Business Manager - Contract Manufacturing

Job Summary:

This position leads the strategy and supports key customer initiatives for Contract Manufacturing opportunities in the aseptic business of plant-based milks and broth/stock, a key segment of our fast-growing plant-based food and beverage business, as well as better-for-you fruit snacks.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Lead internal cross functional team of supply chain, R&D, finance, and sales to create, launch, and support strategic initiatives for assigned customers to achieve customer and business results.
• Identify strategic customer targets to grow our co-manufacturing business.
• Monitor industry trends, consumer insights, and competitive set.
• Make strategic recommendations based on business results and marketplace dynamics to support on-going growth objectives.
• Analyze complex business data and situations and develop a range of solutions; analyze secondary data to mine insights, trends and uncover root cause of changes in consumer behavior or channel/retailer performance.
• Manage customer product portfolio including pricing, contracts, and sales growth.
• Closely collaborate with sales to maximize profitability of assigned customers & channels.
• Develop business cases for new projects and initiatives.
• Other duties, as assigned.

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• None.

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Bachelor's Degree in related field.
• 4+ years of General Management, Marketing, and/or Product Management or other relevant experience.
• B2B marketing experience supporting strategic customer accounts.

Preferred Qualifications:

• MBA.
• Manufacturing, Food/Ag, and/or CPG experience.

Knowledge and Skills: 

• Must possess strategic thinking, leadership, teamwork, and analytical skills.
• Creativity and effective interpersonal communication skills required.
• Strong strategic skills required as incumbent must drive short- and long-term brand & category growth and profitability.
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and the ability to work effectively across the organization and foster teamwork cross-functionally.
• Must be highly accountable and with internal drive to accomplish goals.

Additional Considerations: 

• Travel Expectation: Up to 10% to various SunOpta locations, to customer meetings, and for conference.
• Location: This role will be located at our US Corporate Office in Eden Prairie, MN.
• Work Environment: Approximately 95% of work is done in an office environment; 5% of work may be performed in a production / manufacturing environment.
• Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.