Sr. Director, Sales - Strategic Accounts

Johnsonville, LLC; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 211,000 - 280,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) with company match

Medical, dental, vision benefits

Paid parental time off

Flexible spending accounts

Job summary

Johnsonville, LLC in Minneapolis, MN, is seeking a Sr. Director, Sales - Strategic Accounts to lead a high‑performing team serving our largest national retailers. The role partners with Marketing, Category Leadership and broker teams to shape growth and drive outcomes.

You will own the P&L and deliver volume, net sales, profit, and market share targets while driving distribution, promotions and shopper marketing plans. Travel 40–60% with a focus on talent development and succession planning.

Qualifications

• 15+ years of progressive sales leadership in the CPG industry.
• Experience managing large national or strategic accounts.
• Broker management experience preferred.
• Syndicated data experience (IRI, insights) required.
• Proven P&L ownership delivering volume, net sales, profit, and market share.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a best-in-class strategic account sales team serving large customers.
• Strengthen relationships through growth plan alignment.
• Own the P&L and deliver volume, net sales, and profit targets.
• Execute national strategies and customer-specific growth priorities.
• Plan and manage budgets across trade, discount, and shopper marketing.
• Build cross-functional relationships with Sales Strategy, Marketing, Category Leadership, RGM.
• Coach and empower team members; recruit and develop for succession.

Skills

Strategic planning

Key account relationships

People leadership

Negotiation & presentation

MS Office & SAP

Education

Bachelor's degree

MBA preferred

Tools

SAP

TPM

Trade Promotion Management

Job description

Johnsonville products are available in traditional grocery retailers, convenience stores, restaurants and stadiums in more than 45 countries worldwide. That’s why we rely on experienced and dedicated sales professionals to ensure our customers receive the products they need and want, and that those customers’ consumers are satisfied. As a member of our sales team, you’ll work closely with Johnsonville’s marketing and category management teams to develop and deliver consumer insights and category reviews that help our customers succeed. You’ll also work with our broker partners to ensure sales strategies are fully and effectively executed, from headquarters to retail stores.

Position Overview

At Johnsonville, our success starts with our people. We're passionate about creating great products, building strong customer partnerships, and developing members to achieve their full potential. We're seeking a strategic, growth-oriented leader to lead our Strategic Accounts business and help shape the future of our U.S. Retail Sales organization.

As Sr. Director, Sales - Strategic Accounts, you will lead a high-performing team responsible for some of Johnsonville's largest and most influential retail customers. As a key member of the U.S. Retail Sales Leadership Team, you will drive sustainable growth through customer engagement, team development, strategic planning, and cross-functional collaboration. This role is accountable for delivering volume, sales, profit, and market share objectives while fostering a culture of accountability, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

Lead and develop a best-in-class strategic account sales team supporting several of our largest customers.
Strengthen customer relationships through strategic alignment on growth plans.
Own the P&L and deliver volume, net sales, and profit targets.
Execute national strategies and customer-specific growth priorities that deliver financial KPIs and market share growth, including distribution expansion, innovation authorization, and promotion/display execution.
Plan and manage the business within trade, discount, and shopper marketing budgets.
Build and maintain cross-functional relationships with departments that influence the sales organization’s success, including Sales Strategy, Marketing, Category Leadership, RGM, and others.
Support members with account management and broker development and accountability.
Coach and empower members to take calculated risks and create an environment focused on learning and growth.
Recruit and develop to support succession planning and the long-term health of the sales organization

Education

Bachelor’s degree required
MBA Preferred

Experience

15+ years of progressive sales leadership experience within the consumer packaged goods (CPG) industry, including significant experience managing large national or strategic customer accounts, required; Direct CPG food sales preferred
Proven success leading high-performing sales teams and developing talent through coaching, succession planning, and organizational development, required
Broker management experience, preferred
Syndicated data experience required, such as IRI, consumer insights, or similar tools, required
Extensive experience owning and managing a P&L, with a demonstrated track record of delivering volume, net sales, profit, and market share objectives, required

Skills

Strong strategic and tactical business planning skills
Demonstrated ability to build new and existing relationships with key customers, including strategic decision-makers at the headquarters level
Proven track record of business growth
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills, including negotiation, presentation, coaching, and motivation
Highly motivated, flexible, and proactive, with the ability to generate new ideas and drive change when needed
Proficient in Microsoft Office, SAP, and Trade Promotion Management (TPM) systems

Other Requirements

Willing and able to travel 40-60% of the time

Benefits and Compensation

$211,000 - $280,000 per year plus potential for a monthly bonus and 401k with a company match. Members also have access to terrific benefits including affordable medical, dental and vision coverage; flexible spending accounts; disability and life insurance; and fertility and adoption assistance. Johnsonville also offers competitive paid time off, including paid parental time off! Exact compensation may vary based on skills, experience, and location.

Applicants must be eligible to work in the country where this job is located, without requiring sponsorship now or in the future.

About our Company

Since 1945, our family-owned band of sausage-makers has invented better ways to make, eat and prepare crave-able sausage. Today, we are 4,000+ Members strong. We sell our famous sausage in all 50 United States and more than 40 countries. We have a culture built on the idea that if we make developing your talents our top priority, great business results will follow naturally. We call it The Johnsonville Way. It has been our secret sauce for decades, and we hope you get to experience it for yourself!

Johnsonville is an equal opportunity employer, including Vet/Disability.

We embrace the principles of Equal Opportunity Employment and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected characteristic, including protected veteran and disability status.

Join Our Community

The Johnsonville Way

Our culture, called the Johnsonville Way, guides the way we behave, operate and treat one another. We truly believe that here at Johnsonville, we have a moral responsibility to create and maintain an environment that requires each Member to fully develop their God-given talents and help others to do the same. We achieve this by living the Johnsonville Way.

Our owner is famous for saying that, "Other companies use their people to build a business, but at Johnsonville, we use the business to build our people." We are proud to offer endless opportunities for continued learning and growth here at Johnsonville.