Director Brands

Performance Food Group (New); Tuscaloosa (AL); On-site; USD 140,000 - 190,000; Full time

Job summary

AFFLINK seeks a Director of Brands to lead the strategic direction, growth, profitability, and market positioning of the company’s private label brands and Preferred Supplier programs.

Reporting to the SVP of Business Development, this role owns the brand portfolio, negotiates supplier terms, and drives lifecycle management while aligning with Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, and Members to deliver sustainable growth.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Management or related field.
• Ten (10) or more years of progressive leadership experience in brand management, private label development, procurement, category management, supplier management, manufacturing, distribution, or sales leadership.
• Experience negotiating strategic supplier agreements and managing complex commercial relationships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute strategies with Sales and Marketing to increase sales, market penetration, and member adoption of AFFLINK private label brands.
• Establish and communicate compelling value propositions positioning AFFLINK brands as preferred solutions.
• Partner with Membership Development, National Accounts, Segment Leadership, Redistribution team and Members to drive profitable growth.
• Support strategic bid opportunities, contract pricing requests, and member sales initiatives.
• Analyze market trends, customer needs, competitive activity, and member feedback to identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales to develop programs that increase brand awareness and market share.
• Monitor portfolio performance and implement action plans to achieve revenue and profitability objectives.

Skills

Procurement & Supplier Management

Strategic Leadership

Negotiation

Data-driven decisions

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Management

Job description

Company Description

AFFLINK has been a leader in supply chain management services for almost 50 years. Connecting more than 200 suppliers of packaging, janitorial, safety, foodservice, office, and MRO procurement solutions with nearly 300 independent distribution experts, AFFLINK provides innovative process and procurement solutions that drive efficiencies for today's leading businesses.

Job Description

We Deliver the Goods

• Competitive pay and benefits, including Day 1 Health & Wellness Benefits, Employee Stock Purchase Plan, 401K Employer Matching, Education Assistance, Paid Time Off, and much more
• Growth opportunities performing essential work to support America's food distribution system
• Safe and inclusive working environment, including culture of rewards, recognition, and respect

Job Summary

The Director of Brands is responsible for the strategic leadership, growth, profitability, and market positioning of AFFLINK's portfolio of private label brands and designated Preferred Supplier programs. Reporting to the SVP of Business Development, this role serves as the business owner of AFFLINK's brand portfolio. It is accountable for developing and executing strategies that increase member adoption, strengthen competitive differentiation, optimize financial performance, and deliver long-term value to AFFLINK members and supplier partners through a direct and redistribution model.

The Director of Brands leads the development, pricing, promotion, supplier alignment, and lifecycle management of all AFFLINK private label products across product categories. This position directly negotiates supplier agreements, rebate structures, pricing programs, and strategic partnerships while overseeing contract deviations, bid support, margin management, and portfolio profitability.

Success in this role requires a unique blend of sales leadership, supplier management, procurement expertise, pricing strategy, product development, and organizational leadership. The Director of Brands partners closely with Sales, Membership Development, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Preferred Suppliers, Manufacturers, AFFLINK Members and the AFFLINK Redistribution platform to build a world-class brand portfolio that drives sustainable growth and strengthens member competitiveness.

Leadership/Supervisory Responsibilities

• Provide strategic direction and leadership for the Brands organization.
• Recruit, develop, coach, and lead a high-performing team focused on brand growth, pricing, supplier management, customer support, and portfolio development.
• Foster a culture of accountability, collaboration, innovation, and member-focused service.
• Lead cross-functional initiatives involving Sales, Marketing, Finance, Operations, Supplier Partners, and Member stakeholders.
• Establish annual operating plans, goals, performance metrics, and development objectives for the department.
• Oversee product lifecycle management, portfolio optimization, and new product development initiatives.
• Ensure the AFFLINK brand promise is consistently delivered through product quality, supplier performance, service levels, and member experience.
• Present strategic plans, business reviews, growth initiatives, and performance updates to executive leadership

Duties/Responsibilities

Sales Leadership

• Develop and execute strategies, in collaboration with Sales and Marketing, that increase sales, market penetration, and member adoption of AFFLINK private label brands.
• Establish and communicate compelling value propositions that position AFFLINK brands as preferred solutions for members and their customers.
• Partner closely with Membership Development, National Accounts, Segment Leadership, the AFFLINK Redistribution team and Member organizations to drive profitable growth.
• Support strategic bid opportunities, contract pricing requests, and member sales initiatives.
• Analyze market trends, customer needs, competitive activity, and member feedback to identify growth opportunities.
• Collaborate with Marketing and Sales teams to develop programs that increase brand awareness and market share.
• Monitor portfolio performance and implement action plans to achieve revenue and profitability objectives.

Benefits

Click Here for Benefits Information

Qualifications

Required Skills/Abilities

Procurement & Supplier Management

• Develop and execute sourcing and supplier strategies that support AFFLINK's brand and growth objectives.
• Serve as AFFLINK's lead negotiator for private label manufacturers, supplier agreements, rebates, incentives, pricing programs, and commercial partnerships.
• Lead supplier selection, assessment, onboarding, and performance management processes.
• Oversee pricing governance, contract deviations, bid support, and margin optimization strategies.
• Identify new manufacturer and supplier opportunities that improve competitiveness, enhance profitability, and expand portfolio capabilities.
• Drive supplier innovation, new product development, and research and development efforts that support the AFFLINK brand strategy.
• Ensure continuity of supply, product quality, compliance, and supplier accountability across the portfolio.

Required Education

Bachelor's Degree in Business, Marketing, Supply Chain, Finance, Management, or a related field.

Work Experience

• Ten (10) or more years of progressive leadership experience in brand management, private label development, procurement, category management, supplier management, manufacturing, distribution, or sales leadership.
• Demonstrated success negotiating strategic supplier agreements and managing complex commercial relationships.
• Experience leading and developing teams.
• Experience managing budgets, pricing strategies, and profitability objectives.

Required Qualifications

• Proficiency in analyzing data, market trends, and consumer behavior to make data-driven decisions.
• Strong negotiation capabilities to foster favorable partnerships with suppliers and secure advantageous terms.
• Excellent interpersonal skills to lead cross-functional teams and present strategies clearly to stakeholders.
• Capacity to juggle multiple projects, set priorities, and meet deadlines efficiently.
• A knack for identifying challenges and devising creative solutions.

Preferred qualifications

Preferred

• MBA or advanced business degree.
• Experience within distribution, manufacturing, wholesaling, group purchasing, or private label organizations.
• Experience in launching or managing branded product portfolios.
• Experience supporting field sales organizations and customer-facing commercial teams.

EEO Statement

Performance Food Group and/or its subsidiaries (individually or collectively, the "Company") provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state and federal laws and regulations. Please click on the following links to review: (1) our EEO Policy; (2) the "EEO is the Law" poster and supplement; and (3) the Pay Transparency Policy Statement.