[Hiring] Technical Business Development Specialist @Bay State Milling

Role Description

The Varietal Solutions Business Unit (VSBU) at Bay State Milling is tasked with commercializing identity-preserved, nutrient-dense and functional versions of plant-based ingredients. The BU has a strategic role within Bay State Milling to build new capabilities and approaches for creating demand for specialty ingredients—including nutrition science, consumer insights, branding, and breeding. As such, much of what the VSBU undertakes is pioneering to generate awareness for these category-defining new offerings.

As a critical member of the VSBU Commercial team, the Technical Business Development Specialist is primarily responsible for generating new business opportunities in line with the business unit’s defined commercial strategy for HealthSense high fiber wheat flour. A key feature of this role is the ability to effectively cultivate new sales opportunities by leveraging substantive technical knowledge and network in specialty ingredients and/or wheat-based foods.

This role will be a member of the VSBU commercial team, directly reporting to a Technical Business Development Manager. To be successful, this individual will collaborate with other functions, including Sales, Marketing, Business Development, R&D QA, Supply Chain, Cultivar Development, and Operations.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Become a technical subject matter expert on HealthSense high fiber wheat flour (trained by BSM).
• Generate new business opportunities arising from a combination of incoming leads and proactive prospecting within a technical network.
• Use technical skills and background to accelerate interest, initiate and accelerate development projects at target companies.
• Proactively collaborate with internal commercial teams to identify opportunity spaces to pursue and to support new business pitches.
• Use technical selling resources such as Jobs To Be Done framework, protein and fiber analyses, and working knowledge of agricultural practices and nutrition to advance customer projects to completion.
• Use customer relationship management tools to manage specific customer opportunities through the sales funnel.
• Attend trade shows, speaking events and contribute to media as a credible, technical thought leader.
• Collaborate with R&D, marketing and 3rd parties to create and present finished product concepts and prototypes.

Qualifications

• Direct experience in a food-related R&D, innovation, and/or technical sales position, with a demonstrated ability to drive projects through the new product development process.
• Proven experience in a technical role (6-10 years) with customer facing experience a plus.
• Skilled in the ability to communicate information and insights internally and externally in a clear, concise manner—verbally and in written communications.
• Proven ability to deliver data-driven recommendations and analysis and apply them in clear, compelling manners.
• Demonstrated ability to influence a variety of stakeholders, including functional and cultural backgrounds, seniority, and internal/external.
• Ability to work independently and within a cross-function team to effectively handle multiple projects and influence stakeholders while driving toward competing deadlines.
• Superior ability to represent Bay State Milling with professionalism, integrity, and diplomacy.
• Strong organizational skills, able to juggle various priorities in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.

Additional Qualifications

• Experience in the food industry promoting new-to-the-world products, especially in a start-up environment.
• Sincere passion for food innovation and providing solutions that will drive improved consumer health.
• Strong desire to win and generate growth.
• Knowledge of agriculture and nutrition science a plus.

Education and Experience

• Bachelors degree in food science, bakery science, cereal science or related disciplines.
• Minimum of 6 years of applicable professional experience in a food, culinary and/or baking role.
• Experience working in food ingredients is preferred.

Language Skills

• Fluent in English.
• Ability to communicate effectively in verbal and written formats is critical.

Other Skills and Abilities

• Fluent in Microsoft office programs.
• Ability to network and extract information from sources.

Physical Demands

• Ordinary ability to see, hear and speak.
• Ability to travel domestically and sometimes internationally.

Work Environment

• Primarily an office environment, remote or at a Bay State Milling facility.
• Comfortable working in food product development lab/pilot plant/manufacturing environments.
• Comfortable with performing business needs while traveling.