Description

Senior Sales / Business Development – Personal Care Ingredients (80–100%)Think big, act commercially, change the world - are you in? Join us in shaping the future of sustainable chemistry. We are a fast-growing startup and ETH Zurich spin-off, pioneering sustainable ingredients made from microorganisms. We develop high-performance, renewable functional ingredients designed to replace petroleum-based additives in industries such as cosmetics and personal care. We are now looking for a senior, commercially driven professional with deep industry expertise and a strong network to actively shape segment-specific market access, build a customer portfolio, and develop a robust pipeline to drive sustainable revenue growth. This role requires a deep, hands-on understanding of the cosmetics / personal care ingredients market - including supply chains, decision-making structures, pricing logic, value proposition requirements, contracting practices, and long-term partnerships.Key Responsibilities:Revenue Ownership & Business Development - You will be fully accountable for early commercial success:- Drive early revenues by securing commercial partnerships and converting them into sales.- Leverage your existing network to open doors with cosmetic and personal care manufacturers, brands, and ingredient distributors.- Identify, approach, and engage key stakeholders across commercial functions and close agreements.- Build and manage a strong commercial pipeline with a clear path to recurring revenues, supported by structured CRM processes.Account & Customer Interface - Commercial Lead- You will act as the commercial owner of key customer accounts, ensuring effective communication between customers and internal technical teams.- Act as the main commercial point of contact for customers and partners.- Own, lead, and steer technical-commercial discussions in close alignment with product teams.- Lead the conversion of technical projects into commercial agreements and long-term partnerships, working closely with internal R&D and external partners to develop customer-ready commercial and technical offerings.Pricing & Value Proposition Development - You will shape how we compete:- Apply your understanding of pricing structures, margins, and purchasing logic in the cosmetics and personal care sector.- Position ingredients clearly against incumbent products and solutions.- Contribute to defining compelling value propositions tailored to target markets and customer segments.Requirements- 3–8+ years of experience in business development, technical sales, or key account management in personal care / cosmetic ingredients.- Strong background in sales and customer processes.- Experience working with R&D, marketing teams, and procurement in personal care companies.- Proven ability to develop business and convert projects into commercial revenue.- Existing network within personal care brands, manufacturers, or distributors.- Strong communication and stakeholder management skills.- Fluent in English and German (French is a plus).Nice to have- Experience introducing or scaling disruptive products into new or existing markets.- Experience in big groups and start-ups.- Experience with long sales cycles, and scale-up transitions.Soft skills & mindset- Strong entrepreneurial and ownership mindset.- Team-player and sparring partner for Founders and colleagues.- Highly results-driven, with a clear focus on revenue and impact.- Credible, confident, and strategic stakeholder thinker with hands-on execution ability.- Comfortable working in an early-stage, fast-moving startup environment.- Resilient, persistent, and motivated by building something new.We offer- We offer a key commercial leadership role in a purpose-driven deep-tech biotech startup, with direct impact on early revenue and market entry.- You will work closely with an experienced founding team, gain access to cutting-edge technology, and contribute to building long-term value in the cosmetics and personal care industry.- We provide a flexible, collaborative environment focused on growth and impact, along with a competitive package aligned with responsibility and experience.Location: Zurich AreaStart date: To be agreedLanguage: English and German; French is a plusWorkload: 80–100%, must be eligible to work in Switzerland jid2ade89aaen jit0418aen jpiy26aen