Business Development Manager (m/f/d)
Job description
Strategic Launch & Business Development
- Lead the full end-to-end market launch of new Healthy Snacks innovations in the German retail & drugstore market, from insight-based business rationale and sell-in support to in-market execution
- Translate consumer, shopper and market insights into a robust go-to-market and launch strategy across LEH and drugstore channels
- Identify growth opportunities within the Healthy Snacks segment and contribute to building a scalable, future-proof business model
Cross-Functional & Stakeholder Leadership
- Act as the central project lead coordinating all internal and external stakeholders (Brand, Trade Marketing, KAM, Global Brand, agencies, retailers, etc.)
- Ensure seamless alignment across timelines, deliverables, assets, content setup and POS materials
- Drive decision-making and execution with an entrepreneurial mindset, ensuring focus, speed and accountability within lean structures
Launch Activation & Retail Execution
- Plan and execute impactful launch activations including communication, sampling concepts, POS excellence and retailer-specific execution
- Ensure strong visibility and execution quality at shelf across LEH and drugstores, maximizing trial and conversion
- Work closely with sales and trade marketing to secure optimal in-store and promotional support
Performance Management & Optimization
- Closely monitor launch performance across sell-in, sell-out, activation KPIs and social listening
- Identify risks and opportunities early and implement corrective actions to ensure a successful and sustainable market introduction
Profile
- Master’s degree in economics, business, marketing or a comparable field
- 5–7 years of experience in business development, brand management, product launch execution or commercial project management, ideally within FMCG
- Proven hands-on mentality with a strong bias for execution, ownership and getting things done
- Strong track record in successfully delivering at least two major product launches from scratch
- Experience in start-up or scale-up environments with the ability to operate effectively in lean, fast-moving organizations
- Solid understanding of consumer and shopper insights, including hands-on experience with relevant panel data (e.g. GfK, Circana, YouGov) and the ability to translate data into actionable business decisions
- Know-how from trade marketing and a deep understanding of the LEH and drugstore environment
- Experience in food or Healthy Snacking is a strong advantage
- Excellent storytelling and communication skills to develop compelling sell-in strategies and drive internal and external alignment
- Clear understanding of growth levers in stationary retail, including first experience with POS activation and retail media
- Strong stakeholder, project and budget management skills with a collaborative, cross-functional mindset
- Entrepreneurial mindset paired with a structured, results-oriented way of working
- Fluency in German (full professional proficiency) and strong command of English, written and spoken
- Cultural Fit: True team player, approachable, pro-active, positive and strong communicator
- Insights Ambassador: Great passion for data insights and the ability to persuade others of your ideas
- Brand Lover: Great passion for our brands and categories
- Proactive Achiever: With a hands-on mentality, you are ambitious to take ownership, develop new ideas & follow up to ensure excellence in execution
- Innovative Thinker: Ambitious and forward-looking, you proactively develop new ideas and follow up to ensure excellence in execution
- Results-Driven Visionary: You take an active role in identifying and shaping today’s and future potentials of the business
Offer
- Impactful Role: Actively shape the Lotus Bakeries Germany business with huge future potential and leave your own signature with a pivotal role in the local team
- Autonomy and Ownership: Responsibility for bringing alive our Natural Foods brand vision with a high scope of individual management
- Supportive Environment: Professional working environment with a great interpersonal atmosphere, where collaboration and interpersonal connection thrive.
- Modern Work Setup: A permanent position based in a modern Düsseldorf office with 30 days of annual vacation.
- Additional Perks: Benefit from corporate benefits, team events and, because we love our products as much as you will, enjoy our delicious brands every day in the office — paired with a great cup of coffee!
Become a Lotus’ brand ambassador and take an active part in developing our business. If this sounds like you, we’d love to hear from you!
Apply for this job
... Or get to know the team
Do you want to be part of a terrific team with the ambition to create small moments of happiness every day? Meet our people, discover their unique skills and get excited to join them in a great work environment.
Meet the team