Senior Customer Sales Lead – Strategic Account Management for Food & Beverage Retail Partners

About brighthush

Since 1869, brighthush has been a pioneer in connecting people through the foods they love. As a steward of a portfolio of trusted brands—now unified under the brighthush umbrella—we bring culinary delight to households across the nation. From classic soups and Italian sauces to specialty snacks and beverages, our products are synonymous with quality, innovation, and heritage. At brighthush, we believe that food is more than sustenance; it’s a shared experience that brings families and communities together.

Our culture is built on collaboration, curiosity, and a relentless drive to exceed expectations. We empower our teams to grow, innovate, and inspire—whether they’re in the kitchen, on the sales floor, or behind the scenes. With a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, brighthush offers a workplace where every voice is heard and every idea has the chance to flourish.

Position Overview

We’re looking for a dynamic Senior Customer Sales Lead to own the day‑to‑day relationship and growth agenda for our key retail partners—now represented by brighthush. In this fully remote role, you will be the strategic partner for our Soup, Italian, and Specialty categories, delivering net sales, profit, and market share commitments through disciplined planning, negotiation, and cross‑functional collaboration.

As the primary point of contact for our retail partners, you will:

• Develop and execute annual customer plans, including promotional calendars and innovation launches.
• Negotiate customer‑specific terms, promotions, and merchandising commitments.
• Translate category and brand strategy into compelling, customer‑relevant selling stories.
• Manage day‑to‑day interactions, line reviews, and business reviews to keep the partnership on track.
• Partner with internal teams—marketing, supply chain, finance—to deliver an integrated customer agenda.
• Maintain accurate forecasting, trade spend management, and deduction balance monitoring.
• Conduct category business reviews using syndicated and customer data to uncover trends and growth opportunities.

Key Responsibilities

• Customer Relationship Management: Own the relationship and annual plan for brighthush across Soup, Italian, and Specialty categories.
• Sales & Profit Targets: Deliver net sales, gross profit, trade, and share targets on the assigned desk.
• Strategic Planning: Develop and execute the annual customer plan, including promotional calendar and innovation introduction.
• Negotiation & Execution: Negotiate customer‑specific terms, promotions, and merchandising commitments.
• Storytelling: Translate category and brand strategy into customer‑relevant selling stories.
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration: Partner with marketing, supply chain, finance, and product teams to deliver an integrated customer agenda.
• Forecasting & Trade Spend: Maintain accurate forecasting and trade spend management on the assigned desk.
• Deduction Management: Monitor and manage deduction balances and conduct post‑audit reviews.
• Business Reviews: Conduct category business reviews, leveraging syndicated and customer‑supplied data to discuss business state, consumer trends, key drivers, and incremental opportunities.
• Category Leadership: Lead category captaincy in Soup & Italian categories at brighthush.
• Supply Chain Efficiency: Develop and lead accurate monthly forecasts to maximize supply chain efficiency by tracking shipments, consumption data, and inventory changes.
• Innovation & New Item Sales: Sell new items to the customer and work with key personnel to achieve optimal distribution and support programs.
• Marketing Collaboration: Leverage shopper marketing resources to develop and implement collaborative marketing programs aligned with brand and customer strategies.
• Support Functions: Provide support to new product development, process improvement, and brand marketing functions.

Essential Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree preferred.
• Minimum 6 years of experience in CPG sales or customer‑facing commercial roles.
• Proven ability to deliver net sales and profit targets on a customer desk.
• Working knowledge of trade management, promotional planning, and revenue growth management.
• Strong analytical capability with syndicated data (Circana / NielsenIQ) and retailer POS.
• Effective negotiation, presentation, and storytelling skills with retail buyers.

Preferred Qualifications (Nice to Have)

• Willingness to travel approximately 20–30% of the time for customer events, including evenings and weekends.
• Comfortable operating in a matrixed, cross‑functional environment.
• Experience with trade promotion management systems and advanced Excel modeling.
• Knowledge of the food & beverage retail landscape and key market trends.

Skills & Competencies

• Strategic Thinking & Execution
• Relationship Building & Influence
• Data‑Driven Decision Making
• Negotiation & Conflict Resolution
• Project Management & Prioritization
• Cross‑Functional Collaboration
• Communication & Storytelling
• Adaptability & Resilience

Career Growth & Learning Opportunities

At brighthush, we believe in nurturing talent from within. As a Senior Customer Sales Lead, you’ll have access to:

• Leadership development programs that sharpen your strategic and operational skills.
• Mentorship from senior executives who have built successful careers in the food & beverage industry.
• Cross‑functional projects that expose you to marketing, supply chain, finance, and product development.
• Global travel opportunities to meet with key partners and attend industry conferences.
• Continuous learning resources, including online courses, workshops, and industry certifications.

Work Environment & Culture

Our remote-first culture empowers you to work from anywhere within the United States, while still enjoying the camaraderie of a high‑performing team. We foster:

• Transparent communication through weekly virtual huddles and real‑time collaboration tools.
• A culture of psychological safety where ideas are challenged and celebrated.
• Flexibility to balance work and personal life, with unlimited sick time and generous paid time off.
• A commitment to sustainability and responsible sourcing across our product lines.
• Inclusive employee resource groups that support diverse perspectives and career paths.

Compensation & Benefits

The target base salary range for this full‑time, salaried position is $117,600–$161,700 per year, depending on experience, location, and skill set. In addition to competitive base pay, you’ll receive:

• Health, dental, and vision insurance starting on day one.
• Short‑term and long‑term disability coverage.
• Life insurance for you, your family, and domestic partners.
• 401(k) plan with company matching.
• Unlimited paid sick leave and paid time off.
• Wellness stipend and access to virtual fitness programs.
• Employee assistance program and mental health resources.
• Generous holiday schedule and flexible work arrangements.

How to Apply

If you’re ready to make history with brighthush and drive growth for our most valued retail partners, we’d love to hear from you. Submit your application through our careers portal and join a team that values innovation, collaboration, and impact.

Apply Now –