Director Customers

Bimbo Bakeries USA•Irving, TX

About The Position

Have you ever enjoyed Arnold®, Brownberry® or Oroweat® bread? A Thomas’® English muffin or bagel? Or perhaps snacked on a Sara Lee®, Entenmann’s® or Marinela® cake or donut? If the answer is yes, then you know Bimbo Bakeries USA! More than 20,000 associates in bakeries, sales centers, offices and on sales routes work to ensure our consumers have the freshest products at every meal. In addition to competitive pay and benefits, we provide a safe and inclusive work environment that appreciates diversity, promotes development and allows our associates to be their authentic selves. #LI-SO1 Come join the largest baking company in the world and our family of 20,000 associates nationwide! Top Reasons to Work at Bimbo Bakeries USA: Salary Range: $149,900 - $205,700 Comprehensive Benefits Package Annual Bonus Eligibility 401k & Company Match Position Summary: The Director of Customers – South Central serves as the “General Manager” of their geography, with full end‑to‑end ownership of business performance across a complex, matrixed organization. This role carries accountability for strategy, commercial execution, financial performance, and customer outcomes for the South-Central Business Unit. The Director is the resident expert, single point of contact and ultimate owner of the total Branded Commercial Bakery business, while also leading growth and execution across In‑Store Bakery, Barcel, Private Label and New Growth Customers. Acting as a General Manager for the geography, this leader orchestrates cross‑functional partners across Sales, Category Management, Finance, Operations, Revenue Growth Management, Supply Chain, Shopper Marketing, and Brand Marketing to deliver sustainable, profitable growth while winning share. Success in this role requires an owner’s mindset—leading without limits or reliance on reporting lines, driving clarity and accountability & ownership, and ensuring flawless execution at the customer and store level. This role is measured by business results, team capability, and customer satisfaction. Finally, this Director will support/lead Elevating our Customer Management Partnership/Processes with Retailers and Internally shifting from a transactional to strategic relationship overtime.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
10–15 years of progressive experience in CPG sales and/or direct store delivery (DSD)
Proven experience leading complex customer portfolios and delivering sustained sales and profit results
Strong record of team leadership with both direct and indirect reports
Deep capability in analytics, financial acumen, and strategic planning
Demonstrated ability to lead effectively in highly matrixed organizations
Strong analytic & communication skills (written, verbal, presentation and interpersonal skills)
Strong Negotiation Skills having gone through Previous Training
Ability to work in an extremely complex environment and juggle multiple tasks at one time while also prioritizing the work to completion
Capable of managing UP & DOWN both internally & externally to achieve intended results
Strong ability to lead with and without direct authority; collaboration with cross-functional business partners is highly critical
High Proficiency in Excel, PowerPoint, Syndicated Data, Trade Promotion Management
Travel required 40-50%

Responsibilities

Develop and execute Annual Operating Plans (AOPs) and Joint Business Plans (JBPs) with clear priorities, KPIs, and ROI discipline.
Proactively identify growth opportunities, remove obstacles, and reallocate resources to maximize long‑term value.
Own the total financial performance (revenue, profit, trade, and margin) for the South Central geography, both direct or indirect.
Serve as the single point of accountability for senior customer relationships across the geography internally and externally.
Lead all strategic customer conversations, including growth strategy, portfolio expansion, and issue escalation.
Establish Grupo Bimbo as a trusted advisor across Commercial Bakery, In‑Store Bakery, Barcel, and Private Label.
Identify and activate growth levers including distribution, pricing, assortment, merchandising, promotion, and innovation.
Leverage insights and analytics as the foundation for decisions, anticipating trends and adjusting strategy accordingly.
Drive portfolio balance and integration across branded and private-label businesses.
Leverages consumer-driven insights to drive decisions and solutions, understanding obstacles & opportunities
Fuels growth of Brand Plans that positively influence Total Category leveraging Acquisition, Retention & Conversion
Tightly connected with Brand Teams on overall strategy and tactics that are implemented and executed in our Retail Partners
Full end-to-end 360⁰ Marketing Enablement
Own trade spend management, forecasting, budget control, and investment optimization.
Ensure all investments align with strategic priorities and deliver required returns.
Monitor margin performance and take timely corrective action when required.
Lead and develop a high‑performing team with a culture of ownership and accountability.
Coach direct and indirect reports to think and act as General Managers of their businesses.
Clearly define roles, expectations, and performance outcomes aligned with company values.
Lead without formal authority by aligning Sales, Category, Supply Chain, Marketing, Finance, and Operations behind shared goals.
Drive clarity, speed of action, and execution consistency across cross‑functional partners.
Ensure frontline execution excellence across ordering, distribution, merchandising, display compliance, and service levels.
Partner closely with Supply Chain and Operations to resolve issues, improve efficiency, and elevate customer experience.
Communicate strategy, priorities, and performance with clarity and transparency.
Provide timely updates on results, risks, and opportunities to internal and external stakeholders.
Inspire followership through decisive leadership, resilience, and customer obsession.