Commercial Lead - Functional Ingredients; Cosmetics & Adhesives

Overview

(Senior) Commercial Lead - Functional Ingredients (Cosmetics & Adhesives) (80-100%)

Join us in shaping the future of materials!

We are a fast-growing startup, a ETH Zurich Spin-off, pioneering sustainable biomaterials made from microorganisms. We develop high-performance, renewable functional ingredients designed to replace petroleum-based additives and materials in applications such as cosmetics, adhesives or advanced composites
.

We are now looking for a senior, commercially driven professional with deep industry expertise and a solidly established network to actively shape segment-specific market access strategies, build a customer portfolio and a market development pipeline to ensure solid commercial revenue growth for Treeless AG.

This role is requiring a deep, practical understanding of the cosmetics and/or adhesives ingredient markets - including supply chain organization, decision-making structures, pricing pattern and logics, specific value propositions requirements, contracting practices as well as long-term commercial partnerships.

• Revenue Ownership & Business Development - You will be fully accountable for early commercial success:

• Take primary responsibility for driving early revenues through winning commercial collaborations
  , ensuring disciplined progression and conversion into revenue-generating commercial contracts
• Leverage your existing network to open doors primarily with cosmetic and adhesive manufacturers and ingredient distributors
• Identify, approach, and engage the right stakeholders across organizations
• Lead commercial negotiations and close agreements
• Build and manage a robust commercial pipeline with a clear path to recurring revenues, supported by structured pipeline management / CRM tools

• You will act as the commercial owner of key customer relationships
  , ensuring effective coordination between customers and Treeless’ internal technical experts.
• Serve as the main commercial point of contact for customers and partners
• Own, strategize and steer technical-commercial discussions in close collaboration with Treeless’ product innovation teams
• Lead the conversion of technical validation into commercial agreements and long-term supply partnerships, working closely with internal R&D and external partners to develop customer-ready commercial and technical documentation.

• You will shape how Treeless competes:

• Apply your understanding of typical pricing ranges, margins, and purchasing logic in sectors such as cosmetics and adhesives
• Position Treeless ingredients clearly against incumbent solutions and competitive alternatives

• Higher degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or a related technical field. A business background with strong technical exposure is also welcome
• 3+ years of experience in technical sales, business development, procurement or key account management in: cosmetic ingredients, adhesive ingredients, specialty chemicals, functional additives or related materials industries
• Proven track record of winning business, closing contracts, and generating revenue in B2B
• Strong existing industry network with manufacturers, distributors, and key decision-makers
• Deep understanding of industry supply chains
  , purchasing structures, qualification processes, and decision dynamics
• Excellent negotiation, communication, relational and stakeholder management skills
• Fluent in English and German;
  French is a plus
• Willingness to travel as required out of Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland

• Experience introducing new or disruptive materials into conservative or regulated markets
• Cumulated experience in big international groups and start-ups
• Experience with long sales cycles, and scale-up transitions
• Strong entrepreneurial and ownership mindset
• Team-player and sparring partner for Founders and colleagues
• Highly results-driven, with a clear focus on revenue and impact
• Credible, confident, and persuasive at senior stakeholder level
• Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability
• Comfortable working in an early-stage, fast-moving…