Sr. Director, Kroger

Relocation Assistance Offered Within Country

Job Number #173767 - Cincinnati, Ohio, United States

As the Senior Director of Customer Development (Sales team), you will be the strategic architect of our partnership with Kroger, one of Colgate-Palmolive’s most critical retail partnerships. You will lead our Cincinnati‑based team to drive sustainable growth, optimize category performance, and deepen our relationship with Kroger’s merchant leadership. This role requires a visionary leader who understands the nuances of Kroger’s go‑to‑market strategies, division and banner operations, Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) retail media solution, 8451 competence, and an omnichannel mindset to drive success on  You will manage the total P&L across our iconic brands within the Kroger ecosystem and lead a dynamic team in a highly competitive environment.

• Strategic Leadership & Partnership
• Lead the development and execution of a multi‑year profitable growth plan that aligns Colgate‑Palmolive's corporate goals with Kroger’s strategic priorities and value proposition.
• Serve as the primary face of Colgate‑Palmolive to Kroger’s leadership, deepening relationships, fostering trust and high‑level advocacy.
• Position our brands as a category thought leader by leveraging data‑driven insights to influence Kroger’s assortment and shelf strategies.
• Oversee the Kroger team’s field office, fostering a high‑performance culture that attracts and retains top‑tier CPG talent.
• Lead a multi‑disciplinary team across Sales, Category Management, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure seamless execution.
• Coach and develop Account Managers and National Account Executives for future leadership roles.
• Manage the full Kroger P&L, including gross/net sales, trade spend, and profitability.
• Collaborate with digital teams to ensure a "best‑in‑class" presence on  and maximize ROI on KPM media investments.
• Partner with Demand Planning to ensure high in‑stock levels, particularly during peak seasonal windows and promotional periods.

• Able to lead and influence across multiple levels of the organization and effectively collaborate, communicate, and influence in a matrix environment.
• Find creative opportunities to grow and improve the business across the board, adapting strategy, taking calculated risks, and incorporating findings into the strategy quickly.
• Analyze relevant data, insights, and information to identify opportunities and develop strategic plans to drive a commercial agenda.
• Grasp the big picture and identify areas of opportunity.
• Collaborate with key cross‑functional partners to identify opportunities for growth and build selling stories.
• Lead cross‑discipline teams, networking and building strong relationships with Insights and Analytics, Marketing, Supply Chain, Research & Development, and Sales.
• Strong oral and written communication skills; ability to effectively educate and influence stakeholders at all levels.
• Seek opportunities to improve via creative solutions, digging into the reasons behind numbers and guiding the team accordingly.

• Bachelor’s degree
• 12+ years of proven CPG sales experience, with specific working knowledge around managing Kroger and their overall go‑to‑market strategies.
• Experience working and leading in a variety of retail environments, managing P&Ls and navigating global, matrixed organizations.
• Exceptional leadership and interpersonal skills, with a successful track record of building and leading high‑performing sales teams.
• Familiarity with the in‑market retail community and Kroger’s internal "way of working."
• Proven track record of navigating complex negotiations and securing win‑win outcomes.

• Microsoft Office or Google Suite proficiency (i.e., Sheets, Slides, Docs)
• MBA
• Ability to travel as needed (25%)

Salary Range $ - $ USD. Pay is determined based on experience, qualifications, and location. Salaried employees may also be eligible for discretionary bonuses, profit‑sharing, and long‑term incentives for Executive‑level roles.

Benefits include medical, dental, vision, basic life…