Overview\nIngreSearch are seeking a Sales Manager, Food Ingredients to manage sales activities within Italy and Spain for our client, a specialty Ingredients manufacturer.\nLocation: Italy or Spain\nExperience: 5 – 8 years\nFunction: International Sales / Business Development\nReports to: Head of International Markets\nRole Purpose\nThe Sales Professional will drive regional sales growth of the food ingredient portfolio—including spice and plant extracts, oleoresins, natural nutraceuticals, antioxidants and other bio-ingredients—in strategic markets across Italy/Spain. This role blends business development, key account management, technical ingredient expertise and cross-functional collaboration to expand market share with food manufacturers, ingredient houses, flavors & fragrance companies, and co-packers.\nResponsibilities\n\nDevelop and execute annual and quarterly sales plans to meet revenue and profitability goals within assigned territory.\nIdentify, qualify and convert new business opportunities with food manufacturers, ingredient distributors and strategic partners.\nManage the full sales cycle—from lead generation to negotiation, contracting, and order closure.\nMonitor and analyze market trends, competitor activity, pricing dynamics, and regulatory developments impacting ingredient adoption in food applications.\nBuild and maintain strong relationships with key customers, specifiers, R&D; decision-makers and ingredient buyers in the food and beverage ecosystem.\nAct as the primary point of contact for customer inquiries, proposals, technical support and delivery coordination.\nPartner with internal teams (R&D;, applications, supply chain) to co-develop tailored solutions that meet customer product performance, cost and compliance requirements.\nPromote portfolio of spice extracts, essential oils, natural colors and functional ingredients through technical presentations, product trials, sensory evaluations and application support.\nTranslate customer needs into value propositions that align with product benefits (e.g., clean label, natural origin, sensory impact, shelf-life enhancements).\nPrepare accurate sales forecasts and pipeline reports for senior leadership.\nManage CRM records and documentation for commercial activities, customer contracts and agreements.\nProvide regular updates on market insights, risks, and opportunities.\n\nRequirements\n\nBachelor’s or Master’s degree in Food Science / Food Technology / Chemistry / Life Sciences / Business / Marketing or related discipline.\n5 – 8 years of sales experience in food ingredients, plant extracts, oleoresins, flavors, botanicals or related B2B industrial ingredient markets.\nProven track record of achieving sales targets and developing new business in Italy, Spain, or wider European markets.\n\nSkills & Competencies\n\nStrong commercial acumen with consultative selling and negotiation skills.\nTechnical understanding of food ingredient applications and product performance.\nExcellent communication and interpersonal skills, fluent in English; Spanish or Italian language proficiency is a strong advantage.\nAbility to travel within the assigned region and internationally as required.\n\nAttributes\n\nCustomer-centric mindset with entrepreneurial drive.\nCollaborative team player with strategic thinking and problem-solving orientation.\nComfortable working in a fast-paced, globally connected sales environment.\n\nPlease submit your CV if you have the requisite skills as outlined above and are a highly competitive individual with excellent communication skills. Unfortunately, due to the high volume of expected responses we are only able to acknowledge successful applications. If you have not been contacted within 2 weeks, on this occasion your application has been unsuccessful.\nAbout IngreSearch\nIngreSearch was founded with the belief that an organisation is only as good as it’s people. With an in-depth, specialist knowledge of various sub-sectors of the Ingredients market, we respect the uniqueness of each and every project and strive to secure the best talent possible by combining detailed market knowledge & insights with a firm understanding of our clients culture, business objectives and needs. Our service is bespoke to your requirements as a candidate, or as a hiring company, with expertise in both Retained & Contingent Searches.