Vice President of Sales (47046)

HOLLY POULTRY•Hanover, MD

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Vice President of Sales - Retail Division leads the strategy and execution of Holly Poultry’s retail business across regional and national grocery, club, and specialty channels. As a key member of the executive leadership team, this role is accountable for driving profitable growth, expanding market share, and strengthening strategic customer partnerships. This leader will develop and execute a comprehensive retail sales strategy aligned with operations, supply chain, marketing, and finance to ensure consistent, scalable growth. The VP will build and lead a high-performing sales organization, implement disciplined sales processes, and leverage data-driven insights to optimize performance and customer engagement. Success in this role requires a strong understanding of the protein/food industry, a customer-first mindset, and the ability to position Holly Poultry as a trusted, value-added retail partner.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field required; MBA preferred
10 plus years of progressive sales leadership experience, with significant experience in retail food, protein, or consumer packaged goods
Proven success managing large retail accounts and complex customer negotiations
Experience leading sales teams through growth, change, and operational scale
Strong strategic thinking with the ability to execute tactically
Deep understanding of retail sales dynamics, pricing, promotions, and margin management
Exceptional leadership, communication, and negotiation skills
Data driven mindset with strong financial and analytical acumen
Ability to build cross functional alignment and influence at the executive level
Willingness to travel as needed to support customers and business growth
Candidate must successfully pass post offer pre employment drug and background screen

Nice To Haves

MBA preferred

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a comprehensive retail sales strategy aligned with company growth objectives and brand positioning
Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO on retail market trends, customer dynamics, pricing strategy, and growth opportunities
Identify and pursue new retail channels, customer segments, and geographic expansion opportunities
Partner cross functionally with Operations, Procurement, QA, and Finance to ensure sales strategies are operationally executable and aligned with margin targets
Own full P and L responsibility for the Retail Division, including revenue, margin, and volume targets
Lead contract negotiations, pricing strategies, and key account renewals with major retail customers
Establish and track KPIs related to sales performance, customer profitability, promotional effectiveness, and forecast accuracy
Drive disciplined forecasting, demand planning collaboration, and execution against annual sales budgets
Build and maintain strong executive level relationships with key retail partners
Represent Holly Poultry with professionalism and credibility in customer meetings, trade events, and industry forums
Monitor competitive landscape, consumer trends, and private label versus branded dynamics to inform product and pricing strategy
Collaborate with marketing and product teams on packaging, innovation, and promotions tailored to retail customers
Lead, mentor, and develop the retail sales leadership team to drive accountability and performance
Build a culture of ownership, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the sales organization
Establish clear roles, expectations, and performance management standards
Ensure sales teams are equipped with tools, training, and resources to execute effectively
Develop scalable sales processes, including account planning, forecasting, CRM utilization, and reporting
Partner with Finance to align commission structures and incentives with company goals
Drive cross functional alignment to reduce friction between sales, operations, and customer fulfillment
Promote compliance with food safety, regulatory, and company policies in all customer engagements
Acts as a positive change agent and role model for company values
Leads with integrity, accountability, and a customer first mindset
Encourages collaboration, constructive problem solving, and continuous learning
Maintains transparency and strong communication with executive leadership