Business Development Manager - Poultry

Grow the poultry business with a team that supports technical selling, clear planning, and measurable outcomes. In this onsite role in Schoolcraft, MI, you will develop and manage the Poultry business, execute the sales plan, and drive revenue, volume, and gross margin growth. You will represent J. Rettenmaier in the poultry market, build distribution coverage and brand presence, and coordinate across functions to turn market insights into focused customer actions.

What you’ll do

• Develop and manage the Poultry business by executing the agreed-upon sales plan.
• Identify, qualify, and close new business, directing sales to end users, distributors, and manufacturer’s representatives.
• Build and expand relationships with established and new business partners to support repeat purchases and multi-product adoption.
• Own and execute plans for revenue, volume, and gross margin, including pricing and commercial terms coordination with leadership, plus account-level sales plans.
• Maintain an active, qualified sales pipeline and document sales activities through established call and sales reporting methods.
• Represent J. Rettenmaier in the poultry market, supporting brand presence and distribution coverage.
• Exhibit and present at relevant trade shows, conferences, and expositions.
• Create and maintain directory listings and advertisements.
• Research and document customer, competition, application, and market information; monitor competitive activity, pricing, and positioning, then provide structured feedback to leadership.
• Apply deep knowledge of poultry products, applications, volumes, and pricing, with a focus on Poultry Nutrition.
• Develop relationships with key upper-level decision makers at target accounts.
• Travel frequently to customer sites and market events to support customers and accelerate adoption.
• Create and present papers at internal J. Rettenmaier poultry seminars.
• Work with the CEO to create tactical and strategic sales growth plans.
• Generate quotations recorded in SAP, create sales call reports, and maintain appropriate customer data.
• Create sales forecasts for production planning and the annual budget process.
• Provide input on format, layout, and production of marketing materials such as technical data sheets, newsletters, and promotional giveaway items.
• Model consistent support for company business goals, plans, and objectives.
• Maintain regular, professional attendance, punctuality, personal appearance, and adherence to company policies and procedures.
• Other duties as assigned.

What you bring

• Bachelor degree in Poultry Animal Science or equivalent.
• Strong technical knowledge of the livestock/poultry industry with focus on Poultry Nutrition.
• Independent strong negotiation skills.
• Ability to communicate complex matters by telephone, in person, and in writing.
• Competent business English for formal communication via email, letter, and presentations.
• Valid driver’s license and willingness to travel approximately 50% (also stated as typically 40–60% depending on customer demands and season).
• Strong working knowledge of MS Office, especially Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Ability to perform business and scientific math calculations.
• Excellent organization and time management.
• Proven success in B2B selling and managing multi-stakeholder customer relationships.
• Strong consultative selling capability, including translating technical concepts into practical commercial terms.
• High proficiency in market development, sales planning, and pipeline management.

Success in the first 12 months

• Establish strong customer relationships in priority poultry segments.
• Convert trials and first orders into repeat business.
• Build a qualified opportunity pipeline aligned with existing Feed product offerings.
• Develop customer proof points and case studies in targeted poultry applications.
• Create a predictable forecasting and reporting cadence.

Preferred qualifications

• Proven consistent sales track record.
• Minimum 5 years of B2B sales experience in poultry nutrition, feed additives, or a closely related field.
• Experience with international business partners, specifically German.
• Knowledge of poultry markets and seasonal demand cycles.
• Experience with feeding trials and performance validation (plus).

Core competencies

• Results-driven business development mindset.
• Strong territory planning and account prioritization.
• Customer credibility with producers, nutritionists, and feed manufacturers.
• Structured communication and internal coordination.
• Comfort operating in a growth-focused, entrepreneurial environment.
• Ability to work cross-culturally with international business partners.

Technologies

• SAP
• MS Office (Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint)

Location: Schoolcraft, MI (onsite)

Travel: Approximately 50% (typically 40–60% depending on customer demands and season)