[Hiring] Director of Customer Development @Aspire Bakeries

Role Description

We are seeking a Director of Customer Development to join our team in a Remote role. As the Director of Customer Development, you will be accountable for driving profitable sales growth, expanding distribution, strengthening strategic customer partnerships, and leading a high-performing team across national and regional grocery retail, wholesale, and broker channels.

This role is critical to advancing Aspire Bakeries’ branded and in-store bakery business through customer development strategies, innovation commercialization, broker leadership, and execution excellence across key customer accounts.

Core Accountabilities (What You’ll Be Doing)

• Lead strategic customer relationships across national and regional grocery retailers, wholesalers, distributors, and broker partners.
• Develop and execute customer business plans that deliver sales growth, profitability, distribution gains, and market share expansion.
• Drive brand growth through innovation selling, assortment optimization, category development, and new business acquisition.
• Negotiate pricing, contracts, promotional programs, and joint business plans to maximize customer and company value.
• Coach and develop a high-performing sales team through performance management, talent development, and succession planning.
• Direct broker strategy and execution to achieve distribution, placement, promotional, and performance objectives.
• Build wholesale and distributor growth strategies that improve market penetration and support profitable expansion.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• 10+ years of progressive Consumer Packaged Goods (CPG) sales and customer development experience.
• 5+ years of experience leading, coaching, and developing sales teams.
• Proven experience managing major grocery retail, wholesale, distributor, or regional retail customer accounts.
• Demonstrated experience leading and managing broker organizations and performance.
• Strong financial acumen, strategic business planning, analytical, and negotiation skills.
• Experience utilizing customer, category, and syndicated data platforms (e.g., Circana, Nielsen) to drive business decisions.

Preferred Qualifications (Extra Ingredients for Success)

• Experience within bakery, fresh foods, frozen foods, or broader food and beverage categories.
• Experience leading regional or national account teams in a multi-channel retail environment.
• Strong understanding of wholesale channel operations and distributor business models.
• Experience commercializing innovation and launching new products with retail customers.
• Advanced knowledge of category management principles and retailer analytics platforms.

Compensation

• Salary Range: $140K-$175K
• Travel: Required (50%-75%)

Benefits

• Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage, plus company-paid life insurance and additional voluntary options to fit your needs.
• Paid parental leave, generous paid time off, and holidays so you can recharge and spend time on what matters most.
• A competitive 401(k) with immediate company match, plus short- and long-term disability coverage for peace of mind.
• Opportunities to build skills, grow your career, and develop expertise through Aspire Bakeries’ learning and development programs.
• HSA and FSA plans to help you manage everyday expenses.
• Performance incentive plans that celebrate achievements across sales, bakery performance, and individual contributions.