Job Summary
We are seeking an experienced and strategic Vice President of Sales to join our executive leadership team within the meat industry. This executive leader will be responsible for driving revenue growth, expanding market share, and strengthening strategic customer relationships across retail, food service, wholesale distribution, further processors, and national accounts.
The Vice President of Sales will lead a high-performing team of 25 to 30 sales, marketing and R&D professionals while working closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Quality Assurance, Marketing, and Research & Development to align commercial strategies with production capabilities, market demands, and customer expectations.
This position requires a hands-on leader who can effectively manage products from multiple facilities, maintain strong customer relationships, and collaborate across geographically dispersed teams and locations.
Key Responsibilities
Executive Leadership
- Serve as a key member of the executive leadership team, contributing to strategic planning, organizational growth, and long-term business objectives.
- Develop and execute sales strategies that drive profitable growth within the meat and protein marketplace.
- Provide leadership and insight regarding market trends, customer demand, competitive activity, commodity fluctuations, and industry developments.
- Report directly to the CEO
Team Leadership & Development
- Lead, mentor, and develop a team of 25 to 30 sales marketing and R&D professionals.
- Establish performance expectations, sales objectives, and accountability measurements.
- Foster a culture of collaboration amongst company brands, customer focus, continuous improvement, and professional development.
Sales Strategy & Revenue Growth
- Oversee sales performance across fresh, frozen, value-added, and further-processed meat product lines.
- Develop and implement strategies to increase revenue, profitability, and market share.
- Manage forecasting, budgeting, pricing strategies, and sales reporting to support data-driven decision-making.
- Identify opportunities for expansion within existing accounts and new market segments.
- Identify and drive technology opportunities that help in decision making and revenue growth
Business Development & Key Account Management
- Build and maintain executive-level relationships with key customers, including retailers, distributors, foodservice operators, processors, and manufacturing partners.
- Conduct customer visits, plant tours, business reviews, and high-impact sales presentations.
- Lead contract negotiations and strategic customer initiatives.
- Identify and secure new business opportunities that align with company growth objectives.
Product Development
- Act as the primary liaison between Sales, Research & Development, Marketing, and Operations.
- Drive new product development initiatives by translating customer needs and market trends into commercial opportunities.
- Ensure successful launches of new products while meeting customer expectations, regulatory requirements, and profitability goals.
Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Collaborate with Operations, Supply Chain, and Customer Service teams to align customer demand with operational capabilities.
- Work closely with Quality Assurance and Food Safety teams to ensure compliance with USDA, FDA, HACCP, SQF, and customer-specific requirements.
- Support initiatives focused on operational efficiencies, yield optimization, and customer satisfaction.
Communication & Brand Leadership
- Oversee account-level communications to ensure consistent messaging and exceptional customer service.
- Strengthen the organization's reputation as a trusted partner within the meat and protein industry.
Multi-Site Leadership & Travel
- Maintain a visible leadership presence across multiple company locations, processing facilities, and customer sites.
- Travel among company operations to support sales initiatives, customer relationships, and cross-functional collaboration.
- Participate in customer visits, trade shows, industry events, key account meetings, and customer reviews.
- Effectively lead and support teams across multiple geographic locations.
- Ability and willingness to travel domestically as needed, estimated at 15%-30% to travel depending on business needs.
- Pay range DOE $150k to $250k a year, pay negotiable based on experience.
Qualifications
Required
- Bachelor’s degree in business, with a preference in Marketing, Food Science, Animal Science, Agribusiness, or a related field.
- Minimum of 10 years of progressive sales leadership experience within the meat industry, food manufacturing, or food processing industry.
- Minimum of 5 years of executive or senior leadership experience.
- Demonstrated track record of driving revenue growth, profitability, and market expansion.
- Significant experience working with retail grocery, foodservice, distribution, protein processing, or consumer packaged goods customers.
- Strong understanding of meat processing operations, product commercialization, customer development, commodity pricing, and supply chain management.
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
- Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and timelines simultaneously.
Preferred
- MBA or advanced business degree.
- Experience with beef, pork, poultry, turkey, or value-added protein products.
- Existing relationships within retail, foodservice, distribution, and protein processing sectors.
- Knowledge of USDA regulations, HACCP programs, food safety standards, and protein industry best practices.
CVMHC is an Equal Opportunity Employer. Candidates are evaluated and selected based on their qualifications for the job in question. We do not base our employment decisions on employee's or applicant's citizenship, race, age, color, sex, religion, natural origin, sexual orientation, handicap, or disability, marital status, veteran status, reproductive health decision-making, or any other basis prohibited by local, state, or federal law.
CVMHC participates in E-Verify.
Pay: $150,000.00 - $250,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Relocation assistance
- Vision insurance
Education:
Experience:
- Sales Leadership: 10 years (Required)
- Meat Industry: 10 years (Required)
- Food Manufacturing: 10 years (Required)
- Food processing: 10 years (Required)
- Executive or Senior Leadership Role: 5 years (Required)
- Driving Revenue Growth, Profitability and Market Expansion: 5 years (Required)
- Retail Grocery, Food Service, Protein Processing: 5 years (Required)
- Product Commercialization, Commodity Pricing: 5 years (Required)
- USDA Regulations, HACCP Programs, Food Safety Standards: 5 years (Preferred)
- Beef, pork, poultry, turkey or value added protein: 5 years (Preferred)
Language:
- English (Required)
- English/Spanish (Preferred)
Work Location: In person
