Business Development and Account Manager at CJ America Inc – Downer Grover, Illinois

CJ Bio’s Taste & Nutrition division is seeking a motivated and results-driven Business Development Manager to lead sales activities across the food and nutrition sectors in an assigned territory in North America.

This role is responsible for representing CJ America Bio to assigned customers, focusing on delivering value through our portfolio of taste and functional ingredients. Reporting to the Sales Director of Taste & Nutrition, the Business Development and Account Manager will play a critical role in building and nurturing customer relationships, identifying commercial opportunities and collaborating with cross-functional teams to drive growth.

Success in this position requires a strong technical understanding of the food industry, excellent communication and analytical skills and a team-oriented mindset to achieve shared business objectives.

Job Description and Responsibilities

• Build and manage strong relationships with assigned food and nutrition industry customers.
• Communicate customer insights and CJ's positioning to internal stakeholders.
• Develop and execute account strategies to drive growth and customer satisfaction.
• Prepare, present and negotiate commercial proposals and supply agreements.
• Effectively communicate CJ’s value across customer functions, including purchasing, R&D, supply chain and operations.
• Leverage internal tools and cross-functional support to foster collaboration and teamwork.
• Engage with key customers, industry influencers and strategic partners.
• Plan and manage trade show participation and sales exhibits within the territory.
• Identify and attend relevant industry events to represent CJ America Bio.
• Meet or exceed revenue and growth targets through focused execution.
• Communicate customer developments and company positioning to internal stakeholders as directed.
• Coordinate cross-functional activities with marketing, supply chain, operations and technical teams.
• Stay informed on market trends, customer needs and competitive activity.
• Address and resolve customer concerns while protecting CJ’s interests.
• Perform additional responsibilities as required.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• None

Job Qualifications, Education and Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college in Business, Food Science or related field required.
• 5+ years of sales experience in the food and nutrition ingredient space is required.
• Direct experience selling to Brands, CMO's and Food & Beverage manufacturers.
• Strong understanding of the sales process and pipeline management.
• Travel: up to 50% travel may be required for this position. This includes overnight travel and travel outside the assigned regional sales area to visit customers and develop new potential clients.

Required Skills, Knowledge, and Abilities

• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to engage across multiple levels and departments in complex organizations.
• Effective communicator with strong verbal, written and technical presentation skills.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and Salesforce.
• Skilled in problem-solving and contributing to a culture of continuous improvement.
• Ability to handle sensitive information with discretion and maintain confidentiality.

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