Business Development Manager - Personal Care Packaging

Optify Search is a specialist executive search and selection business supporting leading organizations across the packaging, manufacturing, industrial, and supply chain sectors. We work closely with ambitious businesses to identify and attract high-calibre commercial, technical, and operational talent, with a focus on precision, discretion, and long-term fit.

About the Role

Optify Search is partnered with a leading European manufacturer of high-quality tube packaging solutions, serving some of the world's most recognised brands across the Personal Care, Cosmetics, Beauty, Pharmaceutical, and Consumer Goods markets. We are seeking a commercially driven Business Development Manager to lead growth across France, focusing on winning new business opportunities and expanding market presence within the Personal Care sector.

This is a strategic hunter role, responsible for identifying, developing, and securing new customer relationships with brand owners, contract manufacturers, and packaging decision-makers. The successful candidate will have experience selling packaging solutions into Personal Care, Cosmetics, Beauty, Healthcare, or related markets, with a proven track record of driving revenue growth and building long-term partnerships.

The role offers significant autonomy, territory ownership, and the opportunity to play a key role in the continued expansion of a highly innovative and sustainability-focused packaging business.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute a territory growth strategy across France
• Identify, pursue, and secure new business opportunities within the Personal Care and Cosmetics sectors
• Build relationships with brand owners, contract manufacturers, packaging buyers, procurement teams, and marketing stakeholders
• Generate new revenue streams through proactive prospecting, networking, and market development activities
• Manage the full sales cycle from initial engagement through to commercial negotiation and account onboarding
• Develop a strong pipeline of qualified opportunities and maintain accurate forecasting through CRM systems
• Work closely with technical, product development, and customer service teams to deliver tailored packaging solutions
• Present packaging concepts, sustainability initiatives, and product innovations to prospective customers
• Monitor market trends, competitor activity, and customer requirements within the French packaging market
• Represent the business at industry exhibitions, customer meetings, and trade events
• Support strategic growth initiatives across France and wider European markets where required

Product Focus

This position will focus on a broad portfolio of tube packaging solutions, including:

• Extruded plastic tubes for personal care and cosmetic applications
• Mono-layer, multi-layer, and high-barrier tube packaging solutions
• Custom-decorated tube packaging with advanced printing and finishing capabilities
• Premium cosmetic packaging solutions
• Applicator and speciality dispensing tube formats
• Sustainable tube packaging solutions incorporating recycled and bio-based materials
• Custom packaging projects and bespoke packaging developments
• Caps, closures, and complementary packaging components

Target Markets

• Personal Care
• Beauty & Cosmetics
• Haircare
• Oral Care
• Health & Wellness Products
• Pharmaceutical & OTC Products
• Contract Manufacturing Organisations (CMOs)

What We're Looking For

We are looking for someone who:

• Has experience selling packaging solutions into the Personal Care, Cosmetics, Beauty, Healthcare, or Consumer Goods sectors
• Possesses a strong understanding of the French packaging market and customer landscape
• Is highly motivated by winning new business and developing strategic customer relationships
• Has a consultative and solution-based sales approach
• Can engage effectively with procurement, marketing, packaging development, and senior leadership teams
• Thrives in a customer-facing, commercially focused environment
• Works independently while collaborating effectively with internal stakeholders
• Demonstrates excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills
• Is comfortable managing a large sales territory and extensive prospect pipeline
• Is fluent in French, with additional European languages considered advantageous

Experience Required

• Proven success in business development, sales, or account management within packaging manufacturing
• Experience selling primary packaging solutions into Personal Care, Cosmetics, Beauty, Healthcare, or related industries
• Demonstrated ability to win and develop new business opportunities
• Strong network of contacts within the French Personal Care and Cosmetics market preferred
• Track record of achieving or exceeding commercial targets
• Experience managing complex sales processes and multiple customer opportunities simultaneously
• Strong commercial acumen and territory management capability
• Experience using CRM systems and maintaining detailed sales forecasts
• Ability to travel extensively across France as required

What Success Looks Like

• Consistent growth of revenue and market share across France
• Successful acquisition of new Personal Care and Cosmetics customers
• Development of a robust and sustainable sales pipeline
• Achievement and exceedance of annual sales targets
• Strong customer retention and long-term strategic partnerships
• Expansion of packaging programs across multiple customer locations and product lines
• Effective collaboration with internal teams to deliver best-in-class customer solutions
• Increased market visibility and brand presence within the French Personal Care packaging sector

About Optify Search

Optify Search is a specialist executive search and selection business supporting leading organisations across the packaging sector and beyond. We work closely with ambitious businesses to identify and attract high-calibre commercial, technical, and operational talent, with a focus on precision, discretion, and long-term fit.