Account Director

Chew; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 110,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Chew CPG Inc. in Boston seeks an Account Director to manage client accounts, ensuring delivery of statements of work on time and within budget. You will collaborate with R&D, QA, and project managers to translate briefs into measurable success criteria and pricing structures.

The role requires 7–10 years in client service within the CPG or related fields, plus hands-on food development experience and strong communication skills. On-site Boston location; full-time or contract-to-full-time.

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years in client service at a CPG company, agency, co-manufacturer or product development consultancy.
• Hands-on experience in food and beverage product development, working directly with R&D.
• Knowledge of formulation, scale-up and co-manufacturing to brief food scientists and discuss feasibility and cost.
• Track record of writing SOWs, pricing projects and maintaining scope.
• Highly organized and capable of detailed independent work.
• Strong written communication and presentation skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead client kickoffs, status meetings and stage gate reviews with agendas and 24-hour recaps.
• Turn client briefs into measurable success criteria covering objective, consumer, cost targets, claims and timing.
• Write SOWs with deliverables, timelines, assumptions, exclusions and pricing; set hours, margins and payments with Finance.
• Brief R&D, track sample requests and approve shipments to clients.
• Obtain written sign-off at every gate before moving to the next stage.
• Log out-of-scope requests and secure change orders; confirm PO before starting work.
• Track budget vs. actuals weekly and flag overruns early.
• Host client visits, tastings and pilot plant sessions.
• Start renewal conversations 90 days before contract ends and develop follow-on proposals.
• Support new business pitches, case studies and industry events.

Skills

Client service leadership

Food & beverage development

Formulation knowledge

SOW writing & pricing

Organization & detail work

Written & presentation skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

CHEW (Chew CPG Inc.) is a Boston food innovation company. Our chefs, food scientists and manufacturing experts take products from first idea to retail shelf for CPG companies of every size, and in 12.5 years we have worked on 5,000-plus products across 25-plus categories. Every concept is developed in our Boston lab and proven in our Cambridge pilot plant before it scales, so what our clients approve on the bench is what they can actually make. We exist to put better choices in every grocery aisle: food that tastes great, delivers real nutrition and earns its place on the shelf. Learn more at www.chewinnovation.com.

The Account Director runs CHEW's client accounts day to day. You are the main contact for each client's project lead and working team, and you make sure we deliver exactly what the statement of work promised, on time and on budget. You report to the CEO, who leads senior client relationships and overall account strategy, and you work closely with our R&D team and Project Manager.

What you will do

• Lead client kickoffs, status meetings and stage gate reviews, with an agenda before every meeting and a recap within 24 hours.
• Turn each client brief into measurable success criteria covering objective, target consumer, cost targets, claims and timing, and confirm them before the SOW goes out.
• Write every SOW, including deliverables, timeline by gate, assumptions, exclusions and pricing. Build hours estimates with R&D and set price, margin and payment terms with Finance.
• Brief R&D, track sample requests and bench sessions, and approve what ships to the client.
• Get written client sign-off at every gate before work moves to the next stage.
• Log out-of-scope requests and secure a signed change order before extra work starts. Confirm a purchase order is in place before any project begins.
• Track budget against actuals weekly and flag overruns early.
• Host client visits, tastings and pilot plant sessions.
• Start renewal conversations 90 days before each contract ends, find follow-on work in every account and write the proposals.
• Support new business pitches, case studies and industry events.

How we will measure success

• 90 percent or more of gates met on the date agreed in the SOW, with written sign-off at each one.
• Every SOW includes measurable success criteria, and no out-of-scope work starts without a signed change order.
• Client satisfaction of 8 out of 10 or higher.
• Your accounts run smoothly day to day, so the CEO can focus on senior relationships and strategy.

Qualifications

• 7 to 10 years in client service at a CPG company, agency, co-manufacturer or product development consultancy.
• Hands-on experience in food and beverage product development, working directly with R&D.
• Enough knowledge of formulation, scale-up and co-manufacturing to brief food scientists and discuss feasibility and cost with clients.
• A track record of writing SOWs, pricing projects and holding scope.
• Highly organized and comfortable doing the detailed work yourself.
• Strong written communication and presentation skills.
• Bachelor's degree required; food science or business background a plus.

Location and type

Boston, MA, on-site preferred. Full-time, or contract to full-time.