Business Manager

SunOpta • Eden Prairie, MN

18d • Hybrid

About The Position

This position leads the internal business team supporting low-acid aseptic beverages, broths, and better-for-you fruit snacks for a portfolio of key private label and co-manufacturing customers. The role leads a cross-functional team that includes a Commercialization Manager, Sales, Sales Operations, R&D (product development), and Customer Service, and collaborates with colleagues across supply chain, R&D, finance, and sales to create, launch, and support strategic initiatives.

The Business Manager identifies strategic customer and innovation targets, monitors industry trends, consumer insights, and competitors, and makes recommendations based on business results and marketplace dynamics. The role analyzes business and secondary data to identify insights, trends, and root causes of changes in consumer behavior or channel and retailer performance. It also manages pricing, contracts, and sales growth for the current portfolio, while partnering closely with sales to maximize profitability across assigned customers and channels.

The role is eligible for SunOpta’s Sunflex hybrid work option: three days per week in the office and the opportunity to work remotely two days per week. It is located at the company’s office in Eden Prairie, Minnesota. Approximately 95% of the work is performed in an office environment and 5% may be performed in a manufacturing environment. Travel is expected up to 15% to SunOpta locations, customer meetings, and conferences. Relocation and international remote work arrangements outside the United States will not be considered.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• At least 4 years of General Management, Marketing, Product Management, or other relevant experience.
• Strategic thinking, leadership, teamwork, and analytical skills.
• Creativity and effective interpersonal communication skills.
• Strong strategic skills to drive short- and long-term brand and category growth and profitability.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and ability to work effectively across the organization and foster cross-functional teamwork.
• High accountability and internal drive to accomplish goals.

Nice To Haves

• MBA preferred.
• Manufacturing, Food/Ag, and/or CPG experience preferred.
• B2B marketing experience supporting strategic customer accounts preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the internal business team supporting low-acid aseptic beverages, broths, and better-for-you fruit snacks for key private label and co-manufacturing customers.
• Lead a cross-functional team comprising Commercialization Manager, Sales, Sales Operations, R&D (product development), and Customer Service.
• Collaborate across supply chain, R&D, finance, and sales to create, launch, and support strategic initiatives.
• Identify strategic customer and innovation targets to grow the fruit snacks and low-acid aseptic businesses.
• Monitor industry trends, consumer insights, and the competitive set.
• Make strategic recommendations based on business results and marketplace dynamics to support ongoing growth objectives.
• Analyze complex business data and situations, develop a range of solutions, and analyze secondary data to uncover insights, trends, and root causes of changes in consumer behavior or channel and retailer performance.
• Manage pricing, contracts, and sales growth for the current portfolio.
• Collaborate closely with sales to maximize profitability of assigned customers and channels.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level