Sr. Manager - 3rd Party and Contract Manufacturing (Dairy)

Role Summary : We are seeking a highly experienced and result-oriented Senior Manager to lead Business Development and Customer Relationship Management for our dairy plant, focused on contract manufacturing. The ideal candidate will have deep expertise in engaging with customers across the full lifecyclefrom initial pitch to product development, costing, finalization, and sales planning. A sound understanding of dairy products and food ingredients is essential. Key Responsibilities : - Business Development & Sales Strategy: - Identify and onboard new clients for contract manufacturing across dairy and food ingredient categories. - Lead customer acquisition efforts including market scanning, pitch presentations, technical discussions, and commercial negotiations. - Build and execute a long-term business development strategy aligned with company goals. - Develop annual sales plans, volume projections, and pricing strategies. - Customer Relationship Management: - Act as the primary point of contact for key clients, managing end-to-end relationships. - Build trust with customers by offering product solutions tailored to their needs. - Ensure timely resolution of customer issues and manage communication flow across internal departments. - Product Development & Costing: - Collaborate with R&D, production, and procurement to finalize product recipes in line with customer expectations and production feasibility. - Work closely on costing exercises, ensuring competitive pricing while maintaining profitability. - Translate customer briefs into actionable development projects with clear timelines and deliverables. - Cross-functional Collaboration: - Coordinate with plant operations, QA/QC, R&D, and supply chain to align execution with customer requirements. - Monitor and ensure timely fulfillment of orders and product launches. - Qualifications & Experience : - Bachelor's/Masters degree in Food Technology, Dairy Technology, or related field. - Minimum 20 years of experience in business development, sales, or customer management roles within the dairy/FMCG/food ingredients industry. - Proven track record in contract manufacturing and customer lifecycle management. - Strong knowledge of food ingredients, product formulation, and costing. - Excellent communication, negotiation, and stakeholder management skills.