Director of Sales and Distribution

Vice President, Contract Staffing at ForceBrands

THIS IS NOT A ROLE WITH FORCEBRANDS

Job Title: Director of Sales & Distribution Location: Remote (U.S.-based) Department: Sales & Business Development Reports To: Chief Executive Officer / President This is a contract role, with the possibility to convert to full time employment 30 hours per week Position Overview We are seeking a highly motivated and entrepreneurial Director of Sales & Distribution to lead the national launch of a new food product under a well-established fitness and lifestyle brand. This is a rare opportunity to bring an innovative, performance-oriented product to market — from initial distribution buildout through national retail expansion. The ideal candidate will have extensive experience selling into both natural and conventional retail channels (e.g., Erewhon, Whole Foods, Target, Dean & DeLuca) and a proven track record of bringing pre‑launch or early‑stage food or beverage products to scale. You will also support the sales and distribution of existing products within the fitness and beauty space. You’ll own the full commercial strategy for new and existing products: distribution network design, retail account development, broker management, and the execution of programs that drive velocity and long‑term growth. Key Responsibilities Develop and execute a comprehensive sales and distribution strategy to launch and scale a new food product across national, regional, and specialty retailers. Establish and manage relationships with key distributors, brokers, and retail buyers to drive product placement, visibility, and performance. Secure distribution in priority accounts (Whole Foods, Erewhon, Target, Dean & DeLuca, and other natural/specialty retailers). Lead pre‑launch sales activities — including pricing strategy, sales materials, retail presentations, and channel prioritization. Strategic Planning & Execution Develop and manage the annual sales plan with clear revenue, door, and velocity targets. Design a national distribution network through the identification of strategic partners and emerging channel opportunities. Implement tracking systems to measure ROI of trade spend, promotional activity, and retail performance. Oversee forecasting, demand planning alignment, and account‑level planning in partnership with operations and finance. Cross‑Functional Collaboration Partner closely with marketing to align retail activation and shopper marketing programs. Collaborate with operations and supply chain to ensure efficient inventory flow and fulfillment. Provide feedback loops from the field to inform brand, product innovation, and packaging decisions. Build, mentor, and inspire a high‑performing sales organization capable of scaling alongside the brand’s growth trajectory. Establish clear KPIs, processes, and best practices for account management and broker performance. Qualifications 7–10+ years of progressive sales experience within the CPG food or beverage industry, ideally within premium or better‑for‑you categories. Experience working in multiple categories, including food and beverage and beauty. Experience within the fitness and wellness lifestyle industries is greatly preferred. Proven success launching and scaling pre‑launch products into natural, specialty, and conventional retail channels. Deep relationships with buyers, distributors, and brokers at major national and regional retailers (Whole Foods, Target, Erewhon, etc.). Strong analytical skills; comfort working with sales data (IRI/SPINS, retailer POS, trade ROI). Experience managing trade budgets, broker networks, and distributor funding programs. Exceptional negotiation, presentation, and communication skills. Strategic thinker with a hands‑on, entrepreneurial approach to execution. Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or equivalent business experience preferred. Ability to travel up to 50% as needed for account meetings, trade shows, and retail visits. Seniority level Director Employment type Contract Job function Wholesale Food and Beverage, Food and Beverage Manufacturing, and Food and Beverage Retail #J-18808-Ljbffr ForceBrands