Business Manager, Food and Nutrition (Savory)

Position Overview:

We are seeking an experienced and commercially driven Industry Manager, Food & Nutrition (FNN) – Savory to lead and accelerate the growth of our Savory business in Vietnam.

In this role, you will be responsible for driving profitable business growth through strategic sales leadership, new customer acquisition, key account development, and effective principal and supplier management.

As a key commercial leader, you will develop and execute market strategies, strengthen relationships with existing principals and suppliers, identify opportunities to expand the product portfolio, and ensure alignment between supplier capabilities, market demands, and customer needs.

You will also lead, coach, and develop a high-performing sales team to achieve commercial objectives and drive sustainable growth in the Savory segment.

Success in this role requires strong knowledge of the specialty food ingredients industry, particularly savory applications, combined with proven commercial leadership, principal management experience, and a strong business development mindset.

Key Responsibilities:

1. Commercial Strategy & Business Development

• Develop and execute the Savory segment's commercial strategy in Vietnam, aligned with Caldic's business objectives.
• Drive profitable sales growth through new customer acquisition, strategic account development, and expansion of existing business.
• Identify new market opportunities, emerging industry trends, and competitive developments within the Savory segment.
• Develop and implement commercial action plans to strengthen market presence, customer engagement, and business performance.
• Take a hands-on approach to strategic customer engagements, major commercial opportunities, and complex business negotiations.

2. Portfolio & Market Development

• Drive the growth and profitability of the Savory ingredient portfolio by aligning principal capabilities with market demand and customer requirements.
• Identify portfolio gaps, new product opportunities, and potential supplier partnerships to strengthen Caldic's market competitiveness.
• Collaborate with principals, product management, and technical/application teams to support product positioning, new product introductions, and customer-driven solutions.
• Monitor product and portfolio performance, recommending actions to optimize product mix, competitiveness, and profitability.

3. Sales Leadership & Team Development

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of three commercial professionals to achieve sales, gross margin, new business development, and customer growth targets.
• Set clear performance objectives, monitor progress, and provide regular coaching and feedback to strengthen individual and team capabilities.
• Support team members in developing key accounts, identifying new business opportunities, and managing complex customer requirements.
• Foster a collaborative, accountable, and results-driven team culture while remaining actively involved in commercial activities.

4. Principal & Supplier Management

• Build, manage, and strengthen strategic relationships with existing principals and suppliers to drive long-term partnerships and mutual business growth.
• Develop and execute joint business plans with principals, aligning on sales targets, market development priorities, product positioning, and growth opportunities.
• Conduct regular business reviews with principals to evaluate sales performance, business pipelines, market opportunities, and agreed commitments.
• Lead commercial discussions with principals on pricing, margins, product competitiveness, and business development initiatives, within delegated authority.
• Identify and evaluate potential new principals and suppliers to address portfolio gaps, strengthen product offerings, and support business expansion.

5. Key Customer & Stakeholder Management

• Build and maintain strong relationships with strategic customers and key decision-makers within the food manufacturing industry.
• Work closely with the sales team to strengthen customer partnerships, expand business opportunities, and deliver value-added ingredient solutions.
• Collaborate with principals, technical/application specialists, and internal stakeholders to address customer requirements and support product development opportunities.
• Partner with supply chain, procurement, finance, and other relevant functions to ensure effective execution of commercial plans and customer commitments.

6. Commercial Performance & Business Planning

• Monitor and drive sales revenue, gross margin, pricing, pipeline development, and other key commercial performance indicators.
• Lead sales forecasting, business planning, and budget management to support sustainable and profitable growth.
• Track principal and portfolio performance against agreed business plans, identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions.
• Provide regular business performance updates, market insights, and commercial forecasts to management.
• Ensure effective execution of commercial priorities while balancing customer requirements, principal expectations, and business profitability.

Key Skills & Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Food Technology, Business Administration, or a related discipline.
• Minimum 12 years of relevant B2B commercial, sales, or business development experience within the food ingredients industry, including demonstrated experience leading a sales team.
• Strong knowledge of specialty food ingredients, preferably within savory applications such as seasonings, sauces, processed foods, ready meals, or related categories.
• Proven experience in principal and supplier relationship management, including joint business planning, commercial negotiations, and portfolio development.
• Good understanding of the specialty ingredients distribution business model, with the ability to balance principal expectations, customer requirements, and commercial profitability.
• Demonstrated track record in new business acquisition, key account development, and driving profitable sales growth.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing a commercial team, with a willingness to remain hands-on in business development and customer engagement.
• Strong commercial and financial acumen, including pricing, gross margin management, sales forecasting, and business planning.
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills, with the ability to build effective relationships with international principals, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and CRM systems.
• Good command of Vietnamese and English, both written and spoken.

Key Personal Attributes:

• Commercially Driven: Strong business acumen with a proactive approach to identifying opportunities and delivering profitable growth.
• Relationship-Oriented: Ability to build trusted, long-term partnerships with principals, suppliers, customers, and internal stakeholders.
• Entrepreneurial & Hands-On: Self-driven, resourceful, and comfortable taking ownership of business opportunities while working closely with the team.
• People Leader: Able to coach, motivate, and develop a small commercial team while leading by example.
• Collaborative & Adaptable: Effective in working across functions and responding to evolving customer and market needs.

Please note that this is a general description of the role and its requirements. The duties and responsibilities within this role may evolve based on business needs and at the employer's discretion.

About Caldic

At Caldic, we're a global leader in distribution solutions, serving diverse markets across the world. Joining us means becoming part of an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and innovation-driven team.

We offer:

• Global opportunities with rapid career growth and development
• An inclusive, diverse, and dynamic work environment
• The chance to shape the future of specialty ingredient solutions across industries like food, pharma, personal care, and more

We operate in 43 countries around the world. Our innovative solutions are tailored to meet the needs of industries such as food, pharma, personal care, and industrial markets, ensuring sustainable success for all stakeholders. To learn more, visit: www.caldic.com

Ready to Join Us

If you're ready to take your career to the next level and join a global leader, apply now at Caldic!

Equal Opportunity Employer

Caldic celebrates diversity and is committed to fostering an inclusive work environment. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, religion, gender, or any other characteristic.

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