About The Role

The Senior Director, National Retai l t is responsible for leading the Retail Business Manager organization supporting JM Smucker's dedicated retail field team. This leader serves as the primary bridge between Retail Operations, JM Smucker Sales Leadership, and Acosta leadership to ensure retail execution strategies translate into measurable business results.

The role is accountable for developing and leading a high-performing team, driving business performance, influencing client priorities, and transforming retail insights into actionable recommendations that improve sales, execution, and customer outcomes.

Success in this role is measured by the team's ability to deliver business results, build trusted client partnerships, identify growth opportunities, and translate retail execution into meaningful value for JM Smucker and Acosta.

Business Leadership & Client Partnership (40%)

Serve as a strategic business partner to JM Smucker Sales Directors and customer team leadership.
Identify business opportunities and risks impacting retail execution and sales performance.
Translate retail intelligence, performance trends, and marketplace insights into actionable business recommendations.
Lead business reviews and strategic discussions with internal and client stakeholders.
Drive alignment between retail execution priorities and customer objectives.

Key Outcome

Become the trusted business advisor for retail performance and execution strategy.
Team Leadership & Talent Development (35%)

Lead, coach, and develop a team of Retail Business Managers.
Establish clear expectations, accountability, and performance standards.
Recruit, onboard, and develop future leaders within the organization.
Foster a culture focused on collaboration, ownership, continuous improvement, and results.
Create development plans that strengthen business acumen, client management, and strategic thinking.

Key Outcome

Build a highly engaged team capable of independently leading strategic business initiatives.
Business Performance & Strategic Planning (15%)

Monitor key retail performance indicators and business trends.
Lead root cause analysis to identify performance opportunities and business challenges.
Develop action plans that improve execution, distribution, merchandising, and promotional effectiveness.
Partner with retail operations and sales leadership to ensure successful implementation.

Key Outcome

Deliver measurable business improvements and proactive solutions.
Data & Insights Leadership (10%)

Utilize business reporting and analytical tools to support decision-making.
Ensure team members leverage data effectively when developing recommendations.
Partner with analytics and reporting resources to identify opportunities and trends.
Convert complex data into concise business stories and actionable insights.
Ability to evaluate and apply emerging technologies, including AI, to improve team effectiveness, business processes, and client outcomes.

Key Outcome

Translate complex retail data and field insights into clear business recommendations that influence decisions, prioritize actions, and improve client outcomes.

Critical Success Factors

The ideal candidate demonstrates

Required

Leadership of managers or business professionals
Client relationship management
Strategic business planning
Cross-functional influence
Cosnumer Packaged Goods (CPG) experience
Executive communications skills
Change leadership

Preferred

Retail operations experience
Category management experience
Sales strategy experience
Power BI and advanced business analytics experience

Experience Requirement

Bachelor’s Degree (B.A.) from a four (4) year college or university, or fifteen (15+) years’ or more related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination or education and experience required.
Ten (10+) years’ experience in Project/People Management Required.
Knowledge in Retail Strategy preferred.
This position requires travel.

Knowledge, Skill and Ability Requirements

Must demonstrate excellent interpersonal, organizational and sales skills.
Ability to use advanced functions of Microsoft (Power BI, Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook)
Demonstrate superb oral/written communication skills and strong presentation skills. Effectively communicate with others.
Must have a valid driver’s license or have means to adequate transportation to visit multiple Clients/Customers in assigned region/territory.
Ability to create positive working relationships, both internally and externally.
Great negotiation skills with Expert knowledge of Competitive Retail Strategy. Resolve complex problems.

Physical Requirements

Sit for extended periods (typically 6+ hours per day).
Use a computer, including keyboard and mouse, for prolonged periods.
Lift and carry light items (e.g., files, office supplies, laptops, typically 20+ pounds).
Reach, bend, or stoop occasionally to access files or office materials.
Maintain focus and attention for long periods of desk-based work.
Follow clear directions.
Perform repetitive motions (e.g., typing, clicking) consistently throughout the day.

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