What you’ll be doing:

Responsibilities include:

  • Own the P&L for the Ruminant category, delivering profitable growth, expanding market share, and achieving annual sales and profit targets.
  • Shape growth strategy and regional development plans, monitoring, analysing, and adapting to changing market requirements and customer needs.
  • Lead the ruminant team to develop innovative, compliant solutions and services—owning target product profiles, go-to-market strategy, and robust business cases.
  • Identify profitable commercial opportunities through market research, customer insight, and competitor analysis to extend the Devenish Group brand and portfolio.
  • Develop and deliver the annual sales budget, translating strategy into clear commercial plans and measurable performance targets.
  • Negotiate profitable commercial arrangements with customers, protecting margin while securing sustainable, long-term partnerships.
  • Manage key accounts to ensure service excellence, customer satisfaction, and retention, while unlocking growth opportunities.
  • Coordinate cross-functionally with internal teams (commercial, customer service, supply chain, technical, finance, marketing) to execute plans and grow the regional business.
  • Oversee technical trial programmes and farm trials, ensuring robust design, delivery, interpretation, and alignment with commercial objectives and customer outcomes.
  • Align R&D priorities with market demand, translating on-farm challenges into a clear innovation pipeline and development priorities.
  • Support Research & Development and New Product Development, ensuring effective internal collaboration from concept through validation and launch.
  • Ensure onboarding, training, and engagement of ruminant experts so teams consistently and confidently position and deploy new solutions and services.
  • Provide technical support to customers, including diet formulation, ration costing, and coaching colleagues to build capability and consistency.
  • Deliver technical training and presentations to customer sales teams and senior stakeholders, using clear PowerPoint-based communication.
  • Conduct farm calls and joint customer visits to develop relationships, identify needs, promote Devenish solutions, and convert opportunities.
  • Build and maintain strong external networks with industry stakeholders, academic institutions, and regulatory bodies to strengthen credibility and influence.
  • Collaborate to secure fees, grants, and funding for ruminant solutions, ensuring full compliance with EU and UK legislation.

What we are looking for:

  • Bachelor degree in Animal Science, Agricultural Science or Technology, or related degree and proven track record of profitable sales success with at least 2 years’ experience
    OR, minimum 5 years’ equivalent experience in a similar role
  • A strong background in Ruminant nutrition, product and proposition business development
  • Excellent commercial and sales skills
  • Experience in the animal feed industry
  • Excellent communication skills both verbally and in writing
  • Strong interpersonal skills
  • An ability to work on own initiative but also to work collaboratively with others
  • Strong analytical ability
  • Excellent negotiation skills
  • Strong understanding of financial measures and excellent commercial acumen
  • Experience of good people management and building successful teams
  • Ability to work flexibly and be adaptable in complex situations
  • Willingness to travel when required throughout the UK/Ireland and potentially abroad
  • Ability to work on own initiative but also as part of a team
  • Full driving licence and access to a car
  • Right to work 

What we offer:

  • 37.5 hour week
  • Salary depending on skills experience
  • 5% company matched pension scheme
  • 25 days annual leave plus statutory days
  • Life Assurance
  • Training and development opportunities to support your career
  • Employee Assistant Programme
  • Refer a friend scheme

Devenish is an Equal Opportunities Employer and welcomes applications from all sections of the community