Sales Representative, Healthful Solutions, Middle East

The Technical Sales Representative for Healthful solutions is primarily responsible for steering pipeline growth and delivery for Healthful solutions in the Middle East region by providing support to the Texture & Healthful technical sales representatives to grow and deliver on their Healthful Solutions pipeline in their territories. She/he is also responsible for sales and account development activities including on-site visits for all the Global Accounts in the region to achieve pipeline, revenue goals and objectives. In close collaboration with Ingredion regulatory and marketing resources, she/he will build a network with the relevant government authorities in the GCC region including Food & Beverage associations in order to understand any changes in sugar tax and seek the necessary support to position Ingredion’s sugar reduction portfolio favorably.

Core Responsibilities:

• Delivering Growth - Deliver Business Goals and growth targets for Healthful solutions in Middle East aligned with the Middle East growth strategy through developing new customer projects with differentiated and IP products, creating new, cross-selling opportunities and defending existing business. Execute Strategic Account Plans and commercial activities for the Global accounts in Middle East.

Provide support to the Texture & Healthful Solutions technical sales representatives grow and deliver on their Healthful solutions pipeline in close conjunction with the Sales Manager for Middle East and the EMEA Business Manager for Healthful solutions.

• Technical Support - Represent Ingredion and be the first point of contact for the Global accounts requiring technical support. Manage, according to customer brief, the formulation of a wide range of food and beverage applications demonstrating the value of our sugar reduction, plant based functional and texturising specialty solutions, and identifying new product innovation opportunities to drive business growth. Analyze customer processes and formulations and provide timely recommendations meeting customer requirements for cost savings, quality improvements, or product innovation, particularly in sugar reduction and flavour modulation. Utilise analytical equipment to diagnose problems and apply food technology knowledge to subsequently make recommendations on ingredient selection and/or process adjustments. Utilize laboratory and pilot plant equipment to conduct trials related to customer projects this involves recipe / process development or fine-tuning and may be required to be done in the presence of customers.

• Relationship Building - Continuously develop and broaden the stakeholder network at customers to drive business development along the customer buying cycle and ensure a positive customer experience across all relevant functions and levels.

In conjunction with Ingredion regulatory and marketing resources, build a network with relevant Government authorities and Food & Beverage Associations in GCC to understand changes in sugar tax and position Ingredion’s Healthful Solutions portfolio favorably. Organize visits to customers and/or visits from customers to the Ingredion Idea Labs within the EMEA region. Lead the Ingredion Middle East team in showcasing Healthful solutions product demonstrations at the Ingredion booth during Expos like Gulfood etc.

• Customer Management - Manage pricing, contracts and forecast accuracy for the portfolio of customers (Global accounts ) with commercial responsibility. Record and share relevant customer activities and project updates in designated knowledge management and CRM tools.

• Internal Initiatives - Display exemplary participation and leadership in our Care First program as well as Continuous Improvement and Customer Excellence initiatives.

Qualified candidates will have:

Mandatory requirements:

• Degree or equivalent in a Food Science, Food Technology or Food Engineering discipline – advantageous
• Either commercial experience in technical sales or technical background in the food ingredient or food industry
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
• Commercial Acumen
• Passionate about Food and willingness to work Sales and Account Management
• Computer literacy (MS Office, etc.)
• Ability to travel across Middle East region and occasionally across EMEA
• Valid driving license 

Desired requirements:

• Experience of selling sugar reduction solutions or plant based ingredients (ideally proteins).
• Knowledge of common food processes, food ingredient functionality, food formulation and ingredient interactions

Required behaviors and skills:

• Persuasive i.e. negotiates to close successfully
• Confident and able to engage and build relationships at all levels
• Takes responsibility to deliver on commitments
• Curious, creative, agile
• Works proactively to continually drive for results
• Anticipate customer needs and proactively create new solutions that exceed customer expectations
• Challenge the status quo by offering ideas to make things better, faster and with value creation in mind

Relocation Available: