Associate Director, Food Ingredients & Foodservice Sales

Mizkan America•Schaumburg, IL

2d•$145,500 - $199,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Associate Director, Food Ingredients & Foodservice Sales is responsible for driving profitable growth and expanding market share across Mizkan America's Food Ingredients and Foodservice businesses. This role leads strategic account development, new business acquisition, commercial planning, customer relationship management, and a team of Regional Sales Managers to deliver revenue, volume, and profitability objectives. The Associate Director serves as a strategic commercial leader, developing long-term customer partnerships, identifying growth opportunities, leading complex negotiations, and collaborating cross-functionally to bring innovative solutions to market. This position requires a balance of strategic thinking, people leadership, market insight, financial acumen, and customer-focused execution to achieve sustainable business growth.

Requirements

Strategic Business Leadership
New Business Development
Customer Relationship Management
Negotiation & Influencing
Financial & Commercial Acumen
Pricing & Contract Management
Cross-Functional Leadership
Talent Development & Coaching
Executive Presence
Effective Communication & Presentation Skills
Problem Solving & Decision Making
Change Leadership
Results Orientation
Entrepreneurial Mindset
Proficiency in Microsoft Dynamics 365 (D365), Power BI, Exceedra, Scintilla, Microsoft Copilot, and other business intelligence tools.
Ability to leverage technology, AI-enabled tools, and analytics to drive sales planning, forecasting, customer management, and business decision-making.
Intermediate to advanced Microsoft Excel skills, including Pivot Tables, XLOOKUP/VLOOKUP, data analysis, reporting, and dashboard creation.
Strong Microsoft PowerPoint skills with the ability to create executive-level presentations, business reviews, and strategic recommendations.
Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, or a related field required.
10+ years of sales, business development, or commercial leadership experience within Food Ingredients, Foodservice, CPG, or related industries.
Proven track record of delivering profitable growth and winning new business.
Experience managing strategic customer relationships and commercial negotiations.
Demonstrated success leading cross-functional initiatives and commercialization projects.
Experience managing brokers, distributors, and channel partners.
Strong financial acumen with P&L management experience preferred.
Experience leveraging technology platforms, AI tools, reporting and data analytics to support sales planning, forecasting, customer management, and business decision-making.

Nice To Haves

MBA or advanced degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute strategies that drive revenue growth, profitability, and market share.
Identify and capitalize on new business opportunities through prospecting, networking, and industry engagement.
Lead strategic customer planning, business reviews, and commercial negotiations.
Build and expand relationships with key decision-makers across customer organizations.
Manage and grow business through direct accounts, brokers, distributors, and channel partners.
Serve as the commercial lead for strategic customers and key growth initiatives.
Balance customer needs with profitability, pricing, and operational objectives.
Manage forecasting, pipeline development, and annual business planning.
Deliver revenue, volume, margin, and profitability targets.
Analyze market trends, business performance, and competitive activity to inform decision-making.
Provide actionable insights and recommendations to support business strategy and growth.
Support annual operating plans, budgets, and financial forecasting.
Lead, coach, and develop team members and broker partners to drive customer growth, commercial excellence, and business results.
Establish performance expectations and drive accountability for results.
Optimize channel strategies and support talent development to maximize business performance.
Perform other duties assigned that support the overall success of the team, department, or organization. This may include participating in cross-functional initiatives, contributing to process improvements, or assisting with special projects as needed.