Join Us in Shaping the Future of Materials!
We are a fast-growing startup and an ETH Zurich spin-off, pioneering sustainable biomaterials made from microorganisms. Our mission is to develop high-performance, renewable functional ingredients designed to replace petroleum-based additives and materials in applications such as cosmetics, adhesives, and advanced composites.
Position Overview
We are currently looking for a senior, commercially driven professional with deep industry expertise and a well-established network. This individual will actively shape segment-specific market access strategies, build a customer portfolio, and develop a market pipeline to ensure solid commercial revenue growth for Treeless AG.
Key Responsibilities
- Revenue Ownership & Business Development: You will be fully accountable for early commercial success by:
- Taking primary responsibility for driving early revenues through winning commercial collaborations, ensuring disciplined progression and conversion into revenue-generating contracts.
- Leveraging your existing network to open doors primarily with cosmetic and adhesive manufacturers and ingredient distributors.
- Identifying, approaching, and engaging the right stakeholders across organizations.
- Leading commercial negotiations and closing agreements.
- Building and managing a robust commercial pipeline with a clear path to recurring revenues, supported by structured pipeline management/CRM tools.
- Technical Sales & Customer Interface: You will act as the commercial owner of key customer relationships, ensuring effective coordination between customers and Treeless’ internal technical experts by:
- Serving as the main point of contact for customers and partners.
- Owning, strategizing, and steering technical-commercial discussions in close collaboration with Treeless’ product innovation teams.
- Leading the conversion of technical validation into commercial agreements and long-term supply partnerships, working closely with internal R&D and external partners to develop customer-ready commercial and technical documentation.
- Market, Pricing & Value Proposition Development: You will shape how Treeless competes by:
- Applying your understanding of typical pricing ranges, margins, and purchasing logic in sectors such as cosmetics and adhesives.
- Positioning Treeless ingredients clearly against incumbent solutions and competitive alternatives.
Requirements
- Higher degree in Chemistry, Materials Science, Chemical Engineering, Polymer Science, or a related technical field. A business background with strong technical exposure is also welcome.
- 3+ years of experience in technical sales, business development, procurement, or key account management in: cosmetic ingredients, adhesive ingredients, specialty chemicals, functional additives, or related materials industries.
- Proven track record of winning business, closing contracts, and generating revenue in B2B.
- Strong existing industry network with manufacturers, distributors, and key decision-makers.
- Deep understanding of industry supply chains, purchasing structures, qualification processes, and decision dynamics.
- Excellent negotiation, communication, relational, and stakeholder management skills.
- Fluent in English and German; French is a plus.
- Willingness to travel as required out of the Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland.
Nice to Have
- Experience introducing new or disruptive materials into conservative or regulated markets.
- Experience in large international groups and startups.
- Experience with long sales cycles and scale-up transitions.
Soft Skills & Mindset
- Strong entrepreneurial and ownership mindset.
- Team player and sparring partner for founders and colleagues.
- Highly results-driven, with a clear focus on revenue and impact.
- Credible, confident, and persuasive at senior stakeholder level.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability.
- Comfortable working in an early-stage, fast-moving startup environment.
- Resilient, persistent, and motivated by building something new.
What We Offer
We provide a key commercial leadership role in a purpose-driven deep-tech biotech startup, directly influencing the company’s early revenue generation and market positioning. You will play a central role in shaping Treeless’ commercial success and establishing long-term partnerships.
You will work closely with an experienced founding team, gain exposure to cutting-edge biomaterials technology, and benefit from a flexible, collaborative environment focused on impact and innovation. We offer a competitive compensation package aligned with responsibility and performance.
Location
Zurich / Greater Zurich Area
Start Date
To be agreed
Language
English and German; French is a plus
Workload
80-100%, candidates must be eligible to work in Switzerland.
How to Apply
If this opportunity excites you and you believe you’d be a great fit, we’d love to hear from you. Apply online using the form below. Please note that only applications matching the job profile will be considered.