About South River USA LLC
South River USA LLC is the U.S. operating platform of Singapore-based South River Group (SRG), an investment and brand management company specializing in building, scaling, and globalizing premium consumer brands.
In the United States, South River USA develops Royal Cathay, a heritage premium tea brand known for rare teas and refined craftsmanship, and Origin Leaf, a single-origin organic tea brand from Georgia (the Country) centered on natural purity. The company is expanding both brands through retail, e-commerce, wholesale, corporate gifting, hospitality, and distribution partnerships.
The Role
The Business Development Manager owns the full B2B sales cycle, from target-account strategy and outbound prospecting through commercial negotiation, account launch, reorders, and collection. This is a hands-on, revenue-carrying role for someone who can create opportunities independently, represent premium brands credibly, and convert relationships into profitable, collected revenue.
Key Responsibilities
- Develop new business across specialty retail, premium grocery, department stores, hospitality, corporate gifting, distributors, and other strategic B2B channels.
- Build and maintain a disciplined pipeline through research, outbound prospecting, referrals, trade events, inbound leads, and partnership development.
- Lead discovery meetings, product presentations, tastings, sampling, proposals, pricing discussions, negotiation, and closing.
- Create account-specific commercial plans that balance revenue growth, gross margin, brand positioning, operational feasibility, and payment risk.
- Grow existing accounts through reorders, assortment expansion, seasonal programs, and corporate gifting campaigns; monitor invoices and promptly escalate collection or credit concerns.
- Develop and manage distributor and wholesale relationships, including sell-in plans, forecasts, performance reviews, and issue resolution.
- Keep Odoo, or another company-designated CRM complete and current, and prepare concise weekly pipeline updates and monthly performance reviews.
- Represent Royal Cathay / Origin Leaf at buyer meetings, trade shows, tastings, pop-ups, and relevant events; translate market and competitor insights into practical opportunities.
Qualifications
- Three to five years of successful B2B sales, business development, wholesale, key-account, or channel-development experience; relevant food, beverage, CPG, luxury consumer, hospitality, or corporate gifting experience is strongly preferred.
- Demonstrated ability to originate opportunities and close new business, not solely service inbound leads or inherited accounts.
- Strong commercial judgment, negotiation, presentation, writing, follow-through, and relationship-management skills.
- Comfort working in a lean, entrepreneurial environment with clear ownership and limited administrative support; proficiency with CRM systems, spreadsheets, presentations, sales reporting, and forecasting.
- Ability to travel locally and periodically within the United States and to lift or transport product samples and event materials when reasonably required.
- Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, hospitality, communications, or a related field is preferred, or equivalent relevant experience.
- Professional fluency in English is required; additional languages relevant to customers or partners are a plus.
Compensation
Compensation includes an annual base salary of $80,000-$90,000, plus commission. Commission KPIs and related terms are established under Company policy; specific details will be discussed during the interview process.
Employment Terms
Employment is at will. Either the employee or South River USA LLC may end the employment relationship at any time, with or without cause or advance notice, subject to applicable law. The role is expected to exercise independent judgment on pipeline strategy, account prioritization, proposals, negotiations, and other significant commercial matters within Company authority and policy.
The employee must comply with Company policies concerning confidentiality, intellectual property, conflicts of interest, data security, expenses, pricing authority, and customer commitments. This description identifies the role's principal duties but is not exhaustive; responsibilities may reasonably evolve with business needs.
Equal Employment Opportunity
South River USA LLC is an equal opportunity employer. Employment decisions are made without unlawful discrimination or retaliation based on any status protected by applicable federal, New York State, or New York City law. Reasonable accommodations are available for qualified individuals with disabilities and for other protected needs as required by law.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: $80,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Education:
Work Location: In person
