Senior Director Strategic Growth Channels

*Please note: This is role requires someone who either lives in the Chicago area or is willing to relocate to the area as there is a fully onsite requirement during onboarding and will continue to require 3-4 days per week onsite after that. Position Description:The Sr. Director, Strategic Growth Channels (SGC) is responsible for co-developing the overarching SGC strategy to drive sustainable company growth across key channels, including Distribution (Broadline, Regional, DOT), Co-Manufacturing, and Retail. This is a newly created, entrepreneurial role that requires the leader to pioneer new business from the ground up - identifying whitespace opportunities, building customer and broker relationships where none exist today, creating the initial go-to-market approach, and personally prospecting to establish traction in new channels. This role will lead channel strategy development, manage future regional brokers, and oversee execution of initiatives that expand market presence and profitability. The Sr. Director will collaborate cross-functionally to ensure operational readiness and deliver channel-specific KPIs. This position requires strong expertise in channel management, strategic partnerships, and market analysis. It also requires a dynamic, results-driven leader with extensive experience building business from scratch, developing field and street sales execution plans, and managing complex customer partnerships and pricing analysis. Primary ResponsibilitiesPartner with the SVP to build the Strategic Growth Channels strategy, playbook, and operating model from the ground up, including target channel priorities for Distribution (Regional, Sysco, USF, DOT), Foodservice, GPO, Co-Manufacturing, and other emerging growth opportunities.Personally prospect, cold call, qualify, and develop new customer opportunities during the early stage of channel development to establish initial traction and build a sustainable pipeline.Identify whitespace opportunities across distribution, foodservice, GPO, co-manufacturing, retail, and other strategic channels where Miniat does not yet have an established presence.Develop and manage a disciplined new-business pipeline, including target accounts, opportunity sizing, stage progression, conversion timing, revenue potential, volume potential, and contribution margin expectations.Determine broker needs by market or channel, develop the broker strategy, lead broker RFP and selection processes as applicable, establish broker expectations, and manage broker performance against defined growth objectives.Collaborate cross-functionally with Sales, Finance, Culinary, Marketing, G&I, Supply Chain, Operations, and other key stakeholders to ensure channel readiness, align company capabilities with market needs, and support successful execution of new business opportunities.Create foundational processes, reporting tools, customer segmentation, pricing guardrails, and execution roadmaps needed to scale Strategic Growth Channels over time.Drive participation in foodservice distributor broadline innovation programs, private label RFP bids, and channel-specific new product opportunities that align with operational capabilities and profitability objectives.Monitor channel-specific KPIs and leading indicators, including prospect activity, pipeline development, customer conversion, revenue, volume, contribution margin, and broker performance; adjust strategies as needed to deliver results.Hold self and future team members accountable for delivering channel growth metrics, including revenue, volume, contribution margin dollars, new customer acquisition, pipeline health, and strategic channel activation.Stay informed about market trends, competitor activity, channel dynamics, customer needs, and emerging growth opportunities to continuously refine the Strategic Growth Channels approach.Perform other duties as assigned. Essential Knowledge, Skills and AbilitiesExperience in protein food manufacturing, distribution, and co-manufacturing channels.Strong analytical and strategic planning skills with proven execution capability.Leadership and cross-functional influence skills to drive organizational alignment.Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.Strong business acumen with a deep understanding of sales, forecasting, and P&L literacy.Requires the ability to think strategically, foster change, incorporate innovation, and implement strategies throughout all levels of the organization.Requires customer interaction skills and the ability to build and sustain trusted relationships both internally and externally. Competencies:Pioneering: Demonstrates the ability to build new business from zero by identifying whitespace opportunities, challenging conventional approaches, creating market entry strategies, and taking calculated risks to establish traction in new channels.Collaboration: Builds and maintains strong partnerships across internal teams and external partners. Actively seeks input, shares knowledge, and fosters trust and mutual respect to align diverse perspectives and drive collective success.Drive for Results: Maintains strong urgency and accountability for delivering measurable outcomes, including pipeline creation, customer acquisition, revenue growth, volume growth, contribution margin, and channel activation. Uses metrics to evaluate progress and adjust execution as needed. Sales Force experience preferredEntrepreneurial Mindset: Operates effectively in ambiguity, demonstrates resourcefulness, and takes ownership of outcomes without relying on an established playbook. Creates structure, process, and momentum in early-stage business-building environments.Resilience & Persistence: Maintains focus and energy in the face of obstacles. Demonstrates perseverance to achieve long-term goals despite setbacks.Influence & Relationship Building: Establishes credibility and trust with new partners and customers. Skilled at negotiating and aligning diverse interests toward shared objectives.Hands-On Leadership: Balances strategic vision with tactical execution. Demonstrates willingness to personally engage in customer development and opportunity creation, especially in early stages of building new channels. This role requires a highly engaged, entrepreneurial leader who can build new business from the ground up while balancing strategy with hands-on execution. The Sr. Director must be comfortable operating without an established playbook, personally developing early-stage opportunities, creating market traction, and building the processes, partnerships, and pipeline needed to scale Strategic Growth Channels over time. Benefits for this role include: Medical, vision, dental, discretionary bonus up to 30% (50% personal performance based & 50% company performance), 401(k) with matching up to a max of 4% and 216 hours PTO in the 1st 12 months.