[Hiring] Director, Formulation Sales @Debut Biotech

Role Description

Debut is seeking a commercially driven, highly connected Director of Formulation Sales to own and grow our East Coast formulation business. This is a hunter and closer role focused exclusively on selling custom-developed finished formulations to beauty brands, not an ingredient sales role. The right candidate has spent their career inside the beauty contract manufacturing ecosystem, knows how prestige and emerging brands buy, and understands how to move a formulation brief from first conversation to signed commercial agreement. The ideal candidate is deeply embedded in the East Coast beauty community, with active beauty relationships.

• Own and drive Debut’s East Coast formulation sales strategy, with full accountability for revenue achievement and expansion of the active customer base across prestige, masstige, and indie beauty segments in the East Coast market.
• Leverage an existing, active network of decision-maker relationships at major beauty brands with a concentration in East Coast-headquartered prestige, masstige and indie brands including VP-level and above contacts in product development, R&D, and procurement.
• Proactively identify, prioritize, and pursue new brand partnerships across skincare and color cosmetics to continuously expand Debut’s East Coast brand portfolio.
• Lead the full formulation sales cycle from initial brand engagement through briefing, proposal, sampling, pricing, and first production purchase order.
• Develop deep understanding of each brand customer’s NPD roadmap, franchise architecture, launch/portfolio priorities.
• Represent Debut at US and international industry trade shows, brand summits, and brand innovation strategy sessions.
• Build and maintain a rigorous, accurate sales pipeline detailed in Debut’s CRM.
• Serve as a trusted commercial partner to brand customers throughout the product development lifecycle.
• Operate with a high degree of autonomy and entrepreneurial urgency in a fast-moving, early-stage commercial environment.

Qualifications

• A bachelor’s degree is required; a background in cosmetic science, chemistry, or product development is a strong plus.
• 8+ years of experience in sales or in beauty product development within the contract manufacturing field or ingredient sales.
• Established, active network of decision-maker relationships at major beauty brands.
• Customer-centric mindset with the ability to act as a true extension of a brand’s product development team.
• Demonstrated track record of meeting and exceeding revenue targets in a B2B formulation or contract manufacturing sales role.
• Strong technical fluency sufficient to engage credibly with brand R&D and product development teams.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Willingness and ability to travel domestically and internationally as business needs require.
• Proficiency with CRM platforms (Monday, Salesforce or equivalent).
• Experience working in or alongside an early-stage, high-growth company is a plus.

Requirements

• Frequent sitting, standing, and walking during customer meetings, trade shows, and extended travel.
• Repetitive use of hands to operate computers, mobile devices, and presentation equipment.
• Ability to carry and transport sales materials and samples weighing up to 30 pounds.
• Frequent domestic and international air travel.
• Ability to navigate diverse physical environments including manufacturing facilities, trade show floors, and customer offices.

Benefits

• Salary Range: USD $140,000–$175,000 per annum (base) + performance-based incentives, commensurate with experience.

Company Description

Debut is a vertically integrated biotechnology company pioneering the next generation of high-performance cosmetic active ingredients. We combine AI-driven discovery with proprietary bioprocessing to develop the highest performing and clinically proven active ingredients that outperform conventionally sourced alternatives.