Senior VP of Business Development

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. 

What We Are Looking For

RESPONSIBILITIES

• 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