**Join us in shaping the future of materials!**
We are a fast-growing startup, a ETH Zurich Spin-off, pioneering sustainable biomaterials made from microorganisms. We develop high-performance, renewable functional ingredients designed to replace petroleum-based additives and materials in applications such as
**cosmetics, adhesives**
or
**advanced composites.**
Tasks
We are now looking for a
**senior, commercially driven professional**
with deep industry expertise and a solidly established network to actively shape segment-specific market access strategies, build a customer portfolio and a market development pipeline to ensure solid commercial revenue growth for Treeless AG.
Requirements
This role is requiring a
**deep, practical understanding of the cosmetics and/or adhesives ingredient markets**
- including supply chain organization, decision-making structures, pricing pattern and logics, specific value propositions requirements, contracting practices as well as long-term commercial partnerships.
**Key Responsibilities:**
**Revenue Ownership & Business Development**
- You will be fully accountable for early commercial success:
- Take primary responsibility for
**driving early revenues**
through
**winning commercial collaborations**
, ensuring disciplined progression and conversion into revenue-generating commercial contracts
- Leverage your existing network to open doors primarily with cosmetic and adhesive manufacturers and ingredient distributors
- Identify, approach, and engage 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 / CRM tools
**Technical Sales & Customer Interface - Commercial Lead**
You will 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
- **Own, 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, 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:
- Apply your understanding of
**typical pricing ranges, margins, and purchasing logic**
in sectors such as cosmetics and adhesives
- 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, 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 Greater Zurich Area, Switzerland
**Nice to have**
- Experience introducing new or disruptive materials into conservative or regulated markets
- Cumulated experience in big international groups and start-ups
- 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
Benefits
**What we offer**
We offer 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.
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
