Head of Bakery (Director-level)

GEA • Frisco, TX

4d • $140,000 - $150,000

About The Position

GEA Group, founded in Germany in 1881, is a global leader in engineering solutions, serving industries such as food and beverage, pharma, dairy, and more. With over 18,000 employees worldwide and a strong U.S. presence since 1929, GEA combines the heritage of a well-established company with the innovation of a forward-thinking industry leader. At GEA, we’re not just building equipment, we’re building lasting careers with an average employee tenure range from 5 to over 11+ years, reflecting the strong culture, growth opportunities, and support we provide. GEA Group's Food and Pharma Division is searching for a senior leader to head our Bakery Sub-Division in North America!

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree in Bakery Science, Engineering, or related field preferred.
• 7-10+ years' experience in Sales, Business Development or Project Management lead customer facing roles with direct target achievement responsibility and commercial strategy definition
• Experienced in international Sales required
• Strong commercial acumen and negotiation skills
• Strong understanding of legal and commercial contracting
• Strong understanding of North America market dynamics
• Fluent in English, preferably with a second language (French or Italian)
• Ability to handle complex commercial and technical challenges
• Ability to manage in difficult situations, and to execute under time pressure
• Capability to design, implement and execute a holistic commercial strategy and be the lead for short cycle achievements
• Ability to travel 50-75%

Nice To Haves

• Experience working in the Bakery industry is HIGHLY preferred.

Responsibilities

• Seeks to understand each customer’s needs, challenges, and goals , identifying their alternatives to get these addressed and ensuring that every proposed solution addresses their pain points and creates clear value.
• Act as the primary steward of the customer experience within the assigned geography , coordinating equipment sales and service teams to consistently deliver on commitments and strengthen long‑term customer relationships while achieving GEA’s short‑term objectives.
• Engage directly with customers through hands‑on selling and frequent in‑person meetings , dedicating significant focus (60% of time) to strategic customers and Key Accounts to ensure they receive tailored support and proactive partnership.
• Nurture and grow customer relationships, ensuring existing customers feel supported and valued while expanding the customer base through regular visits, lead follow‑up, campaigns, and promotions in collaboration with R&C, Inside Sales & Support, and Marketing across the Bakery & EFT Business Units.
• Map the market with a customer‑first lens , identifying opportunities where GEA can help customers improve performance, and build a strong, customer‑validated project pipeline across key segments.
• Guide and coordinate day‑to‑day sales activities across all Bakery & EFT applications , ensuring a seamless customer journey from RFQ through installation & commissioning, and working closely with Technical Offer, Inside Sales & Support, and other key functions to deliver timely, high‑quality outcomes.
• Championing customer satisfaction and service excellence , addressing and resolving major issues with urgency and care while driving growth in the Service business through trust, responsiveness, and reliability.
• Develop customer‑aligned sales plans, budgets, and forecasts , ensuring cross‑functional alignment with Sales Area Management, Application Management, Project Management, Engineering, Procurement, Manufacturing, and Logistics to deliver on customer expectations.
• Maintain accurate and insightful CRM data to enhance market visibility
• Manage and support regional Agents (when applicable) to ensure they deliver a consistent, customer‑focused approach, meeting expectations for performance, compliance, and communication.
• Align pricing, discounts, and commercial terms with Business Units, the line Manager, Finance, and Legal to ensure transparency, fairness, and clarity for customers.
• Represent the Bakery & EFT Business Units in customer negotiations , ensuring agreements reflect customer needs while adhering to approved pricing and commercial frameworks.
• Contribute to strategy, business development, and R&D efforts by bringing forward customer insights, competitive intelligence, and market trends.
• Facilitate VOC/OVOC activities and coordinate joint development initiatives with regional customers, leveraging Test Centers in Italy in close collaboration with Application Managers, Innovation, and Engineering.
• Model GEA’s values, code of conduct, and strategic direction , ensuring the same standards are upheld by R&C FLS and Agents (when applicable) to protect customer trust and brand integrity.
• Deliver the agreed annual country targets : Order Intake for New Machines & Service, GM (%), Hit Rate, Sales, New Customers, Market Share, CRM Pipeline, and Service on-time delivery (OTIF: On Time In Full), always with customer success as the guiding principle.
• Recruit, develop, and lead regional teams, including sales managers (3 Bakery, 1 Extrusion).

Benefits

• Start strong – Medical, dental, and vision coverage begins on your first day
• Recharge and refresh – Enjoy 12 paid holidays , including a flexible floating holiday, and 136 hours of PTO to relax or explore
• Invest in your future – A 7% 401(k) employer match helps grow your retirement savings faster
• Keep learning – Take advantage of tuition reimbursement to further your education or skillset
• Live well – Our wellness incentive program rewards healthy habits
• Get support when you need it – Access to a confidential Employee Assistance Program for personal or professional guidance
• Save smart – Flexible Health Savings and Spending Accounts to manage out-of-pocket expenses

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees