About this job

Principal Sales Development Specialist – Food & Environmental (LC-MS)

Location: Belgium (Benelux-based, close to Antwerp)
Scope: Northern Europe

Food safety and environmental monitoring are critical, fast-evolving sectors driven by regulatory pressure, public health needs, and increasing analytical complexity. Laboratories across Europe rely on advanced analytical technologies to detect contaminants, ensure compliance, and protect consumers and the environment.

Our client is a global provider of advanced analytical solutions used by laboratories in food, environmental, pharmaceutical, and industrial testing. They design and deliver high-performance chromatography and mass spectrometry systems, software, consumables, and services that help customers generate reliable, high-quality analytical data.

Their customers include public testing laboratories, regulatory bodies, contract research organizations, and private analytical laboratories. The company supports them not only with technology, but also with deep scientific expertise to help solve complex analytical challenges.

This position is a new addition to the team, created to support continued growth in the Food & Environmental testing markets across Northern Europe. The role sits at the intersection of science and business, working closely with sales teams and a state-of-the-art demonstration laboratory in Antwerp.

Your mission

As Principal Sales Development Specialist, you will act as a senior technical and commercial expert for Food & Environmental applications. Your role is to help customers make confident technology decisions by combining hands-on laboratory work with strategic market development.

You will support key and strategic accounts through demonstrations, proof-of-concept studies, method development, and scientific discussions. Rather than routine lab work, your focus will be on high-impact projects that directly influence purchasing decisions and long-term partnerships.

This role offers a different experience from traditional laboratory positions or pure sales roles: you remain technically hands-on while gaining visibility, influence, and commercial responsibility at a regional level.

The personality of the ideal candidate

We are looking for a senior, credible scientific professional who enjoys working with customers and influencing outcomes. You are curious, communicative, and comfortable operating independently. You take ownership, think strategically, and enjoy translating technical value into real-world solutions.

This position is for you if…

• You are a hands-on LC-MS expert in food and/or environmental testing and want to broaden your impact beyond the laboratory
• You enjoy customer interaction, technical discussions, and problem-solving in real-world settings
• You are interested in a commercial or business development career path, without giving up science
• You value autonomy, trust, and being recognised as a technical authority
• You want to work on meaningful projects with strategic customers rather than routine analysis

Atmosphere, context, salary and benefits

You will join an experienced European team working closely with sales, applications, and demonstration laboratories. The role is field-based with regular collaboration in the Antwerp demo lab and travel across Northern Europe (about 50% in Antwerp, 50% visiting customers).

The position offers a competitive senior-level salary (around €90–100k base), a performance-based sales incentive (approximately 25%), and a company car, along with long-term career development opportunities in a global organisation.

Description of the steps

Initial confidential conversation with VRS

Technical and role-fit interview with the hiring manager

Final discussions with regional stakeholders

The process is designed to be transparent, focused, and efficient.

If you would like to explore this opportunity confidentially, please apply via LinkedIn or contact me directly to start a discussion!