Business Manager

SunOpta•Eden Prairie, MN

19d•$115,000 - $150,000•Hybrid

About The Position

The Business Manager 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 works with colleagues across supply chain, R&D, finance, and sales to create, launch, and support strategic initiatives. The position identifies strategic customer and innovation targets, monitors industry trends, consumer insights, and competitors, and makes recommendations to support ongoing growth objectives. It analyzes business results and marketplace dynamics, manages pricing, contracts, and sales growth for the current portfolio, and collaborates with Sales to maximize profitability of assigned customers and channels. The role is eligible for SunOpta’s hybrid work option: three days per week in the Eden Prairie, Minnesota office and the opportunity to work remotely two days per week. Travel is expected up to 15%.

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/agriculture, and/or CPG experience.
B2B marketing experience supporting strategic customer accounts.

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 consisting of a Commercialization Manager, Sales, Sales Operations, R&D (product development), and Customer Service.
Work 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 identify insights, trends, and root causes of changes in consumer behavior or channel and retailer performance.
Manage the current portfolio’s pricing, contracts, and sales growth.
Collaborate closely with Sales to maximize profitability of assigned customers and channels.