Director, Technical Sales- Specialties

Company: Barry Callebaut Manufacturing Iberica SA.
Location: Chicago
Posted on: April 4, 2025

Job Description:

Select how often (in days) to receive an alert:At Barry Callebaut, we are on a journey to transform the cocoa and chocolate industry. As the world's leading manufacturer of high-quality chocolate and cocoa products, our actions truly shape the future of our industry. We are a business-to-business company, serving the entire food sector, from the cocoa bean to the finest chocolate product. We are a company with a purpose, we believe in doing well by doing good and reinvesting in the communities we operate. We have a long-standing commitment to sustainability and our goal is to shape a sustainable cocoa and chocolate future. We are headquartered in Zurich, and have more than 12,000 passionate Employees working in more than 40 countries worldwide. We are very proud of who we are and what we do. And of course, we are always looking for talented people to help us have a positive impact on our industry and beyond!About the role:Barry Callebaut is a global organization poised for growth; a company that has embraced the vision to delight its customers while out-performing its competitors, a business that is committed to sustainability, has innovation in its DNA, is a leader in complex manufacturing and supply chain solutions and is focused on being a best-in-class employer. Barry Callebaut seeks diverse and passionate people who thrive in a dynamic environment, focused on continuous learning, living BC's Values, and of course, loving chocolate.The Director, Specialties Business, will lead a team of Technical Sales Managers focused on driving business development and pipeline growth for the company's specialties product portfolio. This individual will develop and implement strategies to expand the specialties business, build strong customer partnerships, and work cross-functionally to align customer needs with innovative solutions. The Director is accountable for fostering a high-performing team, managing key metrics, and ensuring the successful execution of business development activities that deliver sustainable growth and profitability.Key responsibilities include:

• Develop and implement long-term sales strategies to achieve volume and margin targets, leveraging market insights.
• Create customer-centric solutions by understanding market trends, customer goals, and challenges.
• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Technical Sales Managers to achieve sales and pipeline development targets.
• Drive business growth by identifying, developing, and nurturing customer-driven opportunities for specialties products.
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans and forecasts to achieve volume, margin, and portfolio growth objectives.
• Provide coaching and training to build expertise in solution selling and relationship management.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning within the team.
• Stay informed of food industry trends, regulatory developments, and competitive activity to identify risks and opportunities.
• Leverage market insights to guide product development, pricing strategies, and go-to-market plans.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customer stakeholders, including executives, decision-makers, and influencers.
• Collaborate with chefs, R&D, marketing, and supply chain teams to align on product innovation, development projects, and customer requirements.
• Align with global Sweet Specialties colleagues to ensure consistency in strategies, goals, and best practices, and to leverage global insights for regional growth.
• Represent the company at trade shows and industry events, promoting the specialties product portfolio and fostering relationships with key industry players.
• Support and oversee project management activities for key customer initiatives, ensuring alignment across internal teams and timely execution.
• Monitor and track key performance indicators (KPIs), ensuring alignment with organizational goals and identifying areas for improvement.
• Act as a change agent by driving innovation, continuous improvement, and alignment with emerging market trends and customer needs.
• Oversee budget planning and resource allocation to maximize efficiency and ROI.
• Promote the adoption of new technologies and solutions to enhance customer satisfaction and operational efficiency.About you:
  • Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, food science, or a related field; Master's degree preferred.
  • 8-10+ years of experience in sales, business development, or account management, ideally in the food industry.
  • Demonstrated experience leading teams and managing complex customer relationships.
  • Proven ability to manage cross-functional collaboration and drive results in a dynamic environment.
  • Chocolate industry or specialty ingredient experience is preferred.
  • Proficiency in Salesforce or similar CRM tools is preferred.What you can expect from Barry Callebaut:
    • Competitive salary and comprehensive benefits package
    • Paid time off, plus generous holiday time
    • Environment that welcomes workplace flexibility
    • An atmosphere where diversity is embraced, and inclusivity is second nature. We call it #OneBC! Just ask our champions with the Americas Women's Forum and the Racial Equality Forum!
    • Ability to grow personally and professionally within an organization that values development and internal career growth
    • Be part of our mission in making sustainability the norm through Forever Chocolate with priorities centered around prospering farmers, zero child labor, carbon and forest positive, and creating 100% sustainable ingredients in all of our products.At Barry Callebaut, we are committed to Diversity & Inclusion. United by our strong values, we thrive on the diversity of who we are, where we come from, what we've experienced and how we think. We are committed to nurturing an inclusive environment where people can truly be themselves, grow to their full potential and feel they belong. #oneBC - Diverse People, Sustainable Growth.
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Keywords: Barry Callebaut Manufacturing Iberica SA., Chicago , Director, Technical Sales- Specialties, Sales , Chicago, Illinois