Business Development Manager (liquid packaging, beverage, FMCG)

This is an exciting opportunity to join a growing international packaging solutions company where you’ll drive market expansion, build strategic customer relationships, and establish the company’s local presence. The role offers significant autonomy, international exposure, and the opportunity to shape the company’s growth in the Philippines.

Company Profile:

Our client is a rapidly expanding global provider of aseptic carton packaging solutions, backed by a well-established Japanese multinational group with a long-standing presence across the pulp, paper, forestry, and packaging industries. The company is strengthening its Asia-Pacific operations as part of a broader strategy to expand its liquid packaging business and establish a stronger regional presence.

With a growing footprint across APAC, the organization is focused on delivering innovative and sustainable packaging solutions to customers across the region, while leveraging the resources, technology, and global expertise of its parent group.

Overall purpose and responsibilities of the role:

We are seeking an experienced Business Development Manager to lead sales growth and market expansion in the carton liquid packaging sector across the Philippines. This is a hunter-focused role for a self-driven professional with proven success closing complex B2B deals in the packaging, beverage, or FMCG industries. You will be responsible for identifying new customer opportunities, developing strategic relationships with stakeholders in the branche, brand owners, and fillers, and driving revenue growth.

As the first full-time employee supporting the business in the Philippines, this role will help establish the company's local commercial foundation while working with existing regional resources and customer relationships. The position will initially focus on the Philippines, with the potential for additional territorial responsibility as the business develops.

Duties and Responsibilities:

Key Responsibilities

• Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities with beverage manufacturers, dairy producers, and juice processors.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key decision-makers and stakeholders in target accounts
• Conduct market analysis to identify growth segments, competitive threats, and emerging trends in carton liquid packaging
• Develop and execute territory sales plans with clear targets, timelines, and KPIs
• Negotiate and close commercial agreements, including pricing, volume commitments, and contract terms
• Manage complex sales cycles involving multiple stakeholders (operations, procurement, quality, R&D)
• Represent the company at industry events, trade shows, and association meetings to generate leads and strengthen brand presence
• Provide market intelligence and competitive insights to senior management and product development teams
• Collaborate with operations and technical teams to ensure customer satisfaction and delivery of commitments
• Maintain detailed CRM records and provide regular pipeline, forecast, and activity reporting
• Coordinate with European sales operations and R&D teams, as well as Asia-based teams supporting the Philippine market, to facilitate customer requirements, technical discussions, and commercial activities across different time zones
• Support customer qualification trials and follow through on existing leads and customer introductions provided by the regional team
• Contribute to the development of the company's initial local market presence, including identifying opportunities to establish brand visibility within relevant Philippine industry networks
• Support the development of future local operations as the Philippine business grows, including potential coordination with locally hired technical and quality functions

Success Metrics

• Establish 5-8 new key customer relationships
• Achieve minimum revenue target of ₱X million (to be defined based on opportunity size)
• Develop territory business plan with quarterly forecasts
• Build pipeline with 3-5 active opportunities at various stages
• Participate in 4+ industry events and generate qualified leads

Requirements

Experience

• 7-15 years of B2B sales or business development experience
• Proven track record closing deals in packaging, beverage, FMCG, or manufacturing sectors
• Demonstrated success in hunter/consultative selling with complex decision-making units
• Experience selling carton systems or related packaging solutions (preferred)
• Established relationships or credibility within the carton liquid packaging ecosystem (preferred)
• Experience with business acquisitions, market development, or launching new commercial opportunities from an early stage

Technical Knowledge

• Working knowledge of carton filling systems, specifications, and production capabilities
• Understanding of beverage product categories (milk, juice, water, plant-based drinks) and their packaging requirements
• Familiarity with packaging sustainability trends and regulatory compliance (barrier technology, recyclability)
• Understanding of both packaging-only commercial opportunities and high-value filling equipment/CAPEX projects

Skills & Attributes

• Excellent communication and negotiation skills
• Self-motivated with ability to work independently and manage territory autonomously
• Strategic thinker with ability to analyze customer needs and develop solutions
• Strong organizational and CRM proficiency
• Fluent English; Filipino language preferred
• Willingness to travel within the Philippines and regional markets
• Ability to work effectively across Japanese, Asian, and European business cultures and international time zones
• Comfortable exercising independent judgment within defined commercial guidelines, particularly when managing customer negotiations and territory priorities

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Engineering, or related field
• Experience with Tetra Pak, Elopak, SIG, carton systems
• Knowledge of beverage markets and regional expansion strategies
• Experience with marketing initiatives or industry-facing activities that support business development and market awareness