Business Development Manager

[Company / Industry] Plant and Dairy Beverages / Food & Beverages

[Position] Business Development Manager

[Function] Commercial Sales

[Reporting Line] Regional Director Asia

[Employment Type] Permanent (Hired through EOR)

[Compensation] TBD

[Location] Seoul, Korea

[Consultant in charge] Simon S. Kim

About the Company:

Global plant and dairy beverages company driven by the purpose of Imagining a Healthier Tomorrow. From the pioneering origins in plant and dairy beverages to the expertise in Nutritional’s, the Company blend the wonders of nature with the power of science to create leading brands that nourish the consumers, the communities, and the planet.

Position Accountabilities and Deliverables:

The Business Development Manager is responsible for building a high-growth and eventually, a sustainable and scalable business in South Korea.

Core Accountabilities:

Strategic Business Development & Sales

• Develop and execute a comprehensive Route-To-Market and growth strategy for the South Korean market, focusing on both the dairy and plant-based liquid categories.

• Work with Distributor Partners to identify, prospect, and secure new business opportunities across B2B and B2C channels.

  
  

Distributor & Key Account Management

• Key focus is partnering distributor partners to build depth and breadth of proprietary plant and dairy milk with a brand presence in the respective markets.

• Set clear performance metrics and work closely with distributors to ensure effective channel coverage, inventory management, and promotional execution.

• Develop and maintain strong, long-lasting relationships with key accounts, major retailers, and strategic partners.

• Negotiate contracts, terms of trade, and joint business plans with distributors

• Achieve aggressive sales targets and contribute significantly to the company's revenue growth and profitability.

• Conduct market analysis to identify trends, competitive landscape, and consumer preferences to inform product, pricing, and promotional strategies.

  
  

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Communication

• Act as the primary bridge between the South Korean market and Regional/Global Head Office, ensuring alignment on business objectives, product launches, and marketing activities.

• Work closely with the Regional Marketing team to plan, localize, and drive in-market activations (e.g., promotional campaigns, trade shows, point-of-sale activities, digital campaigns) that support sales goals and brand building.

• Prepare detailed business reports, sales forecasts, and performance reviews for executive management.

• Collaborate with Marketing, Regional Key Account Lead, Operations, and R&D teams to ensure successful product localization, launch, and supply chain efficiency.

Position Requirements – Qualifications, Knowledge and Competencies:

• 8+ years of progressive experience in Business Development and Sales, with a significant track record of success in the Food, Beverage, or Nutrition industry.

• Demonstrable experience managing both B2B and B2C sales channels.

• Proven expertise in Distributor Management and key account negotiation.

• Fluency in both Korean and English (written and verbal) is mandatory for effective communication with local partners and international stakeholders.

• A strong entrepreneurial mindset with a proactive, self-starter attitude and the ability to operate independently in a new or growing market.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, or a related field.

• Competent understanding of Trade Maths & Profit & Loss (P&L) management.

• Specific experience with Dairy and/or Plant-Based Food categories is highly advantageous.

• Existing network and knowledge of the South Korean retail, foodservice (especially Coffee Channel), and e-commerce landscape is highly valued.

• Advantageous if candidate has experience working for an international/regional company which is based outside of South Korea

Leadership Capabilities

People and commercial leadership require specific skills and competencies, these are described as:

• Strategic Mindset: Seeing ahead to future possibilities and translating them into breakthrough strategies.

• Customer Centric: Building strong customer relationships and delivering customer-centric solutions.

• Ensures Accountability: Holding self and others accountable to meet commitments.

• Decision Quality: Making good and timely decisions that keep the organization moving forward.

• Cultivates Innovation: Creating new and better ways for the organization to be successful.

• Builds Organisation Talent: Attracts, retains and motivates high quality people and teams.

• Drives Engagement: Creating a climate where people are motivated to do their best to help the organization achieve its objectives.

• Leadership Courage: Stepping up to address difficult issues, saying what needs to be said.

• Coaching: Supporting a high performance, high integrity culture by supporting individuals and teams with coaching and mentoring.

If you are interested, please contact simon.kim@rp4rp.com +82-2-6123-0100