Director, National Accounts

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream•New York, NY

11h•Remote

About The Position

Van Leeuwen Ice Cream is hiring a full-time Director of National Accounts. This is a great opportunity for an experienced individual to work closely with the growing team of Van Leeuwen Ice Cream as the company embarks on its next stage of accelerated growth across retail brick and mortar and CPG. We are seeking a high-impact Director of National Accounts to lead and grow key retail partnerships across our expanding CPG business. This role is responsible for delivering top-line growth, strengthening customer relationships, and executing best-in-class joint business plans across strategic national accounts. This leader thrives in a fast-paced, entrepreneurial environment and brings a strong track record of scaling emerging brands within frozen, refrigerated, or perimeter categories, with a deep understanding of natural and “better-for-you” consumers and customers. This role can be fully remote and based anywhere in the United States. Strong preference would be candidates based in markets where VL has retail outlets (CA, CO, TX, IL, FL, GA, DC, NC, TN, PA, NJ, NYC, CT or MA).

Requirements

10 to 15+ years of CPG sales experience, with increasing responsibility in national accounts
Proven success managing top-tier retailers (e.g., Whole Foods, Target, Kroger, Sprouts, etc.)
Experience in frozen, refrigerated, or perimeter categories strongly preferred
Background in natural, premium, or better-for-you brands highly desirable
Experience in both emerging/growth-stage brands and scaled organizations is a plus
Excellent communication and problem-solving skills
Strong commercial acumen with experience owning a customer P&L
Deep understanding of distribution, velocity drivers, and retail economics
Experience working with distributors and broker networks
Analytical mindset with ability to translate data into action
Must be comfortable working in-store scoop shifts as needed, while adhering to DOH guidelines

Responsibilities

Own P&L and revenue delivery for a portfolio of national accounts (e.g., grocery, natural, mass, club)
Develop and execute joint business plans (JBPs) aligned with company growth targets
Identify and unlock distribution opportunities, including new items, sets, and channels
Drive velocity through pricing, promotion, merchandising, and assortment optimization
Build and maintain senior-level relationships with key retail partners
Serve as the voice of the customer internally and influence cross-functional priorities
Lead line reviews, innovation sell-in, and strategic customer planning cycles
Navigate complex customer structures across direct and distributor-serviced accounts
Partner with internal teams to develop pricing architecture (EDLP + promotional strategy)
Manage trade spend to maximize ROI, improve margins, and drive sustainable growth
Analyze performance (shipment, scan, profitability) and adjust plans accordingly
Ensure flawless execution across item setup, promotion planning, and in-store activation
Collaborate with brokers and distributor partners (e.g., UNFI, KeHE) to drive execution
Monitor and resolve customer issues including deductions, service levels, and supply alignment
Partner closely with Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Category/Trade teams
Provide input into innovation pipeline based on customer and consumer insights
Support forecasting, S&OP alignment, and demand planning accuracy