Business Development Manager

Marathon Cheese Corporation is seeking a Business Development Manager who will report to the Director of Business Development. This role involves managing the product lifecycle, understanding customer needs, and collaborating with internal teams to develop solutions and optimize costs while maintaining strong customer engagement.

Responsibilities:

• Understand and communicate customer needs and interests
• Work with internal functions to develop differentiated solutions that meet those needs
• Plan, prepare, and deliver communication that sells products, services, and ideas
• Gain mastery of product and packaging capabilities across locations
• Understand and apply the various financial relationships based on component ownership
• Efficiently execute customer product sample requests
• Initiate thorough and accurate finished goods quote requests. Maintain accuracy in cost assumptions through launch
• Demonstrate ongoing interest and growth in technical aspects of the business
• Liaison to Quality / Regulatory group for ongoing customer requirements
• Provide timely responses to various customer engagements with professional communication
• Develop and execute cost optimization projects relating to customers including order size, order frequency, producing plant determination, and distribution optimization
• Define customer requirements and work with Customer Project Manager on successful implementation of large or complex initiatives
• Monitor customer volume reports and initiates further customer engagement when data suggests doing so
• Stay abreast of market trends and leverages Circana data for customer insights

Requirements:

• 5-10 years' experience of business development/technical sales/supply chain or operations for a food manufacturer or consumer products supplier in consumer-packaged goods food processing
• Experienced in successful development and execution of a manufacturing operations strategy aligned with overall business strategy to fit near term and long-term customer goals
• Knowledge of a variety of pricing relationships including tolling, direct pay, and third party financed payment methodologies
• Understands issues regarding throughput, line speeds, quality, transportation, and safety
• Understands how to develop business including prospecting and pipelining skills
• Strong oral and written communication skills, along with the ability to make formal presentations to a wide array of internal and external audiences
• Skilled at developing relationships and generating trust with all stakeholders
• Data-driven
• Ability to work in an informal and flat organizational structure
• Proficiency in MS Word, MS Excel, PowerPoint, and SAP and leverages systems in daily work
• Professional customer engagement / communication that is consistent with company values
• A results-oriented individual who is self-motivated to achieve and exceed targets
• A “roll up your sleeves” doer with strong interpersonal skills that are equally effective in a customer meeting and on the manufacturing floor
• A personality and manner that demonstrates confidence, sound judgment, and a straightforward tenor to interpersonal relationships
• Demonstrates integrity, flexibility, tenacity, and physical/intellectual energy
• Unentitled, parks ego at the door
• The position is an individual contributor but will rely on peers and other staff members for support
• Travel up to 50%
• Bachelor's degree in business or other relevant discipline
• Experience in operations, manufacturing, supply chain, and sales process experience and knowledge in the consumer-packaged goods food industry is a plus
• Experience in refrigerated products