Director of Sales - Kroger

About Bluebird

We’re The Bluebird Group - we’re an omnichannel commerce partner that helps brands grow across every retail and digital channel. We sit at the intersection of retail, eCommerce, media, and data. We help brands show up wherever their customers are (Target, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Kroger, Kroger’s social commerce like Tik Tok, and beyond) and drive real sales growth. We’re not just strategists - we’re a hands‑on team of experienced retail operators who execute across everything from retail media and creative to data, insights, and full go‑to‑market strategy.

The result: we simplify what’s become a really complex retail landscape and help brands scale faster and smarter.

We're looking for a Director of Sales to lead a portfolio of 5–8 CPG clients across Kroger, drive business growth, and build strong relationships with both clients and retailer partners. This role owns the overall performance of assigned accounts and serves as the primary relationship leader for clients and key Kroger stakeholders. You'll identify growth opportunities, develop business strategies, lead customer engagement, and partner with internal teams to deliver results across both in‑store and digital channels.

The ideal candidate combines strong Kroger relationships with a hands‑on approach to account leadership and execution. This person understands how to navigate Kroger's organization, uncover opportunities, and turn business plans into measurable results. This position is based in the Greater Cincinnati area, requiring one day in office along with the ability to travel up to 10% depending on client and business needs.

• Develop and execute sales strategies that align client objectives with Kroger priorities and Bluebird's growth goals
• Lead annual business planning, forecasting, promotional planning, and execution across a portfolio of 5–8 CPG clients
• Lead Kroger Kompass (New Item Meetings) and develop plans that support successful item launches, assortment expansion, and distribution growth
• Oversee promotional planning, sales strategies, trade fund management, and execution of Kroger's Divisional Sales Merchandising Plan (DSMP)
• Identify emerging categories, market trends, and new business opportunities to expand client distribution, sales, and market share at Kroger
• Partner with clients and internal teams to execute growth strategies across both in‑store and digital channels

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for a portfolio of CPG manufacturer clients
• Build and strengthen relationships with Kroger category managers, process managers, buying teams, and other key stakeholders
• Provide strategic direction and recommendations that support revenue growth, profitability, assortment expansion, and market share gains
• Lead business reviews, category reviews, annual planning discussions, and key customer meetings
• Identify opportunities to increase sales, distribution, promotional effectiveness, and category performance across assigned brands
• Negotiate with both clients and Kroger to maximize growth, profitability, and overall business performance
• Align client objectives with Kroger priorities to drive long‑term growth and execution success

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the Kroger ecosystem, with a focus on expanding Bluebird's client portfolio and retail presence
• Leverage industry relationships, networking opportunities, trade shows, and market insights to generate new client opportunities
• Help emerging and established brands secure placement, gain distribution, and accelerate growth at Kroger
• Develop and present growth strategies that demonstrate Bluebird's value across sales, analytics, eCommerce, and omnichannel execution
• Partner with leadership to expand Bluebird's client portfolio and retailer relationships within Kroger

• Stay current on CPG trends, Kroger priorities, competitive activity, and category dynamics
• Leverage 84.51, Circana (IRI), Nielsen, SPINS, and other syndicated data sources to identify opportunities and inform business strategy
• Analyze category…