Sales Manager - Flexible Packaging (Chicago)

Optify Search are currently partnered with a well-established global flexible packaging organization seeking a Sales Manager - Flexible Packaging to support continued growth across the food & pharmaceuticals market.

We are searching for a Sales Manager to drive growth across the Northeast and Chicago territories.

This position offers the opportunity to manage and grow an established portfolio of key accounts while identifying and securing new business opportunities across the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, and healthcare packaging sectors.

Working closely with brand owners, food manufacturers, pharmaceutical companies, contract packagers, procurement teams, packaging engineers, and internal commercial and technical teams, this role combines strategic account management, business development, consultative selling, and territory leadership.

The successful candidate will be a self-starter with a proven track record of managing significant revenue, growing customer relationships, and developing new opportunities within the flexible packaging industry.

This is an exciting opportunity to join one of North America's leading flexible packaging manufacturers, known for its quality, customer partnerships, innovation, and market-leading packaging solutions.

Location: Remote | Northeast USA & Chicago Territory

Responsibilities

• Manage, retain, and grow existing customer accounts across the food, beverage, pharmaceutical, healthcare, and consumer goods markets
• Identify, develop, and secure new business opportunities throughout the assigned territory
• Take full ownership of a significant territory, managing customer relationships and revenue performance with an entrepreneurial mindset
• Develop and execute strategic account plans focused on revenue growth, customer retention, and profitability
• Promote a broad portfolio of flexible packaging solutions including printed films, laminations, rollstock, pouches, barrier packaging, and sustainable packaging products
• Build strong relationships with procurement teams, packaging engineers, operations leaders, and executive stakeholders
• Deliver customer presentations, commercial reviews, and business development meetings to support territory growth
• Maintain accurate forecasts, CRM updates, opportunity pipelines, account plans, and sales activity reporting
• Provide market intelligence, competitor insights, and customer feedback to senior leadership
• Work closely with internal manufacturing, technical, customer service, and operations teams to ensure exceptional customer satisfaction
• Consistently achieve and exceed sales, profitability, and growth objectives

Qualifications

• 6+ years of sales, account management, or business development experience within the flexible packaging industry.
• Strong experience managing significant annual revenue and delivering consistent year-over-year account growth
• Demonstrated success developing new business while maintaining and expanding existing customer relationships
• Experience selling flexible packaging solutions into food, beverage, pharmaceutical, healthcare, medical device, or related markets
• Understanding of flexible packaging materials and applications
• Proven ability to work independently, manage a territory like your own business, and drive growth with minimal supervision
• Strong commercial acumen with excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
• Experience managing complex sales cycles and multi-stakeholder customer relationships

Application Process

Please submit your CV/resume if you possess the skills and experience outlined above and are interested in discussing this opportunity. Due to the anticipated volume of applications, we are only able to contact candidates selected for further consideration. If you have not been contacted within two weeks of application, unfortunately your application has been unsuccessful on this occasion.

About Optify Search

Optify Search is a leading executive search and selection business. From our offices in London, we provide retained and contingency recruitment solutions across industry and have specialist executive search consultants operating within the Ingredients, Chemicals, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Contract Manufacturing, Packaging, and Semiconductor sectors.