Director, Business Development - Pet Nutrition

At ASPIRE we are pioneers in the field of precision insect farming, optimizing the growth and harvesting of an underutilized natural resource in order to meet global demand for sustainable ingredients and materials. Our vision is A WORLD TRANSFORMED BY INSECT TECHNOLOGY.

DIRECTOR, BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT - PET NUTRITION

We are seeking a seasoned Director, Business Development - Pet Nutrition who will lead the business development process and full sales cycle for Aspire’s companion animal food category. Pet Food & Treats are our primary sales channel, and this role will be tasked with positioning our cricket product as a premium protein alternative ingredient and creating long-term demand, on a global scale. This role will be hands-on and collaborative, and span both strategic planning and tactical execution. This leader will also be formative in developing the sales team and driving execution. There is no limit to how far you can advance, and this opportunity is unique due to the company's potential to positively impact such a large market – as effective stewards of the planet’s resources.

This role can be virtual, and may require some travel to our production facility in London, Ontario, and for other business development purposes. 

HOW YOU WILL MAKE CONTRIBUTIONS THAT DRIVE US FORWARD

Tactical

• Achieve Sales Results and Financial Targets; Move volume and create demand for additional facilities while hitting top-line and margin goals.  

• Regulatory Development; Work with the R&D and Regulatory teams to manage certification processes and approvals, and ensure all needed regulatory items are in place. 

• Be the Industry Representative; Serve as the face of AFG (and the broader insect protein movement) in Pet Industry circles, networking events, trade shows, and conferences. 

• Deliver Market Education; Work with Leadership and Marketing to seed the market, create channel partners, and convert end consumers with the right information about insects for pets.

Strategic

• Relationship Management; Build deep associations with channel partners, extending to co-manufacturers and tollers, brands, other supply chain partners, industry groups, etc.  

• Sales Strategy; Determine and lead the Go-To-Market plan that achieves annual targets while building strategic relationships and seeding long-term demand. 

• Supply Chain Buildout; Work with Leadership and Operations teams to establish an efficient and flexible supply chain, manage inventory and the forecasting process for Pet. 

• Inform Product Development; Recommend the preferred formats for our products, based on industry research, regulatory and customer requirements 

WHAT YOU BRING TO THE TABLE

• 5 or more  years of ingredient sales experience preferably in the pet food industry .  

• Strong technical acumen and experience working with protein ingredients is a must. 

• Demonstrated success selling novel feed/pet food ingredients, preferably premium or alternative proteins.  

• Ideally trained or educated as a nutritionist at graduate level (MSc or equivalent) . 

• Robust understanding of global and regional pet food trends across formats: wet, dry, treat, etc. 

• Industry relationships with key channel partners: retailers, distributors, processors, co-manufacturers, ingredient suppliers, regulators, etc.   Strong preference to candidates who have direct experience with pet food manufacturers. 

• Deep familiarity with the supply chain and processing steps needed to yield a consistent, marketable ingredient that meets manufacturer/brand/retailer needs.

GET EXCITED ABOUT ASPIRE

• Aspire has assembled the largest body of research on cricket biology and production in the world.

• We are pioneering the industry by customizing, synthesizing and integrating cutting-edge technologies, including an Advanced Automation ASRS, IoT-Enabled Data Accumulation, Artificial Intelligence and Selective Breeding and Biological Optimization processes.

• We offer a competitive compensation package that includes paid time off, medical benefits, STD/LTD, RRSP and Stock Option plans.

Aspire welcomes all applicants and is committed to a diverse workforce. If you require accommodation, please advise the Human Resources Department of any required accommodation needs.