Business Development Manager

Role Description

Our client is a leader in the meat manufacturing and distribution industry. They are seeking a high-performing Manager of Sales & Business Development to lead national expansion into institutional and foodservice markets. This executive-level role will be responsible for designing and executing sales strategy, acquiring new enterprise accounts, and leading product launches across high-impact verticals including cruise lines, healthcare systems, K-12 schools, chain restaurants, and large-volume institutional buyers.

This role directly oversees the Manager of Sales and will play a key role in driving business growth by building strategic relationships, elevating sales processes, and guiding cross-functional go-to-market initiatives. We’re looking for an assertive, seasoned sales leader with strong industry knowledge and a proven record of converting contacts into long-term clients.

Primary Responsibilities

Sales Strategy & Business Development

- Develop and execute scalable, margin-focused sales strategies across national and regional foodservice accounts.

- Lead outreach and business development efforts with enterprise clients, building executive-level relationships with decision-makers (e.g., VPs, Purchasing Directors).

- Identify market opportunities, tailor value propositions, and close large-volume foodservice contracts.

Leadership & Team Development

- Manage and mentor the sales team, setting clear KPIs and performance expectations.

- Build a culture of ownership, accountability, and results across the sales function.

- Deliver ongoing training to improve product knowledge, negotiation skills, and strategic sales execution.

Product Launch & Go-to-Market Execution

- Lead foodservice product launches in collaboration with Marketing, R&D, and Operations.

- Ensure each launch includes a defined channel strategy, pricing model, and client onboarding plan.

- Target high-margin, customized meat solutions—avoiding catalog-only items with low commission potential.

Channel Management & Cross-Functional Partnership

- Establish and grow broker and distributor networks (e.g., Sysco, PFG, US Foods) to accelerate sales penetration.

- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to align demand planning, pricing strategy, and fulfillment capabilities.

- Serve as the sales department's key liaison with Marketing, R&D, QA, and Supply Chain.

Sales Operations & Forecasting

- Oversee CRM system, pipeline management, forecasting models, and reporting.

- Monitor gross margins, volume targets, and customer retention metrics to ensure revenue growth.

- Identify operational bottlenecks in the sales cycle and implement process improvements.

- Travel up to 50% or more of time.

Education & Experience

- Bachelor’s degree in business, Sales, Marketing, Food Science, or a related field required. MBA preferred.

- Minimum 10+ years of progressive foodservice sales experience, preferably in meat, protein, or CPG distribution. - 5+ years in a senior leadership role with a track record of securing large institutional accounts.

Knowledge & Skills

- Strong understanding of the foodservice distribution network and protein supply chain.

- Demonstrated success in launching new products and growing category share.

- Executive-level communication, negotiation, and strategic selling abilities.

- Experience managing brokers, distributors, and national account portfolios.

- High-level CRM proficiency (e.g., Salesforce, HubSpot) and strong analytical acumen.

- Bilingual (English/Spanish) strongly preferred.

Site Location: Otay Mesa.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: Up to $120,000.00 per year

Benefits:

- 401(k)

- 401(k) matching

- Dental insurance

- Health insurance

- Life insurance

- Paid time off

- Vision insurance

Work Location: In person