Senior Manager, Business Development– Kroger & Harris Teeter

Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces is a rapidly growing company known for its flavor-obsessed culture and innovative products. They are seeking a Senior Manager of Business Development for Kroger & Harris Teeter, who will drive profitable growth by developing strategic partnerships and executing Joint Business Plans. This role requires a strong understanding of Kroger's ecosystem and a customer-centric approach to accelerate Kinder's growth.

Responsibilities:

• Own and strengthen relationships with Kroger and Harris Teeter merchants, category managers, and leadership, positioning Kinder’s as a category growth partner aligned to Kroger’s Customer 1st strategy
• Develop and execute Joint Business Plans (JBPs) that deliver against Kroger scorecard metrics, same store sales, share growth, household penetration, and profitability
• Leverage 84.51° insights, Kroger Plus shopper data, and loyalty analytics to identify opportunities and shape customer-specific growth strategies
• Build compelling, data-driven selling stories using syndicated data (Circana/IRI/Nielsen) alongside Kroger-specific insights to influence assortment, shelving, and promotional decisions
• Lead assortment optimization and item authorization processes, identifying voids and expanding Kinder’s distribution through new item presentations and innovation pipelines
• Partner with Kroger teams to execute digital-first strategies, including Kroger.com, pickup & delivery, and Kroger Precision Marketing (KPM) activation
• Own sales forecasting by leading promotional planning and execution within Kroger systems, including trade promotion management (TPM), event planning, forecast alignment, and post-promotion ROI analysis
• Manage trade investment across Kroger and Harris Teeter, ensuring efficient allocation of billbacks, scan funding, and shopper marketing dollars
• Deliver best-in-class in-store execution by influencing planograms (POGs), displays, secondary placements, and seasonal merchandising events
• Lead off-shelf programs, including shippers, pallets, and cross-merchandising initiatives aligned with Kroger’s merchandising calendar
• Partner cross-functionally with Kinder’s marketing, supply chain, finance, and insights teams to deliver seamless execution and support Kroger-specific initiatives
• Monitor performance against Kroger KPIs, proactively identifying risks and opportunities and implementing corrective actions
• Lead line reviews, category reviews, and top-to-top presentations, grounded in Kroger-specific insights and shopper data
• Support and drive alignment with Kroger initiatives such as Our Brands collaboration, personalization, and eCommerce growth

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required
• 10+ years of CPG sales or customer leadership experience, with direct Kroger and/or Harris Teeter experience required
• Strong understanding of Kroger systems and tools, including 84.51°, Stratum, KPM, and retailer portals
• Proven track record of delivering results against Kroger-specific KPIs
• Deep expertise in category management, shopper insights, and trade promotion within Kroger's operating model
• Demonstrated success navigating Kroger's matrixed merchandising organization
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, with the ability to translate Kroger data into actionable insights
• Experience working with brokers supporting Kroger divisions and Harris Teeter
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence across multiple levels of the organization
• Proven leadership capability, with people management experience or readiness to lead
• High ownership mindset with a bias for action, adaptability, and results
• Willingness to travel (20%)