[Hiring] Senior Director, Strategic Account Management @SK Food Group

Role Description

We are seeking an experienced Sr. Director, Strategic Account Management to join our team. This role can be based where selected candidate resides, as agreed upon, with estimated travel at 25%.

Reporting to the President & CEO, The Sr. Director, Strategic Account Management serves as the primary relationship leader between the customer and SK Food Group, ensuring that customer needs, expectations and strategic priorities are effectively understood and executed across internal teams. This role is accountable for building, strengthening and maintaining a strong and long-term strategic customer relationship while coordinating cross-functional activities related to:

• New product development
• Supply chain
• FSQA
• Commercialization
• Operations

This role conveys the voice of the customer to the relevant internal stakeholders and conveys the voice of SK Food Group with the customer, creating alignment between both organizations. The role proactively identifies risks, opportunities and potential barriers to success; facilitates timely resolution of issues; and ensures clear communication, accountability and follow-through across all stakeholders. In addition to supporting day-to-day execution of the relationship, this role takes a long-term view of the partnership making sure that both the spirit and the letter of mutual obligations are met and will lead future negotiations to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes. This role works closely with the customer and internal leadership to identify opportunities for:

• Innovation
• Cost optimization
• Operational improvement
• Portfolio development
• Strategic program growth

Success in this role is demonstrated through a strong and positive customer relationship, effective cross-functional execution, successful product launches, improved customer satisfaction and sustainable growth of the account.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following:

Strategic Account Management and Leadership

• Serve as the key liaison between the customer and the SK Food Group cross-functional teams, ensuring timely, accurate and consistent day-to-day communication across supply chain, FSQA, demand planning, product development and ongoing operations.
• Partner with customer leadership and internal stakeholders to develop and execute long-term strategic plans for the customer portfolio.
• Align internal resources and priorities with customer needs and SK Food Group's broader strategic objectives.
• Identify opportunities to strengthen and expand the customer relationship through innovation, operational excellence, continuous improvement and strategic collaboration.
• Develop a deep understanding of the customer’s business, priorities, product portfolio and long-term objectives.
• Monitor contractual compliance by both the customer and SK Food Group and escalate issues that arise to senior management. Lead all contractual negotiations.
• Manage process changes and coordinates communication between the customer’s cross-functional teams and SK Food Group cross-functional teams.
• Coordinate and communicate available production capacity, demand planning, logistics, and operational constraints to support successful product launches and day-to-day execution.
• Ensure accurate and timely information is available to support customer pricing, and commercial negotiations.
• Build strong relationships across the customer’s organization, strengthening SK Food Group’s position within the customer’s Tier 2 supply network.

New Product Development & Commercialization

• Drive effective communication on new product development and commercialization initiatives from customer concept through successful execution, working across internal cross-functional teams including Innovation and Design, FSQA, Operations, Supply Chain, Engineering, Planning, Finance and Customer Service.
• Define, align and communicate project scope, milestones, timelines, deliverables, resource requirements and responsibilities, ensuring alignment with customer expectations and organizational capabilities and priorities; keeping senior management fully informed.
• Monitor project schedules and deliverables and proactively identify and resolve issues or risks that could impact successful execution.
• Facilitate regular cross-functional project meetings to review progress, coordinate activities, address issues, and maintain clear accountability.
• Lead product pre-trial discussions with key stakeholders to ensure that customer and company expectations, documentation, responsibilities and trial requirements are clearly defined.
• Coordinate and support plant trials, ensuring appropriate preparation, resources, setup, and checklist requirements are in place.
• Lead post-trial reviews to evaluate results, determine next steps, document decisions, and capture lessons learned.
• Maintain ownership of the post-commercialization process through formal handoff to Quality Assurance and the appropriate operational teams.
• Facilitate post-commercialization lessons-learned reviews and incorporates findings into future commercialization processes.

Risk Management & Continuous Improvement

• Identify and communicate project risks and opportunities and facilitate stakeholder discussions to develop appropriate actions and solutions.
• Anticipate potential barriers to successful execution and work cross-functionally to develop mitigation plans and win/win resolution.
• Identify opportunities to improve commercialization processes, project execution, communication and overall customer service.
• Supports the development, socialization and implementation of process improvements and reinforces consistent project management practices across functions.
• Collaborate with Procurement, Operations, Innovation & Design and Tier 2 / Tier 3 suppliers to identify product innovation, cost optimization, supply chain, and operational improvement opportunities for the customer.
• Partner with internal and external stakeholders to identify solutions that improve product performance, service, cost, capacity, and overall supply chain effectiveness.
• Promotes effective project management, cross-functional collaboration, accountability and continuous improvement.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree and at least five years of relevant experience in customer relationship management, including at least three years of project management experience, preferably in a manufacturing environment, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Experience in the food manufacturing industry is highly preferred.
• Must embody the values of the SK Way (We Care, Deliver as Promised, Whatever it Takes, Do the Right Thing).
• Demonstrated ability to communicate and collaborate with leaders and lead cross-functional teams to successfully execute projects and achieve established timelines.
• Strong project management and organizational skills, with the ability to manage multiple projects, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong working knowledge of food manufacturing processes and new product development.
• Excellent verbal, written, interpersonal, and facilitation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively across functions and all levels within and across organizations.
• Analytical and solutions-oriented thinker with a strong commitment to continuous improvement.
• Strong attention to detail, accountability, and sense of urgency.
• Demonstrated ability to work effectively in a collaborative, team-oriented environment.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite and standard computer applications.
• Ability and willingness to travel regularly, estimated at approximately 25%.

Benefits

• SK Food Group provides competitive salaries and a wide variety of benefits including programs that provide for your health and welfare, help you prepare for retirement and truly enable you to balance your work and family life.
• Robust Health & Welfare Benefits Package
• 401k Retirement Plan with company match
• Associate Bonus Programs
• Paid Time Off and Paid Holidays
• Paid Parental Leave
• Health & Dependent Care Flex Spending Accounts
• Dependent Scholarship Program
• Educational Tuition Assistance
• DailyPay – Access Earned Pay Sooner

Company Description

Established in 1943, the SK Food Group is a leader in the food manufacturing and wholesale food sales industry. We produce a complete line of products for many different market segments including retail, convenience stores, vending and the transportation industry. In addition, we pride ourselves on the sub-contract manufacturing and private labeling capabilities our company offers to customers throughout the United States. Please visit http://www.skfoodgroup.com for more information.