Business Development Manager Food NA

J-Tec Material Handling is part of the Katoen Natie group. KTN for short, is a global logistics and applied engineering provider. To optimally serve its customers, the organization is decentralized in business units. Each business unit acts independently and offers its clients tailor made solutions.

J-Tec Material Handling is the process engineering business unit of the group, offering material handling and process engineering solutions to the industry market leaders, in the chemical and food industries all over the world. We have strong track record in industrial plant engineering building turnkey systems for our customers designed for powders, pellets, and liquids. Our company always strives to make a difference in terms of inventively, flexibility and performance. We execute green- and brownfield projects of different sizes with an average implementation time of one to two years.

We are a fast-growing company with an international team of more than 270 employees (and counting). We have offices in Belgium, Spain, Thailand and the US. The company’s location for North America is in Baytown, TX (Houston area).

As Business Development Manager Food North America, you will play a crucial role in identifying and securing new business opportunities, nurturing client relationships, and driving the growth of our food processing solutions. Your role combines market research, consultative selling, contract negotiation, and relationship management. You will work closely with the Sales Director North America (Baytown-based) and collaborate with teams in both the U.S. and Belgium.

Tasks:

• Proactively identify new business opportunities within the food processing industry.
• Develop and maintain long-term relationships with key clients and manufacturers.
• Attend industry events, trade shows, and conferences to expand your network.
• Prepare company presentations and promote the company’s products/services
• Conduct site visits to understand client needs and offer tailored solutions.
• Work with the inside sales team to prepare and present compelling company proposals
• Negotiate and finalize contracts that align with client objectives and company strategy.
• Work closely with technical teams to provide trustworthy feedback and after-sales support.
• Report on market trends, industry investments, and lead status to senior leadership.
• Contribute to a unified global sales strategy and culture.

• Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in engineering or in business.
• 4+ years of experience in B2B capital equipment sales in the EPC industry.
• Knowledge of powder and liquid handling systems is essential.
• Experience with pneumatic conveying is a plus.
• Excellent negotiation, communication, and presentation skills.
• Commercially driven and customer-focused, with a technical mindset.
• Fluent in English (native or bilingual proficiency).
• Proficient in MS Office and CRM tools.
• A flexible team player who also works independently.
• Able and willing to travel (domestic + occasional international). Expected (overnight) travel is 20%

• A long-term employment with an emphasis on personal development.
• The chance to work with a team of experienced and highly motived colleagues.
• Internal and external training to specialize in our business and support the growth of your skills and knowledge.
• A place within a growing, international company, with a flat hierarchy and short communication lines
• Hybrid working possibility