Director, Formulation Sales

About this role

About Debut

Debut is the unconventional innovation lab spearheading the next generation of big business. Only Debut has a scalable, integrated, climate-positive creation model powered by biotechnology that puts human wellbeing at the center of everything we do—setting the new standard for profitable business and a new pace for an ever-changing world. Our hybrid biotechnology approaches unlock latent markets, providing access to sustainably produced, natural ingredients with health benefits that cannot be obtained through other methods. We are committed to traversing the entire process, from ingredient discovery to the scaling of these products, for consumer markets. If you are passionate, enjoy fast-paced innovation and collaborative teams, then Debut is for you. 

Director, Formulation Sales

Summary

Are you passionate about bringing breakthrough, science-backed beauty formulations to market? In this role, you will be responsible for identifying, engaging, and securing new brand partnerships through driving heavy outbound prospecting to build pipeline and generate revenue for Debut’s formulation business.

This position is highly commercial in nature and suited for a driven professional with strong industry relationships, a proven ability to open doors, and the discipline to advance opportunities from initial outreach through project award and purchase order. An appetite for hunting new business, building strong brand relationships, and converting opportunities into revenue is essential.

San Diego-based preferred but remote may be considered for the right candidate. This role sits within the Commercial Formulation Sales organization.

Essential Functions

• Drive heavy outbound prospecting and secure new beauty brand partnerships to expand Debut’s formulation pipeline.

• Identify and pursue new projects within new accounts to accelerate revenue growth.

• Own the commercial process from first contact through qualification, proposal, negotiation, project award, and purchase order.

• Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision makers across R&D, product development, marketing and executive leadership within beauty organizations.

• Leverage existing industry relationships to generate immediate opportunities for Debut’s advanced formulations and biotechnology platform.

• Develop and manage a robust pipeline, ensuring consistent progression of opportunities toward conversion.

• Understand Debut’s competitive positioning and clearly articulate its value to win new formulation business (custom and white label).

• Demonstrate strong knowledge of product development timelines and formulation planning cycles to align outreach with customer launch calendars.

• Support pricing discussions and contract negotiations in partnership with leadership.

• Maintain disciplined follow-up and project management to ensure momentum from initial engagement through commercialization.

Education and Experience

• Minimum of 5 years in business development, lead generation, or formulation sales within the beauty industry.

• Proven track record of building a pipeline and converting opportunities into awarded business.

• Experience managing complex sales cycles and advancing multiple projects simultaneously.

• Highly self-driven, results-oriented, and comfortable operating independently in a fast-paced environment.

• Willingness to travel up to 40% for customer meetings and industry events.

Essential Physical Characteristics:

• The physical characteristics described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of a job, on a case-by-case basis.

• Continuous upward and downward flexion of the neck.

• Frequent sitting, repetitive use of hands to operate computers, printers and copiers.

• Occasional walking, standing, bending and twisting of neck, bending and twisting of waist, squatting, simple grasping, reaching above and below shoulder level, and lifting and carrying of files weighing up to 15 pounds.

• The performance of this position will present exposure to an industrial environment and requires support and compliance with the published Company PPE policy including but not limited to the use of personal protective equipment as needed.

Condition of Employment

As part of Debut’s pre-employment process, prospective candidates will undergo a background check prior to beginning employment. Additional types of background investigations may be conducted based on the job-related activities of the position.

Debut is an equal opportunity employer. All applicants will be considered for employment without attention to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, veteran, or disability status.

Salary Range: $150,000-$180,000

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