Manager, Business Development-Target

Kinder's Premium Quality Seasonings & Sauces is a leading brand in the flavor category, seeking a Business Development Manager to drive profitable growth by building partnerships with Target. The role focuses on executing Joint Business Plans and leveraging data-driven insights to enhance Kinder’s presence in Target's food & beverage portfolio.

Responsibilities:

• Own and strengthen relationships with Target Merchants (Buyers), Associate Buyers, and cross-functional partners (Category Management, Supply Chain, Site Merchandising) to unlock long-term growth
• Develop and execute Joint Business Plans (JBPs) aligned with Target’s enterprise priorities, delivering against sales, profit, share, and guest experience goals
• Serve as a trusted category partner, aligning Kinder’s strategies with Target’s category roles, guest insights, and owned brand positioning
• Identify assortment gaps and lead item innovation, new item setup, and distribution expansion, ensuring alignment with Target’s curated assortment strategy
• Leverage Circana/IRI/Nielsen data, Target POS, and guest insights to identify growth opportunities and inform strategic decisions
• Build compelling, insight-led selling stories that position Kinder’s as a category growth driver within Target’s food ecosystem
• Own sales forecasting by leading promotional and merchandising planning, including trade promotion management (TPM), event planning, forecast alignment, and post-promotion ROI analysis and ensuring alignment with Target’s promotional calendar (Circle offers, seasonal events, and key traffic-driving moments)
• Manage trade investment and promotional funding, ensuring efficient allocation and strong ROI against Target-specific programs
• Drive best-in-class omnichannel execution, including: In-store merchandising and display strategy (endcaps, sidecaps, pallets), Target.com content optimization (digital shelf, PDP quality, search visibility), Seasonal and event-based activations
• Partner with Target teams to execute off-shelf placements, secondary displays, and incremental merchandising programs that drive basket growth
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Kinder’s marketing, supply chain, demand planning, and finance teams to deliver seamless execution and support Target-specific needs (forecasting, service levels, item setup)
• Monitor and analyze weekly POS, inventory, and forecast performance, proactively identifying risks and opportunities
• Lead business reviews, assortment reviews, and line reviews with clear, concise, and insight-driven storytelling tailored to Target’s expectations
• Champion process improvements that align with Target’s systems, timelines, and ways of working (e.g., item setup, promotional planning cadence, supply chain coordination)

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree required
• 10+ years of CPG sales or customer leadership experience
• Proven track record of delivering profitable growth within Target or similar mass retailers
• Deep understanding of Target's operating model, including merchandising structure, promotional cadence, and omnichannel ecosystem
• Strong expertise in category management, shopper insights, and trade promotion management
• Demonstrated success building brands within Target's unique, guest-first environment
• Strong analytical and financial acumen; ability to translate data into actionable, guest-focused insights
• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth, and matrixed organizations
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence at multiple levels within Target
• Leadership capability with a strong ownership mindset and bias for action
• Adaptability and comfort operating in ambiguity while delivering results
• Willingness to travel (~15%)
• Direct experience managing Target with strong merchant relationships highly preferred