Business Development Manager

Zevia is a company focused on creating better-for-you flavor products that benefit both people and the planet. The Business Development Manager is responsible for identifying and converting sales opportunities across the U.S. and will work closely with key customers and distributor partners to drive growth and expand market reach.

Responsibilities:

• Coordinates meetings with UNFI, KeHE, and national and regional chain customers to identify, present, and secure new growth opportunities aligned with Zevias strategic priorities
• Develops clear communication processes to ensure alignment on growth objectives, selling priorities, and execution plans
• Implement systems to track and benchmark progress against white space initiatives, pipeline development, and incremental volume targets
• Leads new chain prospecting, onboarding, and expansion efforts across underpenetrated channels and customer segments
• Develops customer-specific growth strategies focused on unlocking incremental distribution, velocity, and revenue
• Manages the full sales cycle from opportunity identification through sell-in, authorization, and execution
• Establish regular communication cadence with distributor and customer partners to advance new business initiatives
• Develops and gains alignment with UNFI, KeHE, and key customers on annual and customer-specific business plans focused on incremental growth
• Secures agreement on forecasts, growth targets, and KPIs
• Consistently communicates with distributor leadership and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and accountability
• Effectively manages budgets and investments associated with new business development, distributor programs, and key account initiatives
• Operates with full ownership of assigned growth objectives and outcomes, driving results through distributor and customer partnerships
• Partners with Zevia HQ teams to support launches, programs, and customer-specific initiatives
• Keeps distributors and customers informed of new items, programs, and timing to support successful execution
• Proactively leverages insights from Category Development, Marketing, and internal reporting to identify and advance new business opportunities
• Applies performance data, distribution analytics, and pipeline tracking to prioritize opportunities and address risks
• Leverages distributor tools and data (e.g., VIP, shipment and depletion trends) to gain insights into distributor and customer performance
• Provides ongoing feedback to internal teams on distributor, customer, and competitive dynamics impacting growth opportunities
• Develops working knowledge of geographic, channel, and customer segments relevant to assigned business scope
• Builds expertise in competitive landscape, category trends, and emerging opportunities across channels
• Represents Zevia in the marketplace with passion, enthusiasm, a growth mindset, and a polished, professional demeanor

Requirements:

• +5 years sales experience and track record in Consumer Goods industry (beverage preferred)
• +3 years of experience leading, influencing, and driving results through distributor and customer partners
• Strong strategic thinker with demonstrated ability to identify and convert white space opportunities
• Hunter mentality with strong business development, prospecting, and closing skills
• Excellent communicator, presenter, and storyteller with the ability to sell at the buyer level
• Strong negotiator and influencer, comfortable navigating complex organizations
• Highly numerate and analytical, with the ability to leverage data to inform decisions and selling strategies
• Proven ability to develop and execute successful sales and trade marketing strategies
• Ability to leverage data from SPINS, VIP, and standard BI reporting tools to gain insights
• Self-directed, organized, and able to work independently with full ownership of outcomes
• Experience with basic administrative programs, Windows, Word, PowerPoint, Excel
• Must have the ability to travel via car with a valid drivers license and untarnished driving record
• Must have the ability to travel outside of local territory occasionally, at least once per month
• Must be eligible to work in the U.S
• 4-year college degree preferred, equivalent professional experience considered in lieu of