Hybrid Senior Director of Sales – Business Development

at Believer Meats

• Job title: Senior Director of Sales – Business Development
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Senior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Tech skills: Chef
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Wilson, United States

About the role

• Senior Director of Sales & Business Development driving commercial expansion in foodservice for cultivated meat solutions. Collaborating with cross-functional teams to refine go-to-market strategy and engage customers.

Responsibilities

• Define and prioritize key customer and consumer segments based on market research, culinary trends, and strategic positioning.
• Develop a sustainable market coverage model rooted in fact-based insights and long-term growth strategy.
• Establish performance metrics to guide customer engagement, channel selection, and go-to-market prioritization.
• Launch our first cultivated meat product into foodservice by securing high-impact early adopter accounts and developing tailored customer engagement strategies.
• Partner closely with Product, Culinary, and R&D teams to translate market needs into innovation opportunities and product roadmap decisions.
• Act as a strategic bridge between product development and commercial application, bringing customer feedback and culinary insights into internal development discussions.
• Proactively identify and pursue new business opportunities through targeted outreach, strategic prospecting, and leveraging industry networking.
• Set clear targets and track progress regularly.
• Lead high-impact culinary walkthroughs and tastings, presenting the product’s features, use cases, and preparation methods with confidence and credibility.
• Build long-term relationships with chefs, foodservice partners, and decision-makers by understanding their needs and consistently presenting cultivated meat as an innovative solution, healthful, tasty, and that makes a positive impact on the planet.
• Shape external messaging, trade materials, digital content, and storytelling that align with both customer priorities and brand identity.
• Help craft product positioning and narratives tailored for different segments, including chefs, operators, and broader culinary influencers.
• Drive best-in-class field execution through structured performance management of internal sales resources and external broker partners.
• Lead route-to-market planning, broker selection, and agency relationship management to support foodservice growth.
• Partner with early customers to ensure strong menu presence and consistent brand messaging.
• Build pricing structures and identify top revenue opportunities in collaboration with Finance and Commercial teams.
• Oversee pipeline management from lead generation to close—ensuring timely follow-up, accurate forecasting, and disciplined execution.
• Evaluate trade spend and sales programs to ensure optimal ROI and alignment with brand goals.

Requirements

• 15+ years in business development, sales, or partnerships in the food industry, with a strong focus on foodservice.
• Culinary training or hands-on experience in food product development, chef relations, or restaurant operations.
• Proven success launching new food products or categories into foodservice environments.
• Strong understanding of customer segmentation, consumer insights, and how to tailor messaging for different audiences.
• Experience with B2B sales and long-lead sales cycles typical of foodservice.
• Exceptional communication and relationship-building skills; confident leading tastings and product walk-throughs.
• Established network of chefs, restaurant groups, or foodservice distributors.
• Start-up mentality—adaptable, proactive, and excited to build from the ground up.
• Ideally, experience in alternative protein, cultivated meat, or emerging food technologies.
• Ideally, familiarity with regulatory considerations for novel food products.

Benefits

• Professional development opportunities
• Equal employment opportunities