Business Development Manager - C-Store

Ajinomoto Foods North America

17h

About The Position

The Business Development Manager is responsible for driving growth in the convenience store (c‑store) channel by expanding distribution, accelerating speed to market, and unlocking incremental revenue opportunities. This role converts strategic growth opportunities into executed placements by strengthening customer relationships and coordinating closely with sales, brokers, distributors, and cross‑functional internal teams to deliver measurable, sustainable results.

Requirements

4 Year / Bachelors Degree
4 to 6 Years of experience - An equivalent combination of experience and education will also be considered.
Proven ability to drive new business development, manage pipelines, and convert opportunities into executed results
Strong organizational and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
Excellent communication and cross‑functional collaboration skills

Nice To Haves

Experience within convenience store or QSR channels
Distributor and/or broker management experience
Familiarity with food service equipment and operational environments

Responsibilities

Drive measurable growth in distribution points across Tier 2–3 convenience store chains and independent operators
Identify, prioritize, and advance new business opportunities that deliver incremental revenue and expanded distribution
Build and maintain a healthy pipeline that supports sustained channel growth and predictable conversion
Enable field sales teams to convert opportunities efficiently by coordinating samples, product information, pricing support, and next‑step follow‑up
Own day‑to‑day opportunity progression, ensuring consistent momentum from initial engagement through placement and execution
Act as a central point of coordination to prevent stalled initiatives, improve conversion rates, and accelerate speed to market
Partner closely with the national foodservice broker network to drive execution and placement success across Tier 2–3 accounts
Support sell‑in efforts through key distributors and redistributors (e.g., Dot Foods and regional partners) to expand authorized distribution
Identify gaps in distribution coverage and proactively close them to improve availability and sales velocity
Partner with the Director of Sales to support execution across top‑tier accounts, ensuring follow‑through, alignment, and timely delivery of commitments
Independently manage and grow a portfolio of Tier 2–3 accounts, delivering incremental placements, expanded distribution, and revenue growth
Serve as the liaison between Sales, Marketing, and R&D to ensure aligned execution and customer‑ready solutions
Support successful execution of product launches, limited‑time offers (LTOs), and customer‑specific initiatives
Coordinate product validations across key equipment platforms (e.g., fryers, ovens, roller grills) to enable faster adoption and placement
Track, manage, and prioritize active opportunities across the convenience channel with clear ownership and next steps
Ensure timely follow‑up, accountability, and execution to improve opportunity conversion and reduce cycle time
Maintain visibility into key initiatives, customer needs, risks, and progress to support informed decision‑making