VP of Sales - Target (Grocery)

The Bluebird Group; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 140,000 - 210,000; Full time

Job summary

The Bluebird Group in Minneapolis is seeking a Vice President of Sales to drive new business growth with Target-focused brands. You will own top client relationships, lead strategic growth initiatives, and shape Bluebird’s go-to-market approach in a highly competitive retail landscape.

You will leverage your Target expertise to identify opportunities, develop growth strategies, and build a robust pipeline of future brand partners.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of progressive experience in CPG sales, brokerage, or retail sales.
• Proven success in developing new business and acquiring client relationships.
• Experience calling directly on Target buyers, merchants, and category teams.
• Strong understanding of Target's merchandising, assortment, and category review processes.
• Broker, manufacturer, agency, or retailer experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities with emerging and established brands at Target.
• Build and manage a pipeline of prospective client opportunities.
• Lead client meetings, present growth strategies, and drive revenue growth.
• Align client objectives with Target priorities to drive long-term growth.
• Collaborate with Account Management, Retail Media, Insights, and Creative teams to support client growth.
• Identify opportunities to expand Bluebird's engagement across existing accounts.

Skills

CPG sales

New business development

Key account management

Target experience

Negotiation

Job description

About Bluebird

We're The Bluebird Group - we're an omnichannel commerce partner that helps brands grow across every retail and digital channel.

About Bluebird

We're The Bluebird Group - we're an omnichannel commerce partner that helps brands grow across every retail and digital channel.

We sit at the intersection of retail, eCommerce, media, and data. We help brands show up wherever their customers are (Target, Amazon, Walmart, Costco, Kroger, social commerce like TikTok, and beyond) and drive real sales growth.

We're not just strategists - we're a hands-on team of experienced retail operators who execute across everything from retail media and creative to data, insights, and full go-to-market strategy.

The result: we simplify what's become a really complex retail landscape and help brands scale faster and smarter.

Job Summary

We're looking for a Vice President of Sales to drive new business growth by identifying, acquiring, and developing brands looking to grow their business at Target.

This role serves as the primary relationship leader for a portfolio of clients while actively building Bluebird's pipeline of future brand partners. You'll leverage your Target expertise, industry relationships, and understanding of the retail landscape to identify opportunities, develop growth strategies, and help brands navigate one of the most competitive retail environments in the industry.

The ideal candidate combines strong Target relationships with a hands-on approach to business development and client leadership. This person understands how brands win at Target, can clearly articulate Bluebird's value proposition, and knows how to turn opportunities into long-term partnerships.

This position is based out of our Minneapolis office.

What You’ll Do

Business Development & New Client Acquisition

• Identify and pursue new business opportunities with emerging and established brands seeking growth at Target
• Develop and maintain a strong pipeline of prospective client opportunities
• Leverage industry relationships, networking opportunities, trade shows, referrals, and market insights to generate new business
• Lead discovery conversations, assess client needs, and identify opportunities where Bluebird can create value
• Develop and present customized growth strategies that demonstrate Bluebird's capabilities across sales, analytics, retail media, creative, eCommerce, and omnichannel execution
• Partner with leadership to achieve new business goals and expand Bluebird's presence within Target

Client Leadership & Business Growth

• Serve as the primary relationship owner for assigned client accounts
• Build and strengthen relationships with client stakeholders and Target buyers, merchants, and category teams
• Provide strategic direction and recommendations that support revenue growth, profitability, distribution expansion, and market share gains
• Lead business reviews, planning sessions, and key customer meetings
• Align client objectives with Target priorities to drive long-term growth and execution success
• Identify opportunities to expand Bluebird's engagement and services across existing client accounts

Target Strategy & Retail Execution

• Develop and execute growth strategies that align client objectives with Target priorities
• Support category reviews, assortment decisions, new item launches, promotional planning, and merchandising initiatives
• Help clients navigate Target's processes, expectations, and retail ecosystem
• Partner with internal teams to ensure strong execution against retailer and client objectives
• Identify emerging trends, category opportunities, and shopper insights that influence growth strategies

Market Insights & Industry Leadership

• Monitor category trends, competitive activity, and retail dynamics across Target's grocery business
• Analyze market opportunities and category shifts to identify potential client opportunities
• Stay informed on Target priorities, merchandising strategies, and growth initiatives
• Leverage data, consumer insights, and retail intelligence to support recommendations and business development efforts
• Translate market trends and retailer priorities into actionable business opportunities

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner closely with Account Management, Retail Media, Insights, and Creative teams to support client growth
• Collaborate across departments to develop integrated solutions for prospective and existing clients
• Ensure smooth transitions from business development to account onboarding and execution
• Support strategic initiatives and special projects as business needs evolve
• Foster a collaborative, client-focused approach across the organization

Business Performance & Strategic Planning

• Monitor sales performance, forecasts, and key business metrics across assigned accounts
• Identify risks, opportunities, and business trends that influence growth strategies
• Analyze business performance and profitability to support client recommendations
• Prepare and present growth plans, business updates, and strategic recommendations
• Ensure clients receive actionable insights that support informed decision-making and long-term success

What We’re Looking ForExperience

• 5+ years of progressive experience in CPG sales, brokerage, retail sales, or related customer-facing leadership roles
• Proven success developing new business and acquiring new client relationships
• Experience calling directly on Target buyers, merchants, and category teams required
• Strong understanding of Target's merchandising, assortment, promotional, and category review processes
• Proven success leading client relationships and driving business growth
• Experience developing retailer-specific growth strategies for brands selling into Target
• Broker, manufacturer, agency, or retailer experience preferred

Skills & Competencies

• Deep understanding of Target's retail ecosystem and grocery business
• Strong business development and relationship management skills
• Excellent communication, presentation, and negotiation abilities
• Strong strategic thinking and business planning capabilities
• Ability to identify opportunities and translate them into growth strategies
• Comfortable balancing client leadership with aggressive new business development goals
• Ability to influence decision-making across multiple stakeholder groups