Senior Director National Retail

Acosta; Rogers (AR); On-site; USD 95,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

Acosta seeks a Senior Director, National Retail to lead the Retail Business Manager organization, bridging Retail Operations, JM Smucker Sales Leadership, and Acosta leadership to translate strategies into measurable results.

You will develop a high-performing team, drive business performance, influence client priorities, and turn retail insights into recommendations that improve sales and execution across the client base.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or 15+ years related experience.
• 10+ years in project or people management.
• Knowledge of Retail Strategy preferred.
• Travel required.

Responsibilities

• Provide strategic leadership to JM Smucker Sales Directors and client teams to drive retail execution and performance.
• Lead and develop a high-performing Retail Business Manager team and succession plans.
• Monitor retail performance, analyze trends, and develop plans to improve execution, distribution, and promotions.
• Leverage data and analytics to translate insights into actionable recommendations for clients and internal stakeholders.

Skills

Leadership

Client relationships

Strategic planning

Cross-functional influence

Power BI

Data analytics

Executive communications

Change leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Power BI

Job description

Description

The Senior Director, National Retai l t is responsible for leading the Retail Business Manager organization supporting JM Smucker's dedicated retail field team. This leader serves as the primary bridge between Retail Operations, JM Smucker Sales Leadership, and Acosta leadership to ensure retail execution strategies translate into measurable business results.

The role is accountable for developing and leading a high-performing team, driving business performance, influencing client priorities, and transforming retail insights into actionable recommendations that improve sales, execution, and customer outcomes.

Success in this role is measured by the team's ability to deliver business results, build trusted client partnerships, identify growth opportunities, and translate retail execution into meaningful value for JM Smucker and Acosta.

Responsibilities

Business Leadership & Client Partnership (40%)

• Serve as a strategic business partner to JM Smucker Sales Directors and customer team leadership.
• Identify business opportunities and risks impacting retail execution and sales performance.
• Translate retail intelligence, performance trends, and marketplace insights into actionable business recommendations.
• Lead business reviews and strategic discussions with internal and client stakeholders.
• Drive alignment between retail execution priorities and customer objectives.

Key Outcome

Become the trusted business advisor for retail performance and execution strategy.

Team Leadership & Talent Development (35%)

• Lead, coach, and develop a team of Retail Business Managers.
• Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop future leaders within the organization.
• Foster a culture focused on collaboration, ownership, continuous improvement, and results.
• Create development plans that strengthen business acumen, client management, and strategic thinking.

Key Outcome

Build a highly engaged team capable of independently leading strategic business initiatives.

Business Performance & Strategic Planning (15%)

• Monitor key retail performance indicators and business trends.
• Lead root cause analysis to identify performance opportunities and business challenges.
• Develop action plans that improve execution, distribution, merchandising, and promotional effectiveness.
• Partner with retail operations and sales leadership to ensure successful implementation.

Key Outcome

Deliver measurable business improvements and proactive solutions.

Data & Insights Leadership (10%)

• Utilize business reporting and analytical tools to support decision-making.
• Ensure team members leverage data effectively when developing recommendations.
• Partner with analytics and reporting resources to identify opportunities and trends.
• Convert complex data into concise business stories and actionable insights.
• Ability to evaluate and apply emerging technologies, including AI, to improve team effectiveness, business processes, and client outcomes.

Key Outcome

Translate complex retail data and field insights into clear business recommendations that influence decisions, prioritize actions, and improve client outcomes.

Critical Success Factors:

The ideal candidate demonstrates:

Required:

• Leadership of managers or business professionals
• Client relationship management
• Strategic business planning
• Cross-functional influence
• Cosminer Packaged Goods (CPG) experience
• Executive communications skills
• Change leadership

Preferred:

• Retail operations experience
• Category management experience
• Sales strategy experience
• Power BI and advanced business analytics experience

Qualifications

Experience Requirement:

• Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) from a four (4) year college or university, or fifteen (15+) years’ or more related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination or education and experience required.
• Ten (10+) years’ experience in Project/People Management Required.
• Knowledge in Retail Strategy preferred.
• This position requires travel.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability Requirements:

• Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, organizational and sales skills.
• Ability to use advanced functions of Microsoft (Power BI, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook)
• Demonstrate superb oral/written communication skills and strong presentation skills. Effectively communicate with others.
• Must have a valid driver’s license or have means to adequate transportation to visit multiple Clients/Customers in assigned region/territory.
• Ability to create positive working relationships, both internally and externally.
• Great negotiation skills with Expert knowledge of Competitive Retail Strategy. Resolve complex problems.

Physical Requirements

• Sit for extended periods (typically 6+ hours per day).
• Use a computer, including keyboard and mouse, for prolonged periods.
• Lift and carry light items (e.g., files, office supplies, laptops, typically 20+ pounds).
• Reach, bend, or stoop occasionally to access files or office materials.
• Maintain focus and attention for long periods of desk-based work.
• Follow clear directions.
• Perform repetitive motions (e.g., typing, clicking) consistently throughout the day.

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About Us

Acosta, and its subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Category:

Retail

Position Type:

Full time

Business Unit:

Sales

Salary Range:

$95000.00 - $120000.00

Company:

Acosta Employee Holdco LLC

Req ID:

38353