MEA Bakery Solutions Portfolio & Commercialization Executive

As aglobal key player in yeasts and fermentation, Lesaffre designs, manufactures and markets innovative solutions for Baking, Food taste & pleasure, Health care and Biotechnology.

Family group born in northern France in 1853, now a multi-national and a multicultural company, Lesaffre is committed to working with confidence tobetter nourish and protect the planet.
In close collaboration with its clients and partners, Lesaffre employs 11 700 people in more than 50 countries.

Lesaffre achieves a turnover of 3,2 billion euros.

Reporting to the Head of Innovation & Technical Services, we are seeking astrategic yet execution-focusedBakery Solutions Portfolio & Commercialization Executive todrive the commercialization and growth of ourBakery Solutions (Ingredients + Yeast) portfolio in theMEA region. Your work willdirectly influence market penetration, customer satisfaction, and competitive advantage in adynamic and fast-growing region.

Your missions will be:

Portfolio management:

• Develop and execute the MEA Bakery Solutions portfolio strategy, aligning withglobal business goals andregional market trends (e.g.,clean label, cost efficiency, Halal/Kosher compliance, climate-resilient formulations).
• Conduct market and competitive analysis to identifygaps, opportunities, and threats in the MEA bakery ingredients and yeast markets.
• Define the long-term roadmap for the portfolio, includinginnovation pipelines, line extensions, and cost optimizations, with a3-5 year outlook.
• Evaluate emerging trends (e.g.,sustainability, plant-based baking, automation in bakeries) andrecommend strategic adjustments to the portfolio.
• Collaborate with global R&D and Marketing teams toleverage global innovations andadapt them for MEA markets.
• Maintain the ideal core range of Bakery Solutions (Ingredients + Yeast) for the MEA region, ensuringalignment with business goals and local market needs.
• Prioritize projects (renovations, line extensions, cost optimizations) based onsales potential, profitability, and strategic fit.
• Track portfolio performance (sales, margin, market share) andrecommend discontinuations or adjustments where needed.
• Work with Baking, Technical Application, Formulation, and Marketing to ensureproduct specifications, pricing, and positioning are optimized for MEA markets.

Project Execution

• Define the strategic objectives for each project, ensuring alignment withportfolio roadmap and business goals.
• Identify high-impact projects that drivemarket differentiation, cost leadership, or customer loyalty in the MEA region.
• Develop project charters that outlinescope, success criteria, risks, and resource requirements, with afocus on strategic outcomes.
• Monitor industry trends and competitive activity toadjust project priorities as needed.
• Present project updates and strategic recommendations tosenior leadership (e.g.,business reviews, investment decisions).
• Lead cross-functional project teams (Formulation, Technical Application, Marketing, Supply Chain, Regulatory) to deliverBakery Solutions projects on time and within budget.
• Drive projects from initiation to completion, ensuringclear milestones, risk management, and stakeholder alignment.
• Coordinate with local markets to adaptglobal solutions to regional needs (e.g.,regulatory compliance, cultural preferences, cost constraints).
• Share project outcomes with the MEA region to supportdaily business operations (e.g., launch readiness, training needs, conversion rates).

Commercial Strategy & Marketing Collaboration (Promotor & Contributor Role)

• Identify and advocate for sales and commercial support needs, ensuringstrategic alignment with portfolio goals.
• Define the strategic direction forsales tools, training, and customer engagement in collaboration withMarketing.
• Provide input and validation onproduct messaging, positioning, and go-to-market strategies to ensuretechnical accuracy and market relevance.
• Act as the bridge between technical teams (R&D, Baking, Formulation) and Marketing to ensureconsistent and compelling communication.

Marketing’s role:

Design, produce, and distribute sales tools, including:

• Product datasheets, catalogues, and flyers (for both Ingredients and Yeast).
• Distributor brochures, recipe books, and application guides.
• Digital assets (videos, webinars, e-learning modules).

Develop and execute regional communication strategies, including:

• Regular newsletters with updates on new products, trends, and best practices.
• Webinars, training sessions, and workshops for sales teams and customers.
• Creative content (videos, case studies, social media) in collaboration with agencies.

Support local teams in preparingcustomer seminars, workshops, and trade shows (e.g., providing technical content, demo materials, or speaker support).

Your collaboration with Marketing includes:

• Briefing Marketing ontechnical requirements, customer pain points, and regional nuances to ensureeffective messaging.
• Reviewing and approving sales tools and training materials fortechnical accuracy and alignment with portfolio strategy.
• Providing feedback oncustomer engagement initiatives (e.g., seminars, webinars) to improve their impact.
• Monitoring the adoption and effectiveness of sales tools and training programs, andrecommending improvements to Marketing.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

Work closely with all departments to ensureseamless execution and strategic alignment:

• Sales: understand their needs andadvocate for commercial tools.
• Baking & Technical Teams: ensureproduct feasibility and application support.
• Production & Quality: align onsupply chain and compliance requirements.
• Marketing & Data Teams: leveragemarket insights for portfolio decisions.
• Act as a bridge between global teams and local markets, ensuringclear communication and alignment.

Training & Knowledge Sharing

• Provide internal training to improve the team’s technical and product awareness (e.g., new formulations, yeast applications, consumer trends).
• Develop training materials (presentations, manuals, e-learning) in collaboration withMarketing and HR.
• Gather feedback from local teams tocontinuously improve portfolio offerings and commercial tools.

You have5+ years of experience in portofolio management,project execution orcommercialization. Experiences inFMCG,CPG orbakery industry and knowlegde ofbakery ingredients,yeastand baking applications are preferred. Experience in theMEA region and understanding of local market dynamics is a plus.

Hard skills

• Proven track record in delivering projects on time and within budget, with strategic impact
• Experience incommercialization,sales support, ormarketing operations, with a strategic mindset
• Hands-on experience in defining sales tools, training needs, and go-to-market strategies
• Proficiency inMicrosoft Office andproject management tools
• Basic design skills(Canva, Adobe Acrobat) for reviewing sales materials
• Experience withCRMorsales enablement platforms
• Fully fluent inEnglishandFrench, other MEA languages are a plus

Soft skills

• Strongcross-functional collaboration skills
• Excellentcommunication and presentation skills
• Strategic mindset
• Results and clients oriented
• Good team player at ease in amulti-cultural and expertise team

Kindly note that frequent trips are to be planned within the MEA region (20-30%).

To join us is: 

• Being part of an organization with human-centered values
• Sharing our mission of nourishing and protecting the planet
• Advancing your career in a diverse and rewarding work environment

At Lesaffre, diversity is a strength that enriches our culture and our teams. We are committed to offering you a work environment where you can thrive, regardless of your background, gender, age or abilities. We encourage all applications, as we believe that diverse perspectives strengthen our ability to innovate and meet the challenges of tomorrow.