Food Technologist/Sales Engineer

Location: Nairobi, Kenya
Industry: FMCG / Food Manufacturing
Employment Type: Full-time
Experience: 4–5+ years
Joining: Immediate
Salary: Competitive, plus benefits
Gender: Any

The successful candidate will develop and manage relationships with food manufacturers across sectors including bakery, dairy, beverages, meat and poultry, confectionery, sauces, ketchup and mayonnaise, snacks, and other processed foods.

Candidates currently or recently working with specialty food-ingredient distributors are highly preferred.

Key Responsibilities1. Food Ingredient Sales & Business Development

• Develop and grow B2B sales of specialty food ingredients across Kenya.
• Identify new business opportunities and expand the customer base.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with food manufacturers and key decision-makers.
• Achieve agreed sales, revenue, margin, and business-development targets.

2. Technical Sales & Ingredient Applications

• Understand customer requirements and recommend suitable ingredients and solutions.
• Provide technical support on ingredient selection, formulation, and food-processing applications.
• Conduct technical presentations and product demonstrations.
• Support customers in troubleshooting ingredient and formulation challenges.

3. Customer Trials & Product Development

• Coordinate and support customer product trials and ingredient testing.
• Work with customers on formulation improvements and new product development.
• Follow up on trials and convert successful applications into commercial opportunities.

4. Food Industry Customer Management

• Develop long-term relationships with food manufacturers across Kenya.
• Manage key accounts and identify opportunities for cross-selling and upselling.
• Understand customer production processes, challenges, and ingredient requirements.

5. Market Development & Competitor Intelligence

• Monitor market trends, customer needs, competitor activities, and pricing.
• Identify emerging opportunities within the Kenyan food manufacturing sector.
• Provide market feedback to management and suppliers/principals.

6. Supplier / Principal Management

• Maintain effective relationships with suppliers and ingredient principals.
• Coordinate product information, technical support, samples, and customer requirements.
• Work closely with suppliers to develop new market opportunities.

7. Sales Strategy, Administration & Reporting

• Develop and execute sales plans for assigned products and markets.
• Maintain accurate customer and sales records.
• Prepare regular sales forecasts, pipeline updates, and performance reports.
• Track KPIs and provide insights on sales performance and market development.

Preferred Customer Sectors

Experience selling into one or more of the following sectors is highly desirable:

• Meat & Poultry
• Dairy
• Beverages
• Bakery
• Confectionery
• Sauces, Ketchup & Mayonnaise
• Snacks & Chips
• Processed Foods

Qualifications & ExperiencePreferred Qualifications

• BSc in Food Science
• BSc in Food Technology
• BSc in Applied Food Science
• BSc in Food Science, Nutrition & Technology
• BSc in Chemistry / Biochemistry

Candidates with degrees in Chemical Engineering, Biotechnology, Microbiology, or related sciences may also be considered where they have substantial experience in food ingredient sales and a strong understanding of food-processing applications.

A Diploma in Food Science or Food Technology may be considered for candidates with strong industry experience and 5+ years of relevant sales experience.

Required Experience

• 4–5+ years of experience in B2B sales of food ingredients in Kenya.
• Proven track record in sales and business development within the food manufacturing industry.
• Experience working with specialty food ingredients is strongly preferred.
• Experience with customer trials, formulation support, and technical presentations is highly desirable.

Commercial Expectations

The ideal candidate should have:

• A strong existing network of food manufacturers in Kenya.
• Proven B2B sales and business-development experience.
• The ability to sell technical ingredients and solutions, rather than commodity products.
• Strong technical understanding of food ingredients and their applications.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and account-management skills.
• Strong commercial awareness and target-driven mindset.
• Willingness to travel extensively within Kenya.
• Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively with customers, suppliers, and internal teams.