Join Us in Shaping the Future of Materials!
We are a fast-growing startup, 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.
Job Opportunity
We are seeking a senior, commercially driven professional with deep industry expertise and a solidly established network. This role 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, including driving revenues through winning commercial collaborations and converting opportunities into revenue-generating contracts.
- Leverage your existing network to engage cosmetic and adhesive manufacturers and ingredient distributors.
- Identify and connect with the right stakeholders across organizations.
- Lead commercial negotiations and close agreements.
- Build and manage a robust commercial pipeline with a clear path to recurring revenues, supported by structured pipeline management and CRM tools.
- Technical Sales & Customer Interface: Act as the commercial owner of key customer relationships, ensuring effective coordination between customers and Treeless' internal technical experts.
- Serve as the main commercial point of contact for customers and partners.
- Strategize and steer technical-commercial discussions in close collaboration with Treeless' product innovation teams.
- Lead the conversion of technical validation into commercial agreements and long-term supply partnerships.
- Market, Pricing & Value Proposition Development: Shape how Treeless competes by applying your understanding of pricing ranges, margins, and purchasing logic in the cosmetics and adhesives sectors.
- Position 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, or related materials industries.
- Proven track record of winning business, closing contracts, and generating revenue in B2B sectors.
- 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 needed within the Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland.
Nice to Have
- Experience introducing new or disruptive materials into conservative or regulated markets.
- Experience within large international organizations and startups.
- Familiarity with long sales cycles and scale-up transitions.
Soft Skills & Mindset
- Strong entrepreneurial and ownership mindset.
- Team player who collaborates effectively with founders and colleagues.
- Results-driven focus on revenue and impact.
- Credible, confident, and persuasive at senior stakeholder levels.
- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability.
- Comfortable in a fast-paced, early-stage startup environment.
- Resilient and motivated by building something new.
What We Offer
This is a key commercial leadership role in a purpose-driven deep-tech biotech startup, with direct impact on the company’s early revenue generation and market positioning. You will play a central role in shaping Treeless’ commercial success and long-term partnerships.
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 also offer a competitive compensation package aligned with responsibility and performance.
Location and Additional Information
- 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. Only applications matching the job profile will be considered.