

• Relevant education and sector experience : a higher education degree in business or in a technical field related to the food industry, chemistry or flavours, combined with proven B2B industrial sales experience (ideally in the agri‑food sector), giving you the perfect platform to become a trusted advisor to your customers.
• Commercial, multilingual relationship builder : fluency in Dutch (C2), strong English (C1) and good French (B2), with strong negotiation skills and a track record in closing sustainable commercial agreements that create value on both sides.
• Project‑driven, results‑oriented team player : solid project management skills in coordinating R&D, production, quality and marketing around client projects, combined with a result‑oriented mindset, customer focus, autonomy, organisational rigour and the ability to collaborate smoothly in a close‑knit team.