About Vivici
Vivici is an innovative ingredients company creating and commercializing superior dairy proteins with significantly less impact on the planet. Our global food system must radically transform to meet the world's growing need for protein in a sustainable and resilient way. This requires new sources of highly nutritious and functional proteins which are significantly less demanding on our environment. With the dedication and hard work of industry experts, precision fermentation will become a scalable and viable reality, leaving a better planet for future generations. Our mission is to make the promise of dairy protein from precision fermentation a commercial reality to meet the world’s growing need for nutritious, functional and sustainably-produced proteins
The Role
We are seeking a proactive and results-driven Business Development Manager with a customer first mindset and experience in protein ingredients. In this role, you will be instrumental in driving Vivici’s commercial pipeline within the Sports & Active Nutrition market in North America, responsible for managing customer relationships, focusing on identifying, qualifying, and advancing opportunities to deliver the commercial targets.
This role reports to the Director, Business Development in the Netherlands. For the right candidate, there is potential in the future to relocate this role from Leiden to the United States, based on interest and business needs.
Key Responsibilities:
- Identify, evaluate, and pursue new business opportunities to drive growth within the target market segments (e.g., Sports & Active Nutrition).
- Manage the full business-development cycle - from lead generation and opportunity qualification to negotiation and successful closing of commercial deals.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with potential and existing customers, acting as a trusted point of contact.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (e.g., technical, marketing, regulatory) to align customer needs with Vivici’s capabilities and offerings and support continuous improvement in product development and customer experience
- Maintain a deep understanding of industry trends, market dynamics, and competitive landscape to inform business decisions.
- Maintain accurate CRM records to ensure visibility and alignment with business goals.
- Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and customer meetings to promote brand awareness and generate leads.
Qualifications & Experience
- Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Nutrition, or a related field; Master’s degree is a plus.
- 5+ years of experience in business development, sales, or commercial roles within the food, nutrition, or ingredients sectors.
- Proven track record of identifying and closing commercial deals, ideally in B2B ingredient sales or specialty nutrition markets.
- Strong understanding of protein ingredients and the product development process in food and beverage applications; familiarity with sports & active nutrition is highly desirable.
- Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills, with the ability to build relationships at all levels
Key Attributes
- Commercially minded – a strong business sense and understand how to create value for both the customer and the company.
- Customer-focused – you build trust and long-term relationships by truly understanding customer needs and delivering solutions that fit.
- Proactive & results-driven – you take initiative, own your goals, and are motivated by achieving and exceeding targets.
- Adaptable – you’re comfortable navigating ambiguity, adjusting priorities, and finding solutions in a fast-evolving market
- Strong communicator – you can clearly articulate value propositions, both in writing and in person, to a range of audiences.
- Willingness to travel as needed across North America
What is in it for you?
At Vivici, we foster an innovative and collaborative work environment, providing exceptional opportunities for professional growth and development. Working for Vivici you will find yourself in a young, agile and fast paced organization, with the unique opportunity to tap into the expertise, professionalism and know-how of our cornerstone shareholders DSM and Fonterra. Want to work at the intersection of business and the protein transition, driving advancements in food technology and nutrition? We encourage you to apply! We offer competitive compensation packages and benefits, along with the chance to make a significant impact on the future of food.
