National Accounts Manager

About the role

Join Smithfield Foods as a National Accounts Manager and become part of a company sustainably feeding people worldwide, producing good food the right way—with respect for people, animals, communities, and the planet. This role focuses on introducing and placing new products with customers, executing organizational initiatives, and driving sales on key items with strategic customers for long-term growth. You’ll work directly with customers and cross-functionally with teams from Business Management to Plant Operations to deliver service and products across categories like bacon, ham, fresh pork, and more.

Responsibilities

• Lead the strategic direction for national corporate accounts, aligning Smithfield’s goals with customer objectives to foster long-term partnerships and sustainable growth.
• Empower and guide high-performing sales teams, including Divisional Directors, Regional Managers, and broker partners, ensuring unified execution across processed and fresh pork categories.
• Create links between national and divisional sales teams to ensure consistent messaging and execution with operator and multi-unit businesses, expanding Smithfield’s presence in segments like Healthcare, Education, Hospitality, and Convenience Stores.
• Collaborate with Business Management, Marketing, Finance, and Operations to optimize every aspect of the customer relationship, from pricing and forecasting to innovation and logistics.
• Drive category excellence and innovation by developing strategies that balance branded and distributor portfolios, rationalize SKUs, and launch new items to maintain competitiveness.
• Develop and manage broker relationships to ensure flawless execution of sales initiatives in retail or foodservice.
• Foster a positive employee experience through leadership, coaching, and development.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree from an accredited four-year college or university and 8+ years of relevant experience in retail or foodservice meat trade; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 2+ years of demonstrated experience in team management, development, or project leadership.
• Strong understanding of the dynamics of the food business industry or retail channels.
• Demonstrated experience in customer-focused and fact-based selling, including IRI, Nielsen, and Perishable Group data.
• Strong critical thinking, problem-solving, written, and verbal communication skills.
• High level of organizational planning, adaptability, and ability to work well with others in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
• Existing customer contacts with large National chain accounts (preferred).
• Understanding of product cuttings, including knowledge of product attributes (preferred).
• Knowledge and experience with SAP (preferred).

Physical demands & work environment

• Capable of sitting for extended periods of time.
• Occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 lbs.
• Frequently required to sit, stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms.
• Specific vision abilities required include close vision, distance vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception.
• Able to travel 50-75% of the time.

Pay

The expected pay range for this position is $105,000 - $140,000 annually. Individual compensation will be determined based on scope and responsibilities of the role, location, candidate’s qualifications and experience, internal equity, external market pay for comparable positions, and budget considerations.