Senior VP of Business Development- Tuffy's Pet Foods
Our Story
KLN Family Brands is a 3rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.
At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that “We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire.”
Some companies have to “fudge the story” a little. Some need the extra “spin” to shine a positive light on themselves. That’s not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that’s not what we do. We tell the story of our brand – our people, the quality of our products, our spirit & moxie, our tradition, and the way we treat our community & beyond. We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we’re a pretty amazing company.
The Opportunity
We’re now hiring a Senior VP of Business Development. The full-time employee in this position will be responsible for driving aggressive growth and new customer acquisition, as well as leading the Perham (Tuffy’s Pet Foods) and Delano (Tuffy’s Treats) Co-man and Private Label sales teams, and will be the primary contact for kibble sales & key customers that buy kibble, cans, and treats. This employee will be a dynamic leader, relationship builder, and the face of Tuffy’s Pet Foods & Treats to all Co-Man and Private Label customers. This role will be remote and the ideal candidate will be located near a major airport.
Responsibilities
What We Are Looking For
Oversight of sales and new customer acquisition in all channels including specialty pet, grocery, club, mass, and c-store
Pre-qualify, vet, and acquire new customers
Lead generation and follow up
Represent KLN Family Brands, Tuffy’s Pet Foods, and Tuffy’s Treats at industry trade shows/conferences
Network within the Pet Food industry
Actively research trends within the Pet Food industry
Identify and reach out to prospective customers to explore new customer relationships
Lead communication/standing meetings/addressing issues/business reviews with all current co-man/PL customers
Manage co-man/PL budget, forecasting, and capacity
Manage profitability of co-man/PL customers
Holds others accountable who are responsible for all “in” the business activities
Develop and maintain an extensive industry contacts database
Work with prospective customers to gather signed NDA’s and credit information
Assist in content creation for all external messaging (advertising, marketing materials, sales decks, website, etc.)
Arrange tours/visits with both prospective and existing co-man/PL customers
Qualifications
Bachelor’s degree in business, sales, marketing, or a related field
8+ years of experience in consumer sales calling on national accounts; experience in pet food industry including kibble, treats, and cans
Highly driven, entrepreneurial, self-starter, comfortable working in ambiguity and who is excited to drive profitable growth in new brands and channels
Strong understanding of syndicated and consumer data
Proven ability to manage a cross-functional team and multiple brands with differing priorities
Leadership skills in a high performing team with an ability to influence collaboratively and cross-functionally
Experience managing a full P&L; demonstrated ability to drive profitable growth via JBPs, vendor negotiations, etc.
Demonstrated presentation skills, with the ability to simplify complex topics for a variety of audiences
Excellent communication skills, with the ability to vary style for different audiences such as consumers, retail customers, and distributors
Highly skilled in written communication and developing education and marketing materials for multiple audiences.
Outstanding organizational, problem-solving, and analytical skills
Ability to work independently and as a member of cross-functional teams
Versatility, flexibility, and a willingness to tackle changing priorities and multiple deadlines with enthusiasm and skill
Ability to learn and grow with a fast paced, mission-driven organization
Demonstrated proficiency in Microsoft Office
Seniority level
Executive
Employment type
Full-time
Job function
Business Development and Sales
Industries
Manufacturing
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