Associate, Sales - Business Development

Role Overview

The Associate – Sales & Business Development is responsible for identifying, developing, and securing new business opportunities for the company's Contract Development and Manufacturing Organization (CDMO/CMO) services and product solutions. This role focuses on generating new business within the nutraceutical, dietary supplement, vitamin, pharmaceutical, cosmetics, consumer health, and related industries.

Areas of Responsibility

• Business Development

• Identify, target, and secure new business opportunities within the nutraceutical, dietary supplement, vitamin, wellness, and consumer health markets.
• Develop and execute strategic business development plans to expand market presence and generate revenue growth.
• Build and maintain a robust pipeline of prospective clients through networking, industry events, referrals, cold calling, and outbound prospecting.
• Establish relationships with key decision-makers, including founders, CEOs, brand owners, product development teams, procurement leaders, operations leaders, R&D teams and executive stakeholders.
• Analyze market trends, competitive activity, and customer needs to identify growth opportunities.
• Represent the company at trade shows, conferences, and industry networking events.

• Sales & Account Acquisition

• Drive the full sales cycle from lead generation through contract negotiation and account onboarding.
• Present the company's CDMO manufacturing capabilities, technical expertise, and service offerings to prospective clients.
• Develop customized proposals and solutions that align with client objectives and manufacturing requirements.
• Cook with internal teams to prepare proposals, quotations, capability presentations, and customer responses.
• Support contract negotiations and commercial discussions with prospective customers.
• Consistently achieve or exceed assigned sales and business development targets.
• Maintain accurate sales forecasts and pipeline activity within the CRM system.

• Market Intelligence

• Monitor market trends, competitive activity, emerging product categories, and customer needs within the pharmaceutical and nutraceutical industries.
• Identify opportunities for new product categories, manufacturing capabilities, and strategic partnerships.
• Provide market intelligence and customer feedback to support product and service development initiatives.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with R&D, Operations, Quality, Supply Chain, and Customer Success teams to ensure successful client onboarding and project execution.
• Support the transition of new business opportunities into long-term customer partnerships.
• Support customer site visits, audits, technical discussions, and project kick-off activities.
• Facilitate communication between prospective customers and internal subject matter experts.

• Reporting and Administration

• Maintain complete and accurate customer and opportunity records.
• Prepare pipeline, forecast, and business development reports as requested.
• Participate in sales meetings, commercial reviews, and strategic planning activities.

Requirements

• Education & Qualification:

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Life Sciences, Pharmaceutical Sciences, or a related field preferred.
• 3 + years of business development and sales experience in nutraceuticals, dietary supplements, vitamins, consumer health products, pharmaceuticals, or CDMO/contract manufacturing.
• Proven track record of acquiring new clients and generating revenue through business development efforts.
• Experience selling contract manufacturing, private-label, or formulation services is highly preferred.
• Pharmaceutical industry experience is a plus, particularly with companies involved in consumer health, vitamins, supplements, or wellness products.
• Strong network within the nutraceutical, dietary supplement, or consumer packaged goods industry preferred.
• Excellent prospecting, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-management skills.
• Demonstrated hunter mentality with the ability to independently source and close new business opportunities.
• Proficiency in CRM systems and Microsoft Office Suite.

• Certifications, Licenses, Credentials:

• N/A

• Travel Requirements:

• Willingness to travel extensively (50–75%).
• Ability to visit prospective clients, attend trade shows, and participate in industry events.
• Comfortable with overnight and regional travel to generate new business opportunities.

• Skills & Abilities:

• Client-obsessed with a strong aptitude in a structured sales approach.
• Self-motivated with exceptional talent in closing deals.
• Strong knowledge in the complete end-to-end sales cycle (from prospecting to closing).
• Exceptional prospecting/hunter skills and experience.
• Experience in pharmaceuticals and/or manufacturing environment is a plus.
• Good communication and Email writing skills.

• Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• New Business Revenue Generated
• Annual Quota Achievement
• Qualified Pipeline Generated
• New Customer Opportunities Created
• Customer Meetings Conducted
• Proposal-to-Win Ratio
• Customer Acquisition Rate
• CRM Data Accuracy and Forecast Reliability
• Strategic Account Development Activities

• Physical Requirements:

• Ability to navigate office, lab, and/or plant floor working environments.
• Standard office environment without unpleasant or hazardous conditions.
• Physical demands involved in office work such as the ability to talk, hear, use hands to handle and feel; work on a computer up to 7 hours a day; close vision required for computer usage.
• Must have the ability to wear applicable personal protective equipment utilized at this site, including safety glasses/goggles, hairnets, lab coats and safety shoes.

• Work Environment:

• Exposed to lab and/or plant floor working environments.
• Standard office environment without unpleasant or hazardous conditions.
• Temperature controlled for heat and air conditioning.
• Success Profile
• The ideal candidate is a highly motivated business developer with a hunter mentality who enjoys identifying opportunities, building relationships, and creating long-term partnerships.
• This individual is comfortable engaging with entrepreneurs, emerging brands, and established manufacturers, and possesses the persistence, curiosity, and commercial acumen necessary to drive sustainable growth within a highly regulated manufacturing environment.
• For USPL specifically, I would position this role as a "Business Development Representative" externally but benchmark compensation against a Business Development Manager, since the expectation is to prospect, develop, negotiate, and close CDMO opportunities rather than simply qualify leads.

Benefits And Compensation

• Health and wellness benefit options including: medical, dental, vision, short and long term disability, basic life insurance, supplemental life insurance, AD&D insurance.
• A matched 401(k) savings plan.
• Compensation in the form of premium pay such as overtime, shift differential, holiday pay, sick time, etc.
• Up to 10 days of vacation the first year, which grows to 12 days starting the second year of employment.

Job Description Acknowledgement

I have read and understand the job requirements, responsibilities, and expectations set forth in the job description provided for my position. I attest that I can perform the essential job functions as outlined with or without any reasonable accommodation.