Market Development Lead

Campbell Soup Company; Gurnee (IL); On-site; USD 67,000 - 92,200; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical and dental coverage

401(k) matching

Unlimited sick time and PTO

On-site fitness center (WHQ)

On-site day care access

Employee Resource Groups (ERGs)

Job summary

Campbell Soup Company is seeking a Market Development Lead (MDL) to drive market growth by partnering with Independent Distributor Partners and retailers. You will build strong relationships, plan strategically, and adapt to changing conditions affecting technology, retail, and consumer behavior.

The role focuses on IDP engagement, route optimization, and delivering weekly and quarterly sales plans while leveraging data to identify opportunities and execute growth across channels in the market.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in sales or CPG (or 2+ years with a bachelor’s).
• Strong written and verbal communication, influencing, leadership, problem-solving and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint.
• Willing to travel locally and overnight; flexibility in hours.
• Able to stand, walk, sit, lift up to 50 lbs; drive to stores and warehouses.

Responsibilities

• Engage with Independent Distributor Partners (IDPs) to support service, sales growth, and local market success.
• Lead route consults and meetings with IDPs to identify growth opportunities.
• Drive weekly, period, and quarterly sales plans and grow market share.
• Identify market opportunities and set distribution, merchandising, promotions, and events targets.
• Coordinate inventory/logistics needs and respond to retailer concerns within 24 hours.
• Build trust with store management, support item launches, planogram compliance, and store resets.

Skills

Communication skills

Leadership

Problem solving

Analytical skills

Travel required

Education

Bachelor's degree

Tools

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft PowerPoint

Job description

Position Summary

The Market Development Lead (MDL) drives market growth and execution by partnering with Independent Distributor Partners (IDPs) and retail outlets. This role builds strong relationships with IDPs, store leadership, and key retailer decision makers, and uses disciplined planning to adapt to changing technology, retail conditions, and consumer behavior.

What You Will Do

Independent Distributor Partner (IDP) Engagement

• Build collaborative relationships with IDPs to support customer service, sales growth, and local market success.
• Recommend resources and technology, help resolve retailer disputes, and partner with internal teams to reduce route disruption and strengthen route health.
• Lead route consults and individual or group meetings with IDPs to understand needs, support planning, and identify growth opportunities.

Retail Development

• Drive priority execution across the portfolio to deliver weekly, period, and quarterly sales plans and grow market share.
• Identify market opportunities, share insights with IDPs, and set targets for distribution, merchandising, promotions, and key retailer events.
• Support call coverage, coordinate inventory and logistics needs, evaluate competition and shopper trends, secure incremental placements and displays, and respond to retailer concerns within 24 hours.

Business Fundamentals

• Use data to identify retailer requirements, performance trends, and growth opportunities, and communicate them clearly to IDPs and internal partners.
• Build trust with store management and retail partners, support new item launches, planogram compliance, store resets, inventories, and service issue resolution.
• Recruit potential IDPs for open routes, visit key accounts to identify opportunities, and apply retailer-specific knowledge across channels.
• Communicate professionally, manage priorities, solve problems, use technology and business insights effectively, and participate in training and special projects.
• Demonstrate strong presentation, written, and verbal communication skills, along with proficiency in Microsoft Office and relevant internal sales systems.

Who You Will Work With

Partner with the Business Development Manager, Zone Sales Manager, retailers, warehouse teams, and IDPs to identify business constraints, opportunities, and needs.

What You Bring to the Table (Must Have)

• 3+ years of related sales or CPG experience, or 2+ years of relevant experience with a bachelor's degree.
• Strong written and verbal communication, influencing, leadership, problem-solving, technical, and analytical skills.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint.
• Ability to travel locally and overnight, relocate if required, and work flexible hours based on business and retailer needs.
• Ability to stand, walk, sit, bend, lift up to 50 pounds occasionally, and drive regularly to stores, warehouses, and hubs in the market.

It Would Be Great if You Have (Nice to Have)

• B.A. preferred.

Benefits

• Benefits begin on day one and include medical, dental, short and long-term disability, AD&D, and life insurance (for individual, families, and domestic partners).
• Employees are eligible for our matching 401(k) plan and can enroll on the first day of employment with immediate vesting.
• Campbell's offers unlimited sick time along with paid time off and holiday pay.
• If in WHQ - free access to the fitness center. Access to on-site day care (operated by Bright Horizons) and company store.
• Giving back to the communities where our employees work and live is very important to Campbell's. Our "Campbell's Cares" program matches employee donations and/or volunteer activity up to $1,500 annually.
• Campbell's has a variety of Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) to support employees.

Compensation and Benefits

The target base salary range for this full-time, salaried position is between $67,000 - $92,200. Individual base pay depends on work location and additional factors such as experience, job-related skills, and relevant education or training. Total pay may include other forms of compensation. In addition, we offer competitive health, dental, 401k and wellness benefits beginning on the first day of employment. Please ask your Talent Acquisition Partner for more information about our total rewards package.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity for employees and qualified applicants in all aspects of the employment relationship, including consideration for employment, without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, citizenship, marital status, protected veteran status, disability, age, religion, or any other classification protected by law.