Associate Business Development Manager, Ingredients

Ocean Spray is hiring for a(n) Associate Business Development Manager, Ingredients! We’re a team of farmers, thinkers, creators, and doers. Whatever your title, whatever your role — it always comes back to this: we’re a farmer-owned co-op where everyone rolls up their sleeves to get the job done. Three maverick farmers started it all — and we’ve been making our own way ever since.

The Associate Business Development Manager (ABDM) supports the day-to-day business operations and growth platforms for the region in collaboration with the Sr Business Development Manager and Sr Director of Global Ingredients. You will play a pivotal role driving the Global Ingredient growth footprint across Europe. You will support the development and execution of growth strategies, leveraging insights, market intelligence, and your personal thought leadership to inform actions in the region with our broker partners while also providing critical insights and feedback to cross functional team members on day-to-day business topics that impact results.

The successful candidate will bring a mix of analytical, commercial and communication skills to the role which enables us to drive cranberry adoption as a differentiating ingredient in the food and beverage manufacturing sectors. This role works in close collaboration with the UK based Sr Business Development Manager, the US based Ingredients and cross-functional team members, and local UK and Continental Europe based broker partners to ensure the annual operating plan is delivered.

A Day in the Life...

• Supports the delivery of the annual operating plan by collaborating with team members and brokers on the following:
• Obtain forecasts from brokers and provide timely updates on changes or events impacting the forecast;
• Support the creation of supply contracts and track/reconcile deliveries against contract positions; participate in monthly broker meetings and contract reconciliation discussions to understand outlook on plan delivery;
• Gather information and share relevant broker/customer insights that impact the business and relevant to cross functional team members;
• Support development of market insights pertinent to new product projects impacting the sales pipeline.
• Supports the development and execution of broker account business plans including growth strategy, market segmentation, and specific tactics (pricing, new product launches, trade shows, trade advertising promotion plans, and support the promotion calendar).
• Support the Sr. Managing Director in the training, orientation, coaching, and motivating of the Brokers’ team members. Collect, organize and share information that helps assess Broker progress against plan with regards to volume, price targets, trade spending, specific MBOs.
• Participate in monthly/quarterly Broker review meetings and provide input into preparation; support the development of Broker selling tools.
• Support the LRP planning process by gathering relevant information for ingredient sales in the region, assess partner capabilities needed to expand the ingredient business (distribution, warehouse, sales agents, market coverage, products and applications, marketing support needed to drive awareness or other strategies relevant to trade, industry, retail or consumer markets audiences.
• Participate in the development of marketing and category management programs to support broker strategic growth plans to drive results. Direct the execution of key recommendations internally in Ocean Spray where appropriate based on broker discussions and engagement with key customers.
  

Required

What We Are Looking For:

• 5-8 years of experience in Business Development and Operations, Purchasing, Supply Chain & Logistics, or Product Management/Marketing.
• Experience in B2B or Branded consumer products working in a cross functional team environment to achieve results.
• Experience working with sales agents/brokers and/or distributor partners responsible for direct customer interactions for product sampling, new product development, contracting and PO management to deliver the annual plan.
• Business acumen understanding key macro trends, industry, business and financial metrics and drivers.
• Strong intellectual curiosity, analytical capabilities and organizational skills.
• Excellent oral and written communication; ability to articulate complex business issues, ask thoughtful questions and assess strategic implications to drive decision making.
• Strong orientation to lead, collaboration mindset and behaviors, ability to influence cross functional team members, peers and senior leaders.
• Passion to work cross regionally, globally and with diverse cultures.
  
  

Preferred

• Commercial experience in Business Development, B2B Food Ingredients, preferred.
  
  

Physical Requirements

• Requires the ability to communicate across diverse time zones between North America and UK/Europe.
• Requires the ability to work from the local UK office (Bracknell, UK) and home office.
• Requires the ability to travel by plane from time to time.
• Must be able to lift low to medium weight (10-30 lbs.) materials on an occasional basis.
• Must be able to lift low to medium weight (10-30 lbs.) materials on a regular basis and heavy (40-50 lbs.) materials on an occasional basis.
  
  

Education

Bachelor's or University Degree (Required)

Work Experience

At least 5 Years of Experience

Benefits

• Comprehensive insurance package that includes many health & wellness programs, including medical coverage while traveling for work
• Short-term incentive/performance bonuses
• Flexible scheduling options
• Vacation pay
• Holiday pay
• Career development and growth opportunities
• Tuition/education assistance programs
• Access to LinkedIn Learning
• Scholarship programs for children of employees
• Adoption and Surrogacy reimbursement
• Parental leave
• Bereavement leave
• Fitness & wellness reimbursement
• Employee appreciation events
• Employee discounts
• Charitable giving
  
  

Who We Are

You might have our iconic cranberry juice in your fridge or have gotten into heated holiday debate about what’s better - canned or fresh cranberry sauce. But did you know that the hardworking people growing the superfruit in our products are 700 family farmers that own our cooperative? They entrust us with what is most precious to them to create new and innovative products that will delight consumers and grow this beloved brand today and into the future.

Team Members, Farmers, Consumers And Communities Alike--we Value What Makes Us Unique And Strive To Connect Our Farms To Families For a Better Life By Living Our Values

• Grower Mindset – We embrace our grower-owners innovative spirit and heritage through confidence, learning and focus on the future.
• Sustainable Results – Guided by purpose, we are focused on delivering results for our grower-owners.
• Integrity Above All – We are ethical, doing the right thing for our grower-owners, customers, consumers and each other
• Inclusive Teamwork – We build diverse and inclusive teams that strengthen our cooperative.
  
  

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.