Director of Sales

Recruiting In Motion - Eastern Ontario; Brantford; On-site; CAD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

Recruiting In Motion - Eastern Ontario is seeking a Director of Sales to lead a strategic customer account and drive sustainable growth, volume expansion and profitability. The role builds strong partnerships across commercial, supply chain, innovation and cost management, with a focus on category development and value creation.

The position is split between Brantford and Mississauga and is fully onsite, requiring leadership of a small team and ongoing performance improvement to meet targets and

Qualifications

• Commercial experience in own-label or branded products or equivalent.
• Proven negotiation, account management and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Experience leading and developing commercial teams.
• Strong commercial acumen with pricing, profitability, forecasting and budgeting awareness.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with senior customer stakeholders across commercial, innovation and supply chain functions.
• Create and execute strategic business plans to drive sales, volume growth, market share and profitability.
• Identify opportunities for new products, category expansion, range optimisation and third-party sales.
• Negotiate pricing, commercial agreements, promotional activity and development costs; manage forecasting and account administration.
• Lead and develop the Commercial team, monitor performance and drive continuous improvement.

Skills

Commercial experience

Negotiation

Account management

Stakeholder relationships

Team leadership

Job description

Our client in the food manufacturing sector is seeking a Director of Sales to lead and develop a strategic customer account to drive sustainable sales growth, volume expansion and profitability. In this role you will build strong customer partnerships, identify new business opportunities, and deliver value through innovation, category development, supply chain optimisation and cost management. This role will be split between Brantford and Mississauga (fully onsite).

Key Accountabilities

Account Management and Commercial Growth

Develop and maintain strong relationships with senior customer stakeholders across commercial, innovation and supply chain functions. Create and execute strategic business plans to drive sales, volume growth, market share and profitability. Identify opportunities for new products, category expansion, range optimisation and third-party sales. Negotiate customer and supplier pricing, commercial agreements, promotional activity and product development costs. Manage forecasting, pricing, promotional planning and account administration.

Supply Chain and Innovation

Collaborate with planning, procurement and operations teams to optimise supply chain performance, secure supply and manage costs. Partner with New Product Development and Category Insight teams to deliver innovation and product development aligned with customer needs and consumer trends. Use market data and category insights to identify growth opportunities and strengthen the customer proposition.

Leadership and Performance

Lead and develop the Commercial team, establishing clear objectives, accountability and a culture of high performance. Monitor sales, volume, profitability, innovation and service performance against agreed targets. Provide regular reporting, identify risks and opportunities, and implement continuous improvement initiatives. Ensure commercial strategies align with customer priorities and overall business objectives.

Performance Measures

• Sales, volume and profitability growth against agreed targets.
• Delivery of innovation, product development and cost optimisation objectives.
• Customer satisfaction and agreed service-level performance.
• Commercial team performance and development.
• Progress against business plans and continuous improvement targets.

Scope and Accountability

• Reports to: Managing Director.
• Direct reports: 1-3.
• Financial responsibility: Management of the function within agreed budgets, with commercial accountability for approximately $450 million in revenue.
• Decision-making: Autonomy over day-to-day commercial decisions within established policies, delegated authority and budgets.

Key Relationships

Build effective partnerships with customer stakeholders, internal leadership and Commercial, Planning, Procurement, Operations, Finance, New Product Development and Category Insight teams, as well as suppliers and third-party partners.

Leadership Capabilities

• Customer Focus: Understands customer needs and consumer trends to identify opportunities for growth.
• Strategic Thinking: Uses market insight and commercial analysis to make informed decisions and develop effective plans.
• Collaboration: Builds trust, influences stakeholders and works across teams to achieve shared objectives.
• Leadership: Develops talent, promotes accountability and creates a high-performing team.
• Adaptability: Responds effectively to changing priorities and market conditions.
• Results Orientation: Sets clear objectives, monitors performance and drives continuous improvement.

Key Experience, Knowledge and Skills

• Commercial experience in own-label or branded products, ideally within a major retail environment.
• Proven negotiation, account management and stakeholder relationship skills.
• Experience leading and developing commercial teams.
• Strong commercial acumen and understanding of pricing, profitability, forecasting and budgeting.
• Knowledge of category management, consumer insights and market trends.
• Excellent communication, analytical and influencing skills.
• Understanding of food supply chains and operational cost drivers.
• Ability to identify opportunities, manage risks and translate strategy into measurable results.

Personal Attributes

• A commercially driven, customer-focused and resilient leader who demonstrates integrity, initiative and adaptability.
• Builds strong relationships, encourages collaboration, maintains high standards and drives accountability and continuous improvement.
• Willingness to travel is required.

AI may be used to support certain administrative aspects of our recruitment process. However, all applications and resumes are reviewed by qualified human reviewers, and all screening and hiring decisions are made solely by the hiring team. The posted salary range reflects expected compensation for this role in accordance with Ontario pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on the successful candidate’s experience, skills, and qualifications and may fall anywhere within the range.