Sales Director

• Sales Director role at reputable, vertically integrated food processor in Ohio
• Revamp the sales strategy and coach sales team to drive new business and expand existing retail and food service relationships
• Onsite position in Ohio offering competitive base salary, bonus target, profit sharing, benefits, and relocation assistance

Overview

The Director of Sales is a senior commercial leader responsible for setting sales strategy, stewarding key customer relationships, and leading the sales organization through the next phase of growth. This role works closely with ownership and senior leadership and is central to leadership succession and long-term continuity.

This position requires a relationship-oriented leader with sound judgment, analytical rigor, and a bias for action. Success in this position requires disciplined decision-making, strong follow-through, and the ability to operate effectively in a customer-driven, price-sensitive environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with ownership and senior leadership to define sales strategy, including customer segmentation and targeted sales plans aligned to prioritized growth opportunities
• Lead and develop sales, customer service, and field sales teams, establishing clear accountability, performance expectations, and succession planning
• Assume increasing ownership of key and national customer relationships through a planned transition, ensuring continuity and long-term relationship strength
• Drive measured, relationship-driven growth by protecting existing business while rebuilding proactive customer development and sales activity
• Manage customer RFPs, pricing strategy, and bid recommendations, presenting well-supported commercial proposals for approval
• Monitor accounts receivable and serve as the primary escalation point for customer issues, applying sound judgment and disciplined negotiation
• Develop deep understanding of market dynamics, pricing mechanisms, and competitive conditions, acting as a credible subject matter expert
• Partner closely with Operations, Purchasing, and Finance to align sales commitments with capacity, inventory, and margin objectives
• Strengthen sales processes, systems, and reporting, including forecasting and CRM and ERP utilization, while preserving culture and service standards
• Translate market trends and customer insights into actionable strategies, forecasts, and leadership recommendations

Ideal Candidate Profile

• 10+ years of progressive sales leadership experience in agriculture, food manufacturing, distribution, or other commodity driven environments.
• Demonstrated success managing complex customer relationships, RFPs, and pricing negotiations.
• Experience leading inside sales, customer service, and field sales teams.
• Strong financial and analytical capability, with comfort owning pricing, margin, and contract discussions.
• Bachelor’s degree required in a related field.
• Relationship-driven, authentic, and dependable
• Exercises strong judgment and proactive problem-solving
• Comfortable working closely with ownership in a lean environment
• Not a transactional or “slick” salesperson
• Learns quickly, respects the learning curve, and values long‑term relationships
• Brings structure and discipline without bureaucracy

What Success Looks Like

• A clearly defined sales strategy is in place with customer segmentation and targeted plans across retail and food service that drive profitable growth.
• The sales function operates with clear accountability and processes designed to strengthen key customer relationships and develop new business.
• Commercial decisions, forecasts, and growth initiatives are executed with rigor and market insight, resulting in account growth without compromising margins, service levels, or customer confidence.
• The sales team is tightly aligned with operations, purchasing, and finance teams, and the Director of Sales is viewed internally and externally as a credible industry leader.

Compensation and Benefits

• Competitive base salary and bonus depending on experience
• Participation in profit sharing program after 12 months
• Benefits include comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage; basic life & AD&D insurance; and paid sick/holiday/PTO.