Director of Retail Business & Product Development

Our client is a global food manufacturing and food solutions organization that partners with many of the world's leading retailers, restaurant chains, and foodservice brands. The company specializes in developing, producing, and delivering high-quality fresh, refrigerated, and prepared food products, with a strong focus on innovation, private label partnerships, and customer-driven growth.

Position Overview

They are seeking a Director of Retail Business & Product Development to join a rapidly growing Retail Division. This newly approved role will be responsible for driving retail growth through strategic customer development, relationship management, and execution of the company's retail go-to-market strategy.

This individual will serve as a key partner to executive leadership, helping expand relationships with targeted retailers, identify and secure new business opportunities, and grow existing accounts. The ideal candidate is a true hunter who can open doors, build credibility with retail partners, and successfully guide opportunities from prospecting through commercialization.

What You'll Do

• Develop and execute retail business development strategies to drive profitable growth.
• Build and expand relationships with major retail partners and decision-makers.
• Identify, qualify, and advance new business opportunities within target accounts.
• Create and implement Joint Business Plans (JBPs) and retailer-specific growth strategies.
• Partner cross-functionally with category management, product development, operations, and commercialization teams.
• Lead customer engagement throughout the sales and development lifecycle.
• Navigate complex private label and retailer environments.
• Build a healthy pipeline of opportunities and drive projects through commercialization.
• Serve as a trusted partner internally while helping shape retail growth initiatives.

Required Qualifications

• Experience within fresh perimeter food categories such as:
• Deli
• Prepared Foods
• Fresh Meat
• Refrigerated Foods
• Existing relationships with one or more major retailers such as:
• HEB
• Publix
• Trader Joe's
• Costco
• Other large national or regional retailers
• Proven business development and sales leadership experience.
• Strong hunter mentality with a track record of creating and converting opportunities.
• Experience developing and executing Joint Business Plans (JBPs).
• Understanding of category management principles.
• Ability to navigate complex retailer and private-label environments.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Strong organizational and process management capabilities.
• Demonstrated ability to manage opportunities from prospecting through successful onboarding and execution.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working across multiple target retailers.
• Established broker relationships supporting major retail accounts.
• Private label manufacturing experience.
• Chicago-area market knowledge and relationships.
• Experience bringing new products or programs through commercialization.

What Success Looks Like

Within the first 6-12 months, you will:

• Establish and advance opportunities with targeted retail accounts.
• Build a qualified pipeline of new business opportunities.
• Deliver measurable progress against business development goals.
• Expand retailer engagement and strengthen strategic relationships.
• Successfully execute retail growth initiatives.
• Move opportunities through development and into the commercial pipeline.
• Become a trusted partner to leadership in driving retail expansion efforts.

Who Will Thrive in This Role?

We're looking for someone who is:

• A natural hunter who enjoys pursuing and winning new business.
• Highly organized and process-oriented.
• Strategic but also execution-focused.
• Tenacious and resilient.
• A strong communicator with executive presence.
• Relationship-driven and customer-focused.
• Self-motivated and accountable.
• Collaborative across functions.
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced and entrepreneurial environment.

Why Consider This Opportunity?

This is a unique opportunity to join a global food industry leader during an exciting period of growth. You'll have direct visibility with senior leadership, play a significant role in expanding retail partnerships, and help shape the future of a fast-growing retail business. The role offers the opportunity to leverage existing retailer relationships while building new strategic partnerships that drive meaningful business impact.

Location

• Warrenville, IL (Headquarters) onsite
• Approximately 40% travel

Full-time employees are also eligible for benefits options such as health coverage, life insurance, disability insurance, and 401k benefits.

At Advanced Group, our commitment to diversity and inclusion in every part of our organization is crucial to fulfilling our mission and demonstrating our REAL values. Advanced Group is committed to providing employment opportunities without regard to sex, race, color, age, national origin, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation or sexual preference, pregnancy or maternity, genetic information, marital status, disability, veteran status, or any other basis protected by applicable federal, state or local law.

Advanced Group complies with federal and state disability laws and makes reasonable accommodations for applicants and candidates with disabilities. If a reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io.

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