We are looking for an experienced and strategic Business Development Director to lead all business development activities for the Dietary Supplements (DS) segment across the EMEA region. As a key driver of growth within our Health, Nutrition & Care (HNC) business group, you will play a central role in shaping and executing the business development strategy- driving innovation, customer engagement, and long-term value creation.
In this high-impact role, you'll focus on expanding our differentiated portfolio - algal omega-3, biotics, and next-generation vitamins - across all route-to-market channels, including straights, premix, and market-ready solutions. You will lead a customer-facing team, develop strategic relationships at both executive and operational levels, and convert new opportunities into sustainable business results. With EMEA as our largest global region and Dietary Supplements as a top-performing segment, this position is instrumental in delivering on ambitious growth targets that outpace the market. Join us to shape the future of health and nutrition while making a lasting impact on our customers and business.
Key Responsibilities:
This senior leadership role requires a dynamic and strategic individual to lead the business development agenda for the Dietary Supplements segment in EMEA. The Business Development Director is responsible for owning and executing the business development strategy, driving growth across existing and new customer segments, and delivering on both commercial and innovation pipeline objectives.
- Strategy & Execution: Design and lead the business development strategy, identifying and converting high-impact growth opportunities into sales.
- Lead Generation & Emerging Platforms: Partner with global and regional stakeholders to identify and convert leads—particularly in high-growth areas like Healthy Longevity and differentiated health solutions.
- Customer Engagement: Build deep, strategic relationships with customers by understanding their needs and aligning tailored growth plans with the segment’s strategic direction.
- Team Leadership: Manage and develop a team of 4 Business Development Managers and 1 Commercial Project Manager, fostering a proactive, results-oriented culture.
- Performance Management: Define and manage performance targets, including sales and innovation metrics, with clear accountability and follow-up.
- Strategic Influence: Act as a key regional voice, shaping global strategy through strong collaboration with Segment, Sales, and Global teams.
- Cross-Functional Alignment: Ensure strong alignment across functions—including Sales, Marketing, Operations, and Application teams—to deliver innovation-focused growth, especially through Market-Ready Solutions (MRS).
- Governance & Compliance: Operate in alignment with all relevant dsm-firmenich policies and standards, including safety, quality, and cultural values.
This is a high-impact role with direct influence on shaping the future of health and nutrition in the region. If you're a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation, customer value, and team development, we invite you to lead this key growth engine for our business.
We bring:
- Collaboration with experts in Taste, health, nutrition, and beauty to drive progress.
- Customer-first approach, working with world-renowned brands to turn ideas into impactful solutions.
- Opportunity to build a career making a significant impact on billions of lives, with the freedom to shape your own path.
- Dedication to creating better futures for customers, communities, people, and the planet.
- Responsibility and accountability in living company values and driving sustainable solutions.
- Supportive environment where individuals are empowered to progress and contribute to meaningful change.
You Bring:
- Minimum of 10 years’ experience in a B2B or B2C commercial environment, with strong sales and commercial and negotiation capabilities, particularly in working with brand owners and/or CDMOs.
- Experience in a CDMO environment is considered an asset.
- Experience managing business opportunities across multiple regions (i.e. APAC, LATAM, North America), will be preferred
- Deep understanding of the dietary supplement customer and competitor landscape, combined with strong commercial capabilities (e.g., customer pitching, negotiation, value selling)
- Proven leadership and people management skills, with strong ability to influence across functions and levels.
- Experience in evaluating new business opportunities and building business cases based on critical assessment of market dynamics and product specifics.
- Ability to shape strategy and drive prioritization, combined with a hands-on, solution-oriented mindset that delivers tangible results and clear actions across activities.
- A strong team player, able to collaborate effectively across departments and build trusted relationships with key internal and external stakeholders.
- Capable of balancing detailed execution with strategic oversight—able to zoom in on deliverables while keeping the broader picture in focus.
- Excellent communication and active listening skills.
- Resilient, with a growth mindset and a proactive, forward-looking approach.
- Willingness and ability to travel internationally (~30–50%) for customer engagements, strategic meetings, and trade shows.
DEI and equal opportunity statement
At dsm-firmenich, we believe being a force for good starts with the way we treat each other. When people feel supported, included, and free to be themselves, they do their best work – and that’s exactly the kind of culture we’re building. A place where opportunity is truly equal, authenticity is celebrated, and everyone has the chance to grow, contribute, and feel they belong.
We’re proud to be an equal opportunity employer, and we’re serious about making our hiring process as fair and inclusive as possible. From inclusive language and diverse interview panels to thoughtful sourcing, we’re committed to reflecting the world we serve.
We welcome candidates from all backgrounds — no matter your gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, or anything else that makes you, you.
And if you have a disability or need any support through the application process, we’re here to help – just let us know what you need, and we’ll do everything we can to make it work.
Agency statement
We’re managing this search directly at dsm-firmenich. If you’re applying as an individual, we’d love to hear from you. We’re not accepting agency submissions or proposals involving fees or commissions for this role.
Our application process
Ready to start bringing progress to life? Apply now by uploading your CV in English.