This individual will report to a Director of Business Development and will be following their direction on both strategic and tactical initiatives. H/she will be involved in all aspects of a product’s lifecycle: concept development, launch preparation, optimization of existing products, and end of product life cycle. Working across many functions in the company, this person will be responsible for:

• Understand and communicate customer needs and interests.
• Work with internal functions to develop differentiated solutions that meet those needs.
• Plan, prepare, and deliver communication that sells products, services, and ideas.
• Gain mastery of product and packaging capabilities across locations.
• Understand and apply the various financial relationships based on component ownership.
• Efficiently execute customer product sample requests.
• Initiate thorough and accurate finished goods quote requests. Maintain accuracy in cost assumptions through launch.
• Demonstrate ongoing interest and growth in technical aspects of the business.
• Liaison to Quality / Regulatory group for ongoing customer requirements.
• Provide timely responses to various customer engagements with professional communication.
• Develop and execute cost optimization projects relating to customers including order size, order frequency, producing plant determination, and distribution optimization.
• Define customer requirements and work with Customer Project Manager on successful implementation of large or complex initiatives.
• Monitor customer volume reports and initiates further customer engagement when data suggests doing so.
• Stay abreast of market trends and leverages Circana data for customer insights.

Candidate Profile

We seek a commercially minded Business Development professional with a balance of business development and technical responsibility and interest. Experience in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, and sales process experience and knowledge in the consumer-packaged goods food industry is a plus. The Business Development professional position will be a remote position with up to 50% travel.

Experience

• Ideal candidate will have 5-10 years’ experience of business development/technical sales/supply chain or operations for a food manufacturer or consumer products supplier in consumer-packaged goods food processing, preferably in refrigerated products.
• Experienced in successful development and execution of a manufacturing operations strategy aligned with overall business strategy to fit near term and long- term customer goals.
• Knowledge of a variety of pricing relationships including tolling, direct pay, and third party financed payment methodologies.
• Understands issues regarding throughput, line speeds, quality, transportation, and safety.
• Understands how to develop business including prospecting and pipelining skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills, along with the ability to make formal presentations to a wide array of internal and external audiences.
• Skilled at developing relationships and generating trust with all stakeholders.
• Data-driven.
• Ability to work in an informal and flat organizational structure.
• Proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and SAP and leverages systems in daily work.
• Professional customer engagement / communication that is consistent with company values.

Personal Characteristics and other Position Parameters

• A results-oriented individual who is self-motivated to achieve and exceed targets.
• A “roll up your sleeves” doer with strong interpersonal skills that are equally effective in a customer meeting and on the manufacturing floor.
• A personality and manner that demonstrates confidence, sound judgment, and a straightforward tenor to interpersonal relationships.
• Demonstrates integrity, flexibility, tenacity, and physical/intellectual energy.
• Unentitled, parks ego at the door.
• The position is an individual contributor but will rely on peers and other staff members for support.
• Travel up to 50%

Education level

• Bachelor’s degree in business or other relevant discipline