Business Development Manager

Company overview

A biotechnology company is scaling quickly around fungal fermentation and next-generation ingredient development. Its work centers on mushroom fermentation to create premium bioactive ingredients for the global cosmetics and personal care sector. Built on a strong scientific base and a sustainability-led approach, the business is bringing to market novel ingredients aimed at improving SPF performance, antioxidant benefits, formulation stability, and wider skin-health applications.

With around 80 employees and a deeply research-driven culture, the company is now entering an important commercial expansion stage and is hiring a Business Development Manager to support growth across the APAC cosmetics and personal care market.

Role overview

This is a high-impact individual contributor position reporting directly to the Managing Director and Head of Growth. The role sits in an entrepreneurial setting and focuses on creating strategic partnerships, winning new customers, and strengthening market presence across APAC. The main customer base will include ingredient manufacturers, formulators, and cosmetic brands.

Based in Hamburg, the successful candidate will serve as the commercial lead for the region and take ownership of growth strategy and customer development across key markets such as Japan, China, South Korea, and Southeast Asia.

Key responsibilities

• Win new business and build strategic partnerships across the APAC cosmetics and personal care market.
• Identify, pursue, and secure new customers for fermentation-derived active ingredients.
• Develop strong working relationships with cosmetic ingredient suppliers, formulators, manufacturers, and brand owners.
• Create market-entry plans for priority APAC territories to accelerate commercial adoption.
• Convert technical ingredient features into clear, market-ready commercial value propositions.
• Assist with partner onboarding and the transfer of technology into customer formulations.
• Collaborate closely with internal scientific teams to ensure innovation aligns with market needs.
• Grow existing partnerships and open new global distribution channels.

Candidate profile

The ideal candidate brings established B2B business development experience in cosmetic ingredients, active ingredients, specialty chemicals, or personal care. A strong network within APAC cosmetic markets is essential, along with prior exposure to ingredient houses, formulators, or multinational beauty brands.

Experience with cosmetic actives, formulation constraints, and ingredient positioning is important. Background in fermentation, biotechnology, or bio-based ingredient platforms would be a strong advantage. The role is suited to someone already based in Hamburg or willing to relocate there, with a solid grasp of APAC market dynamics and an entrepreneurial approach to working in a fast-moving, high-growth business.

Who should apply

Professionals with commercial experience in B2B ingredient sales or business development, particularly those who understand the cosmetics and personal care ecosystem and can help commercialise innovative bioactive ingredients across APAC, are encouraged to apply.