Sales Associate, Upcycled Ingredients

Sales Associate – Upcycled Ingredients

B2B Sales | Uncapped Commission | Startup Growth Opportunity

Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin (Hybrid)
Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent
Travel: Up to 50%
Reports To: Co-Founders

About Upcycled Solutions

Upcycled Solutions is an innovative ingredient manufacturing company transforming underutilized food and agricultural byproducts into high-value, shelf-stable powders for the food, nutraceutical, and bio-based material markets.

Using our advanced drying and micronization technology, we convert high-moisture materials, including brewer’s spent grain, fruit pomace, and other agricultural byproducts, into premium ingredients and sustainable raw materials.

As we bring our first commercial-scale manufacturing facility online in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, we are building the customer relationships and commercial partnerships that will support our next stage of growth.

This is an opportunity to join an early-stage company, work directly with its co-founders, and help establish new markets for innovative, upcycled ingredients.

About the Role

We are seeking a motivated, entrepreneurial Sales Associate to drive new customer acquisition and commercial sales of our upcycled ingredient portfolio.

This is a business development-focused role for someone who enjoys identifying opportunities, building relationships, and developing new markets.

You will introduce our ingredients to prospective customers, identify potential applications, coordinate product evaluations, and help convert technical interest into recurring commercial sales.

You will also work directly with the co-founders to develop customer relationships, refine sales strategies, and establish a foundation for long-term commercial growth.

Prior food ingredient sales experience is not required. We are looking for someone with initiative, persistence, strong communication skills, and a desire to build a successful career in B2B sales.

Key Responsibilities

New Business Development

• Identify and prospect new B2B customers, including commercial bakeries, snack manufacturers, food brands, co-packers, ingredient distributors, and food manufacturers.
• Introduce prospective customers to our portfolio of upcycled ingredients, including Brewer’s Flour and functional fruit and vegetable powders.
• Build relationships with R&D, product development, procurement, innovation, operations, and executive decision-makers.
• Generate opportunities through direct outreach, networking, referrals, trade shows, and customer visits.
• Maintain a qualified sales pipeline with documented applications, estimated annual volumes, decision-makers, and next steps.

Ingredient Sales & Commercial Growth

• Develop recurring, high-volume ingredient sales opportunities with commercial food manufacturers and ingredient companies.
• Guide prospective customers through product sampling, formulation evaluations, production trials, commercial approval, and purchasing.
• Identify ingredient applications based on nutritional, functional, technical, and economic requirements.
• Support the development of commercial proposals, pricing structures, volume commitments, and long-term supply agreements.
• Work toward established sales objectives for qualified opportunities, new customers, commercial volume, revenue, and margin.
• Develop customer demand forecasts and communicate anticipated ingredient requirements to the operations team.

Technical Sales & Customer Collaboration

• Collaborate with customer R&D teams, food scientists, and product developers to evaluate ingredient applications.
• Coordinate ingredient samples, product specifications, certificates of analysis, and supporting technical documentation.
• Support customers during formulation development, bench-top evaluations, plant trials, and commercialization.
• Work with internal operations and quality personnel to address customer requirements and technical questions.
• Communicate the nutritional, functional, economic, and sustainability benefits of our upcycled ingredients.

Account Development & Market Expansion

• Establish long-term relationships with customers and support recurring commercial ingredient purchases.
• Identify opportunities to expand existing accounts into additional products, applications, and manufacturing facilities.
• Help evaluate new market opportunities for upcycled food ingredients and sustainable raw materials.
• Provide customer feedback to support ingredient development, product positioning, and commercial strategy.
• Collaborate with the co-founders to prioritize customers, refine sales processes, and pursue strategic growth opportunities.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications

• Recent graduate or upcoming graduate with a bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, Chemistry, or a related field.
• Strong interest in B2B sales, business development, entrepreneurship, sustainability, or the food ingredient industry.
• Excellent communication, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills.
• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial mindset with a willingness to take initiative and develop new business opportunities.
• Strong organizational skills and the ability to manage multiple opportunities while consistently following up with prospective customers.
• Willingness to learn about food ingredients, manufacturing processes, product development, and commercialization.
• Ability to communicate effectively with both business and technical professionals.
• Comfortable working independently and collaborating with a small, growing team.
• Willingness to learn CRM software, sales forecasting, pricing, and commercial account management.
• Ability to work in a hybrid environment and travel up to 50% for customer meetings, plant trials, and industry events.

Preferred Qualifications

• Previous internship, sales, customer service, business development, or food industry experience.
• Familiarity with commercial food manufacturing, ingredient distribution, or food product development.
• Interest in functional ingredients, dietary fiber, plant-based ingredients, or sustainable materials.
• Experience with customer outreach, networking, presentations, or relationship management.

We are looking for someone eager to learn, take ownership, and grow into a successful business development professional. Previous industry sales experience is not required.

Compensation & Earning Potential

Base Pay: $36,000 – $54,000 + Uncapped Commission

Uncapped Commission: 3–4%

• This position offers an uncapped commission structure designed to reward new customer acquisition and long-term commercial account development.
• Earn 3–4% commission on eligible net collected revenue from qualifying accounts, as defined in the company’s written commission plan.
• Continue earning commissions on qualifying recurring ingredient purchases in accordance with the commission plan.
• Build long-term earning potential by developing a portfolio of commercial customers with recurring ingredient requirements.
• A temporary, nonrecoverable commission draw may be available during the first six months to provide financial support as customer evaluations and commercial opportunities develop.

Why Join Upcycled Solutions?

• Help Build an Emerging Ingredient Platform
  • Play an active role in introducing innovative, upcycled ingredients to commercial markets and developing the company’s customer base.
• Gain Hands-On Commercial Experience
  • Develop practical skills in B2B prospecting, technical ingredient sales, customer development, pricing, negotiations, and long-term supply agreements.
• Work Directly With the Founders
  • Collaborate closely with company leadership, contribute to commercial decisions, and help shape how Upcycled Solutions approaches the market.
• Build Long-Term Earning Potential
  • Develop a portfolio of recurring commercial ingredient customers through an uncapped commission structure designed to reward sustained sales performance.
• Support a More Sustainable Supply Chain
  • Help food manufacturers incorporate ingredients derived from underutilized food and agricultural byproducts, creating value from resources that might otherwise be wasted.

Who Will Succeed in This Role?

We are looking for someone who is naturally curious, confident starting conversations, persistent in following up, and excited about developing new business opportunities.

The right candidate will be comfortable building customer relationships from the ground up, learning about technical ingredients, and navigating the longer sales cycles common in commercial food manufacturing.

You do not need to be an expert in food ingredients on day one. You do need to be willing to learn, take initiative, and consistently pursue new opportunities.

If you are looking for an entrepreneurial sales opportunity where your work directly influences company growth and your earning potential, we encourage you to apply.