Business Unit manager Petfood Europe

A leading multinational group in the chemical sector, based in the province of Barcelona (Spain), is seeking a

Business Unit Manager Petfood Europe. He/she will have the challenge of implementing and leading a newly created business unit, defining its long-term strategy, designing its structure, and driving its growth.

Key responsibilities: Implementation and Leadership: Establish, organize, and lead the BU, ensuring operational readiness, cultural alignment, and strategic impact across all functions. Strategy Definition: Define and execute short, medium, and long-term commercial and technical strategies, aligned with corporate goals and industry dynamics. Target Setting: Develop and monitor ambitious financial and operational targets, covering budgets, sales, costs, and margins. Key Account Management: Serve as a Global Key Account Manager for major industry players when relevant, leveraging proven track record in international customer management. Team Development: Build a high-performing team —recruit, coach, develop, and retain talent across Product Management, Sales, and Key Account functions. Cross-Functional Collaboration: Ensure seamless collaboration with R&D, Innovation, Marketing, Regulatory Affairs, Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations to deliver customer-centric solutions. Market Intelligence: Monitor market trends, competitor activities, consumer insights, and regulatory evolutions to continuously adapt BU strategy. Representation: Act as the external face of the BU, representing the company in the global Petfood sector with customers, associations, and industry events.

Requirements: The role requires vision, resilience, and the ability to build a business from the ground up. Visionary and inspiring leader with a people-first approach. Strong strategic thinking combined with pragmatic, hands-on execution. Excellent communication, negotiation, and influencing skills at senior levels. High resilience and adaptability to lead through growth and change. Entrepreneurial, innovative, and deeply customer centric. University degree in Business Administration, Veterinary Science, Animal Nutrition, Food Science, or a related discipline. MBA or postgraduate studies in business management or international trade are highly valued. Extensive experience in the Petfood industry is mandatory, including business development, product management, and key account leadership. Proven success in P&L management, strategic execution, and market expansion. Previous experience in global or regional account management with multinational clients is an advantage. Also, track record of leading multidisciplinary, and multicultural teams. In-depth knowledge of Petfood industry markets, trends, technologies, and customer needs. Solid financial acumen with the ability to interpret and act on business data and insights. Fluency in English (C1/C2). Additional languages, especially Spanish or French, are an asset. Proficiency with ERP, CRM, and digital business tools, as well as market analysis platforms.