Business Development Manager

Location: melbourne
Job Type: permanent
Salary: $170000 - $190000 per annum
Contact: Mark Yeoman
The Client
my client is an Australian-owned food manufacturing business with deep capability across innovation, NPD and contract manufacturing. The business partners with leading FMCG and food brands to develop, manufacture and scale high-quality products across chocolate, caramelisation, coating, blending and packaging.
As part of its ongoing growth strategy, they are investing further in innovation-led partnerships and is now seeking a Business Development Manager to drive new customer engagement and manage complex NPD and manufacturing projects end to end.
About the Position
This role sits at the intersection of business development, project management and innovation. You will be responsible for identifying and engaging food and FMCG businesses looking to innovate, while owning customer projects from early-stage concept through to production and delivery.
Acting as the customer champion internally, you’ll coordinate teams across NPD, technical, production, planning and operations to ensure outcomes are delivered on time and to brief.
  • Drive new business through NPD and innovation-led opportunities: Identify and engage prospective FMCG and food manufacturing customers aligned to the businesses capabilities.
    • Lead customer projects end to end: Manage projects from initial brief, feasibility and concept through to manufacturing readiness and delivery.
    • Sell manufacturing capability, not just product: Position the business as a long-term innovation and contract manufacturing partner.
    • Champion the customer internally: Translate customer needs into clear internal briefs, drive accountability, and ensure priorities are understood across the business.
    • Manage complexity and timelines: Oversee lead times, stage-and-gate processes and multiple internal stakeholders.
    • Build long-term commercial partnerships: Develop trusted relationships that result in repeat business and strategic collaboration.
About You
You’re commercially minded, confident in customer-facing environments, and comfortable operating in a manufacturing or NPD-led setting. You enjoy owning outcomes, managing moving parts and working closely with internal teams to deliver for customers.
You will ideally bring:
  • Experience in B2B business development or commercial roles within FMCG, packaging, ingredients or contract manufacturing.
    • Strong exposure to NPD, innovation or product development projects. End to End project management skillset required. 
    • Proven project management capability, including managing timelines, stakeholders and competing priorities.
    • The ability to connect technical or operational detail with commercial outcomes.
    • Strong communication and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to influence internally and externally.
    • A customer-first mindset, with the resilience to manage challenges and drive projects through to completion.
Click on the APPLY button or contact Mark Yeoman at Six Degrees Executive on 0483927123 for a confidential discussion.

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