Technical Sales Specialist
WFA Digital Insight
The demand for technical sales specialists in the food industry has grown significantly, with companies seeking experts who can bridge the gap between technical knowledge and customer needs. As the market for sustainable and innovative food products expands, professionals with deep expertise in baking processes and formulations are in high demand. IFF, a global leader in flavors and food ingredients, is at the forefront of this trend. With the rise of remote work, field-based roles like this one offer a unique opportunity for professionals to combine technical expertise with extensive travel and customer interaction. Candidates should be prepared to showcase their hands-on experience, problem-solving skills, and ability to communicate complex technical information to customers.
Job Description
About the Role
The Technical Sales Specialist role at IFF is a critical position that combines technical expertise with customer-facing skills. As a key member of the sales team, you will be responsible for leading customer bakery trials, supporting account managers, and applying your deep knowledge of baking processes and formulations to solve customer challenges. You will work closely with the R&D team to develop and test new products, and serve as the primary technical interface during plant trials and product evaluations.The role is field-based, with extensive travel required, and you will be expected to troubleshoot product performance issues, validate alternative raw materials, and support lab-based formulation development. You will be part of a collaborative, customer-focused team that values technical rigor, execution speed, and customer satisfaction.
In this role, you will have the opportunity to work with globally recognized brands and customers in the baking industry, and contribute to the development of sustainable and innovative food products. Your technical expertise and customer-facing skills will be essential in driving customer success and revenue growth.
What You Will Do
- Lead and execute customer bakery trials to ensure successful commercialization and performance at plant scale
- Partner with account managers to support customer meetings, trials, and technical sales activities
- Apply deep expertise in baking processes, formulations, and ingredient functionality to solve customer challenges
- Serve as the primary technical interface during plant trials, service visits, and product evaluations
- Troubleshoot product performance issues during trials, scale-up, and post-sale implementation
- Support lab-based formulation development and testing when not traveling
- Act as a technical bridge between R&D, sales, and customer operations
- Validate alternative raw materials and support supply continuity through technical trial execution
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to drive customer success and revenue growth
- Develop and maintain strong relationships with customers, R&D, and sales teams
What We Are Looking For
- 10+ years of experience in bakery, food manufacturing, or ingredient applications
- Strong hands-on expertise in commercial baking processes, including high-speed bread, buns, and sweet goods
- Proven experience leading plant trials in customer bakery environments
- Ability to translate technical insights into clear, customer-facing solutions
- Strong collaboration and communication skills across sales, R&D, and operations
- Highly practical, credible, hands-on problem solver with plant-floor experience
- Willingness to travel up to 70% in a field-based role
- Experience supporting commercialization and scale-up from lab to customer production
- Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to interpret data and draw conclusions
- Ability to work independently and as part of a team, with a strong focus on customer satisfaction
Nice to Have
- Experience supporting commercialization and scale-up from lab to customer production
- Spanish language proficiency
- Demonstrated success influencing customers through technical expertise
- Experience with lab-based formulation development and testing
- Knowledge of food safety regulations and quality control procedures
Benefits and Perks
- Competitive salary and bonus plan
- Comprehensive benefits package, including medical, dental, vision, and 401k
- Generous paid time off, including vacation, holidays, and parental leave
- Opportunities for professional development and growth
- Collaborative, dynamic work environment with a strong focus on customer satisfaction
- Recognition and reward programs for outstanding performance
- Access to cutting-edge technology and innovative products
- Flexible work arrangements, including remote work options and flexible hours
How to Stand Out
- Tip: Highlight your hands-on experience in commercial baking processes and your ability to translate technical insights into clear, customer-facing solutions.
- Tip: Be prepared to showcase your problem-solving skills and ability to work independently and as part of a team.
- Tip: Emphasize your experience supporting commercialization and scale-up from lab to customer production, and your knowledge of food safety regulations and quality control procedures.
- Tip: Develop a strong understanding of the company's products and services, and be prepared to discuss how you can contribute to the development of sustainable and innovative food products.
- Tip: Showcase your ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment, and your willingness to travel extensively in a field-based role.
- Tip: Prepare to discuss your experience with lab-based formulation development and testing, and your ability to interpret data and draw conclusions.
- Tip: Highlight your strong collaboration and communication skills, and your ability to work effectively with cross-functional teams.
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