Business Development Manager

Location: Alsip, IL, Lithonia, GA, Springdale, AR (hybrid: on average 1-2 days/week in office)

About the Role

As the Business Development Manager with Griffith Foods, you will be an integral part in achieving sales targets outlined in the annual budget within your territory. This role focuses on working exclusively with Protein Processor customers to deliver Griffith Foods’ financial commitments with Master End User customers, including QSR and Retail accounts, while ensuring overall customer satisfaction. You will engage regularly at Protein Processor customer factories, working closely with factory personnel to understand their business, operational priorities, and decision drivers to create value for both the customer and Griffith Foods.

This role is responsible for planning and execution against volume, net sales, and contribution margin objectives and is instrumental in initiating and developing new business at targeted accounts and related protein processors. You will directly impact volume, net sales, contribution margin, forecast accuracy, customer retention, and the successful delivery of commitments tied to Protein Processor and Master End User customers.

Responsibilities

• Maintain and strengthen relationships with Protein Processor customers, ensuring customer satisfaction while identifying opportunities to support Master End User financial commitments and growth objectives.
• Visit Protein Processor customer factories and build strong working relationships with plant and factory personnel to understand operational realities, identify business needs, and influence customer decisions that support Griffith Foods’ growth, profitability, and service objectives.
• Work closely with sales, marketing, supply chain, culinary, R&D, and cross-functional teams to align Protein Processor customer activity with QSR, Retail, and other Master End User account strategies.
• Analyze Protein Processor trends, customer needs, operational requirements, and emerging market opportunities to inform strategic decisions and protect service levels.
• Effectively manage administrative responsibilities including forecasting, margins and service levels, S&OP support, account planning, CRM utilization, and project management processes.
• Achieve/exceed volume and profit goals for targeted Protein Processor customers while supporting financial commitments tied to Master End User customers.
• Utilize strong knowledge of business development, account planning, customer relationship management, forecasting, pricing, margin management, and commercial execution within the food ingredient industry.
• Demonstrate working knowledge of category strategy, product applications, commercialization processes, CRM discipline, S&OP inputs, customer profitability, and cross-functional project execution.

Requirements

• 3+ years of B2B sales or account management experience.
• 3+ years of experience with CRM.
• Unrestricted authorization to work in the United States (work visa sponsorship is not available for this role).

Qualifications

• Strong understanding of the North America B2B food ingredient business, including Protein Processor customer requirements, QSR and Retail Master End User expectations, and the commercial drivers of profitable growth.
• Ability and passion to connect customer needs, market trends, product capabilities, operational requirements, pricing, and margin expectations into practical account plans and growth actions.
• Enjoy applying business acumen to balance volume growth, contribution margin, service levels, customer satisfaction, and long-term account development.
• 5 years of sales experience (preferred).
• 3 years in the food industry (preferred).

Pay

Compensation range: $110,000–120,000 per year plus a 25% target Sales Incentive Plan based on weighted achievement against contribution margin, strategic priorities, and volume goals.

Benefits

• Medical, Rx, Dental, and Vision coverage.
• Flexible Spending & Health Savings Accounts.
• Employee Assistance Program (EAP) and Health Advocacy.
• Financial Planning services.
• Parental Leave, Care.com, Adoption & Surrogacy Assistance.
• Education Assistance/Tuition Reimbursement.
• Safety Reimbursement and Lifestyle Spending Account.
• Group Life & AD&D, Voluntary Life Insurance.
• Short Term & Long Term Disability.
• 401(k) Plan with Company Match.
• Paid Time Off (PTO), Holidays & Leaves.
• Accident Insurance, Critical Illness Insurance, Hospital Indemnity.
• Home & Auto Insurance, Pet Insurance.
• Identity Theft Protection.
• Long Term Care + Life Insurance & Legal Assistance.

Schedule

Hybrid work arrangement with flexibility under Griffith Foods’ WorkFlex program, allowing most work to be done remotely. Employees typically come into the office once a week, with periodic onsite meetings at Lombard or Alsip, IL locations. Options like compressed work weeks and flex time are available.