Heartland Food Products Group
Director of Sales – West & Central U.S.
Heartland Food Products Group, Chicago, Illinois, United States, 60290
Director of Sales – West & Central U.S.
Heartland Food Products Group
Position Summary Heartland Food Products Group is seeking an experienced and results-driven
Director of Sales
to lead our West and Central U.S. commercial strategy. This role is responsible for driving profitable growth across key national and regional retailers, including
Kroger, Albertsons, and H-E-B , while building strong customer partnerships and developing a high-performing sales team.
The ideal candidate is a strategic sales leader with deep retailer relationships, proven people leadership, and strong joint business planning capabilities within the CPG food industry.
Key Responsibilities Sales Leadership & Strategy
Own and execute the sales strategy for the West and Central U.S. regions to deliver revenue, volume, and profitability targets
Develop and lead
joint business plans (JBPs)
with key retail partners, aligning customer objectives with Heartland’s growth strategies
Drive distribution, assortment, pricing, promotion, and shelf execution initiatives across assigned customers
Key Account Management
Serve as the senior commercial contact for major retailers including
Kroger, Albertsons, and H-E-B
Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with buyers, category managers, and retail leadership
Lead annual planning, line reviews, innovation launches, and promotional negotiations
Lead, coach, and develop a team of sales professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and support professional development
Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Category Management
Strategic & Analytical Excellence
Leverage data and insights to inform decisions, optimize trade spend, and improve ROI
Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and customer performance to identify growth opportunities
Ensure accurate forecasting and effective demand planning in collaboration with internal teams
Qualifications Required
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field
10+ years of progressive sales experience in the
CPG food industry
Proven success managing key grocery retailers, with direct experience with
Kroger, Albertsons, and/or H-E-B strongly preferred
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing sales teams
Strong strategic thinking, negotiation, and
joint business planning
capabilities
Preferred
MBA or advanced degree
Experience leading multi-region or national accounts
Familiarity with private label and/or branded food categories
Strategic & commercial acumen
Customer relationship management
People leadership and talent development
Cross-functional collaboration
Executive-level communication and influence
Benefits
Medical insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Paid maternity leave
Disability insurance
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Position Summary Heartland Food Products Group is seeking an experienced and results-driven
Director of Sales
to lead our West and Central U.S. commercial strategy. This role is responsible for driving profitable growth across key national and regional retailers, including
Kroger, Albertsons, and H-E-B , while building strong customer partnerships and developing a high-performing sales team.
The ideal candidate is a strategic sales leader with deep retailer relationships, proven people leadership, and strong joint business planning capabilities within the CPG food industry.
Key Responsibilities Sales Leadership & Strategy
Own and execute the sales strategy for the West and Central U.S. regions to deliver revenue, volume, and profitability targets
Develop and lead
joint business plans (JBPs)
with key retail partners, aligning customer objectives with Heartland’s growth strategies
Drive distribution, assortment, pricing, promotion, and shelf execution initiatives across assigned customers
Key Account Management
Serve as the senior commercial contact for major retailers including
Kroger, Albertsons, and H-E-B
Build and maintain strong, trust-based relationships with buyers, category managers, and retail leadership
Lead annual planning, line reviews, innovation launches, and promotional negotiations
Lead, coach, and develop a team of sales professionals, fostering a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement
Set clear performance expectations, conduct regular performance reviews, and support professional development
Partner cross-functionally with Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, and Category Management
Strategic & Analytical Excellence
Leverage data and insights to inform decisions, optimize trade spend, and improve ROI
Monitor market trends, competitive activity, and customer performance to identify growth opportunities
Ensure accurate forecasting and effective demand planning in collaboration with internal teams
Qualifications Required
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field
10+ years of progressive sales experience in the
CPG food industry
Proven success managing key grocery retailers, with direct experience with
Kroger, Albertsons, and/or H-E-B strongly preferred
Demonstrated ability to lead and develop high-performing sales teams
Strong strategic thinking, negotiation, and
joint business planning
capabilities
Preferred
MBA or advanced degree
Experience leading multi-region or national accounts
Familiarity with private label and/or branded food categories
Strategic & commercial acumen
Customer relationship management
People leadership and talent development
Cross-functional collaboration
Executive-level communication and influence
Benefits
Medical insurance
Vision insurance
401(k)
Paid maternity leave
Disability insurance
#J-18808-Ljbffr