Business Development Manager

A family‑owned candy and confections manufacturer is seeking a motivated and skilled Business Development Manager to join its growing team and lead the expansion of its product portfolio across the West Coast. If you enjoy sales, building strong relationships with brokers and customers, and are looking for an inspiring place to grow, this could be the perfect opportunity for you.

As a Business Development Manager, you will work closely with the VP of Sales to implement corporate strategy, grow distribution, and drive both profitability and sales performance. Success in this role requires a strong understanding of customer expectations, industry dynamics, and the competitive landscape.

This position requires regular travel-approximately 35-40% of your time will be spent on the road.

Key Responsibilities

• Execute corporate strategy for both brand and private label development to meet annual business objectives.
• Set SMART goals for broker partners and continuously evaluate performance.
• Provide leadership and direction to broker teams and internal trade development staff.
• Demonstrate full command of the annual planning process, with a focus on core distribution gains and key innovation.
• Use available tools to manage the complete trade plan and deliver accurate sales forecasts.
• Leverage business tools to identify opportunities, develop sales presentations, and meet sales targets.
• Gather and analyze sales data; understand merchandising, category management, and delivery requirements; resolve customer issues and complaints.
• Collaborate with the Credit Department to address and resolve account matters.
• Research customer‑specific market conditions to identify new opportunities.
• Analyze competitor pricing, promotions, and marketing strategies; provide detailed reporting.
• Draft professional written sales communications for all audience levels.
• Represent the company in a positive and professional manner.
• Maintain frequent contact with key customers and broker partners to ensure progress.
• Communicate with all brokers at least monthly and visit key customers semi‑annually.
• Provide detailed weekly updates to the Director of Branded and Bulk Sales.
• Attend all relevant trade shows and customer events.
• Submit expense reports within 30 days of each expenditure.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of sales experience in the candy or confection industry, with strong knowledge of market trends and customer preferences.
• Associate degree required, preferably in Business or a related field.
• Sales background within the confection or snack categories strongly preferred.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, along with strong leadership ability.
• Highly organized and able to work effectively in a dynamic, fast‑changing environment.
• Strong judgment and decision‑making skills.
• Self‑motivated and able to work independently.
• Proficient in standard computer applications, including email, internet tools, Outlook, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Teams, and CRM systems.