Who You Are
We are seeking a high-impact, strategic, and growth-oriented VP Business Development to lead market expansion, strategic account/logo management, and enterprise growth initiatives within the food industry. This role will serve as a senior commercial leader responsible for driving new business development, strengthening enterprise customer relationships, managing strategic brand/logo accounts within the Safe Foods division of Fortrex, and identifying cross-functional growth opportunities that support both chemistry and sanitation labor services. The ideal candidate will act as a connector between customers, operations, innovation, sales, and executive leadership to accelerate profitable growth, increase market share, and position Safe Foods as a trusted long-term partner.
Who We Are
- Leader in food safety solutions for both contract sanitation and chemistry in the food processing industry.
- Over 10,000 dedicated team members across North America.
- Corporate headquarters in Atlanta, GA with team members working in over 250 plants throughout North America.
- Over 50+ years of experience in creating long-lasting partnerships.
OUR MISSION:
We protect the food supply by eliminating risks so families everywhere can eat without fear.
Protect What Matters: We are in service of safety at every step, ensuring the health of everyone is central to all we do – from plant team members to consumers.
Deliver On Our Promises: We speak honestly and are dedicated to doing the right thing by upholding ethical standards and following through on our commitments to our teams, our customers, and our business.
Win as a Team: We believe in the power of collaboration, uniting our diverse strengths while working hand-in-hand with our team members and customers to unlock potential and achieve stronger results together.
Advance a Safer Future: We are committed to innovating more effective, sustainable, and cost-efficient food safety solutions to develop a safer world for all.
Successful execution of the below duties are as follows:
Strategic Business Development & Market Expansion
Lead strategic growth initiatives across assigned food industry sectors.
Identify and secure new business opportunities that expand market share and revenue growth.
Develop market penetration strategies supported by customer insights, competitive analysis, and industry trends.
Partner with executive leadership to align commercial growth initiatives with enterprise objectives.
Strategic Account / Logo Management
Serve as the executive relationship owner for assigned strategic accounts and enterprise logos within the Safe Foods division.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key decision-makers, executives, and stakeholders across customer organizations.
Drive customer retention, expansion opportunities, and long-term partnership development.
Conduct executive business reviews and present value-driven solutions that support customer operational and food safety objectives. Cross-Divisional Growth Support
Identify and introduce opportunities for the sanitation labor division while supporting cross-selling initiatives between divisions.
Collaborate with internal sales and operational leaders to ensure seamless transition of opportunities to the corporate account management team when appropriate.
Act as a strategic liaison between chemistry, sanitation labor, and operations teams to maximize enterprise growth opportunities. Brand / Logo Growth & Value Optimization
Support Safe Foods brand expansion by identifying opportunities to strengthen market presence within key customer logos.
Evaluate customer needs and align value propositions, pricing strategies, and service offerings to increase profitability and retention.
Collaborate with marketing and innovation teams to support product positioning, market messaging, and growth initiatives. Leadership & Collaboration
Provide professional coaching, and strategic direction to support commercial growth initiatives. ? Partner cross-functionally with operations, finance, innovation, marketing, and sales teams to ensure successful execution of customer initiatives.
Present strategic business cases, market opportunities, and growth updates to senior leadership. Sales / Business Growth ? Guide or support sales presentations, negotiations, and customer meetings to secure profitable business opportunities.
Visit customer facilities to evaluate operational needs and identify opportunities to improve customer value and service alignment. ? Maintain responsibility for achieving revenue growth targets and strategic account performance objectives.
YOUR MUST HAVES:
Must be 18+ years or older
Must have an active Driver’s License.
Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Food Science, or related field (MBA preferred). 7+ years of experience in business development, strategic account management, sales leadership, or related commercial leadership roles.
Experience managing enterprise-level customer relationships and strategic business initiatives.
Strong understanding of food manufacturing, food safety, sanitation, or related industries preferred.
Proven track record of driving revenue growth, market expansion, and customer retention.
Excellent communication, negotiation, leadership, and relationship-building skills. Strong analytical, strategic planning, and problem-solving capabilities.
Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.
OUR ENVIRONMENT:
This position is based at a combination of your in-home office and customer facilities within your
assigned geographical area. While traveling or on customer visits, exposure to wet, hot, cold,
various shifts, and the use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) may be required. Frequent
travel, customer presentations, plant visits, and extended periods of driving and computer work
are expected
What We Offer
- Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
- Basic Life Insurance
- Short-term Disability
- Long-term Disability
- Retirement Plan
- Paid Holidays (Varies by Location)
- Paid Vacation
- Employee Assistance Program ("EAP")
- Training & Development Opportunities
EEO Disclaimer
Fortrex and Safe Foods, a division of Fortrex, are proud to be an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, religion, color, creed, sex, gender, gender identity, national origin, citizenship status, uniform service member status, veteran status, age, genetic information, disability, or any other protected status, in accordance with all applicable federal state, and local laws. Fortrex and Safe Foods are committed to complying with the laws protecting qualified individuals with disabilities.
Fortrex and Safe Foods will provide a reasonable accommodation for any known physical or mental disability of a qualified individual with a disability to the extent required by law, provided the requested accommodation does not create an undue hardship for the Company and/or does not pose a direct threat to the health or safety of others in the workplace and/or to the individual. If a team member requires an accommodation, they must notify the site manager or the Corporate Human Resources Department. If an applicant requires an accommodation, they must notify the hiring manager and/or the Recruiter hiring for the position.
Your Next Steps
APPLY! All applications will be reviewed, and qualified candidates will be contacted to continue into the interview process. If you feel like you are a good fit for this position, APPLY! If you want to be a part of a large organization that treats you like family, APPLY NOW!
