Business Development Manager; Americas Bionutrients Platform, in Chicago IL​/Boyce

Business Development Manager (Americas) within our Bionutrients Platform, in Chicago IL / Boyceville WI / remotely

Ohly is the third largest yeast extract producer in the world with sites in Germany and the USA. We develop, produce and deliver high-quality yeast-based flavours and specialty powders. Ohly is part of the $17.6bn turnover Associated British Food (ABF) Group. ABF is a broad portfolio of businesses which includes Primark, Ovaltine, Twinings, AB Enzymes, and is the world’s second largest producer of both sugar and baker’s yeast.

ABF takes a long-term perspective on investment and performance, and stimulates entrepreneurship by giving high degrees of autonomy to operational businesses. This means that decisions are taken as close as possible to their point of impact allowing teams the freedom to act, in order to be successfully flexible and fast. ABF invests a great deal in selecting and developing the right people for Ohly and the broader ABF group of companies.

Ohly has an exciting opportunity for a Business Development Manager (Americas) within our Bionutrients Platform to join our team in Chicago IL / Boyceville WI / remotely
. In this role, you will drive growth by acquiring new business across both existing and new accounts, while building strong, value-driven customer relationships. You will play a key role in understanding customer needs, delivering tailored solutions, and resolving technical challenges related to yeast derivatives and bionutrients.

This is a high-impact position ideal for a motivated professional with strong commercial acumen and technical expertise in fermentation or related fields.

In this exciting role you will:

• Build momentum with new and existing accounts, achieving or exceeding revenue, margin, and relationship goals
• Identify and develop strategic customer relationship maps to drive sustainable, profitable growth
• Maintain a strong pipeline of new business opportunities across both new and existing customers
• Lead and close business deals by coordinating requirements, negotiating contracts, and ensuring successful implementation
• Develop and execute a structured business development plan focused on targeted market segments
• Create, document, and implement account plans and strategies in a consistent and disciplined manner
• Deliver accurate monthly sales forecasts and annual budgets (volume and pricing), including variance analysis
• Collaborate cross-functionally to resolve customer issues, answer technical questions, and provide support
• Coordinate technical presentations, demonstrations, and customer engagements that highlight Ohly’s expertise
• Develop financial business cases for new products and applications to support growth initiatives
• Drive sales growth for new products and applications within the portfolio
• Manage relationships with direct customers, distributors, and global accounts within the bionutrients platform
• Travel up to 40% to meet customers and strengthen partnerships

Qualification and Experience

Required:

• Proven track record in business development and sales
  , including prospecting, negotiation, closing, and consultative selling
• Demonstrated ability to deepen customer relationships and expand account value
• Strong market insight and technical understanding, with excellent presentation skills
• Excellent planning, organizational, and problem-solving abilities
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a dynamic environment
• High energy, self-motivated, results-driven mindset
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills across all organizational levels
• Degree in chemistry, biology, fermentation science
  , or a business-related field
• Business fluent in English (additional languages are a plus)
• Proficiency in MS Office, CRM systems, and collaboration tools (e.g., MS Teams)

Nice to have:

• 10+ years of experience in sales or business development in bionutrients, fermentation ingredients, or related industries (U.S. and/or Canada)
• Advanced degree in fermentation science, food science
  , or a related discipline
• Experience selling into enzymes, probiotics, culture media
  , or fermentation research organizations
• Strong network within the biopharma sector in North America