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- Tasks: Drive sales in the pet food sector and build strong customer relationships.
- Company: Innovative business focused on sustainability and growth in the pet food market.
- Benefits: Competitive salary, performance bonuses, hybrid work, and career development opportunities.
- Why this job: Make a real impact in a rapidly growing industry while driving innovation.
- Qualifications: 5+ years in sales or business development, preferably in pet food or nutrition.
- Other info: Exciting growth phase with opportunities for direct progression and international expansion.
The predicted salary is between 34000 - 50000 £ per year.
Our client is an innovative, rapidly growing business supplying specialist ingredients into the pet food sector. With sustainability, science and commercial performance at the heart of their offering, they are entering an exciting growth phase and are now looking to appoint a Business Development Manager to accelerate expansion across the UK and international pet food markets. This is a hands-on, execution-focused commercial role.
Success will come from building pipeline, progressing conversations, winning new business and growing accounts – not from sitting in high-level strategy meetings.
The Role: As Business Development Manager, you will take ownership of driving sales activity across the pet food sector. You will manage the full commercial cycle from prospecting through to contract completion and account growth. Your core focus will include:
- Proactively generating, qualifying and converting new business opportunities
- Managing the full sales lifecycle from lead generation to commercial agreement
- Developing and expanding key customer accounts
- Building strong relationships with procurement teams, buyers and commercial stakeholders
- Engaging closely with New Product Development (NPD) teams, formulators and nutritionists — who often initiate the purchasing decision
- Maintaining accurate CRM reporting, forecasting and pipeline management
- Collaborating with technical and operational teams to ensure seamless delivery
While procurement teams are typically the formal buying function, success in this role requires the ability to influence technical stakeholders including NPD teams, formulators and nutritionists who drive ingredient selection and product development. This is an execution-led role ideal for someone who enjoys being close to customers, progressing deals and delivering measurable revenue growth.
About You: We’re keen to speak with commercially focused professionals who bring:
- 5+ years’ experience in sales, business development or commercial roles
- Experience within pet food, animal feed, animal nutrition or functional ingredient
- A proven track record of hitting sales targets and closing B2B agreements
- Experience managing key accounts and commercial negotiations
- Confidence engaging both technical and commercial stakeholders
- Strong CRM discipline and forecasting capability
- A proactive, self-starting, results-driven mindset
- Experience within sustainability-led or circular economy businesses would be advantageous but is not essential.
Location & Flexibility: Our client’s preference is for the candidate to be based in Edinburgh, with at least one day per week in the office to support collaboration and team alignment. Additional flexibility may be considered for candidates that require support.
Package & Benefits:
- Base salary £40K – £50K (DOE)
- Discretionary performance bonus paid at financial year-end
- Electric car scheme available
- Hybrid working model
- Enhanced holiday allowance
- Company pension contribution
Career Development: This is a rapidly growing organisation with significant commercial momentum. As the business scales, there will be genuine opportunities for:
- Direct progression within commercial leadership
- Expansion into international markets
- Movement into other functional areas of the business
For ambitious individuals, this role offers both immediate impact and long-term career trajectory.
If you are motivated by growth, enjoy influencing both technical and commercial buying functions, and want to be part of a sustainability-led business driving innovation within the pet industry – we would love to hear from you. Please apply to register your interest or contact us to find out more!
Business Development Manager employer: The Animal People Recruitment Company
Contact Detail:
The Animal People Recruitment Company Recruiting Team
StudySmarter Expert Advice 🤫
We think this is how you could land Business Development Manager
✨Tip Number 1
Network like a pro! Attend industry events, trade shows, or local meetups related to pet food and animal nutrition. It's all about making connections and getting your name out there. You never know who might be looking for someone just like you!
✨Tip Number 2
Leverage social media to showcase your expertise. Share insights, articles, or even your thoughts on trends in the pet food sector. This not only positions you as a knowledgeable candidate but also attracts potential employers to you.
✨Tip Number 3
Prepare for interviews by researching the company and its products. Understand their values around sustainability and innovation. Tailor your responses to show how your experience aligns with their goals, especially in driving sales and building relationships.
✨Tip Number 4
Don't forget to apply through our website! It’s the best way to ensure your application gets noticed. Plus, we’re always on the lookout for passionate individuals ready to make an impact in the pet food industry.
We think you need these skills to ace Business Development Manager
Some tips for your application 🫡
Tailor Your CV: Make sure your CV speaks directly to the role of Business Development Manager in the pet food sector. Highlight your relevant experience, especially in sales and account management, and don’t forget to mention any specific achievements that showcase your ability to hit targets.
Craft a Compelling Cover Letter: Your cover letter is your chance to shine! Use it to tell us why you’re passionate about the pet food industry and how your skills align with our needs. Be sure to mention your experience with technical stakeholders and your proactive approach to business development.
Showcase Your Results: We love numbers! When detailing your past roles, include quantifiable results that demonstrate your success in driving sales and managing accounts. This could be anything from percentage growth in sales to the number of new clients acquired.
Apply Through Our Website: We encourage you to apply through our website for a smoother application process. It’s the best way for us to receive your application and ensures you don’t miss out on any important updates regarding your application status.
How to prepare for a job interview at The Animal People Recruitment Company
✨Know Your Stuff
Make sure you research the pet food and animal nutrition sector thoroughly. Understand the latest trends, key players, and sustainability practices. This will not only help you answer questions confidently but also show your genuine interest in the industry.
✨Showcase Your Sales Skills
Prepare specific examples of how you've successfully generated leads, closed deals, and managed key accounts in your previous roles. Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to structure your responses and highlight your achievements.
✨Build Rapport with Technical Stakeholders
Since this role involves engaging with technical teams like NPD and formulators, practice how you'll communicate with them. Be ready to discuss how you can influence their decisions and collaborate effectively to drive sales.
✨Demonstrate Your Proactive Mindset
This is an execution-focused role, so be prepared to share how you've taken initiative in past positions. Discuss times when you identified opportunities, took action, and achieved results without waiting for direction.