Conestoga Meat Packers Ltd. - Vice President, Sales and Business Development

THE OPPORTUNITY
The Vice President of Sales and Business Development will develop and implement business strategies that will support Conestoga Meats’ short and long-term growth objectives. This role is responsible for defining long-term strategic sales goals, identifying new customers, market, and business opportunities, negotiating, closing business deals, and maintaining extensive knowledge of current market conditions.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Leads the Sales and Business Development team in setting and achieving performance targets
• Develop and execute annual business plans that will support Conestoga Meats’ overall goals
• Analyze market data/insights, customer/industry trends, and internal metrics to identify optimal customer segments, product offerings, and market opportunities
• Identifies trending market opportunities and ideas for potential growth opportunities by contacting potential partners, and exploring win/win opportunities by researching industry and related events, publications, and announcements as well as networking throughout the industry
• Review and approve potential business deals by analyzing market strategies, deal requirements, potential returns, and projected financials
• Leads the team in developing negotiating strategies and positions aligned with company strategies and operations, examining risks and potentials, and estimating partners' needs and goals.
• Closes new business deals by coordinating requirements; developing and negotiating contracts and integrating contract requirements with business operations
• Conducts and/or supports business reviews as required to discuss future product plans, team performance, and new product/program opportunities
• Participates in industry conferences to develop strategies, and actively pursue innovative products/processes, and packaging ideas
• Leads reviews with the Director of Sales Operations, and the Director of Product Management through structured analysis by product, customer, and market segment to identify and align on opportunities
• Provides timely, accurate, competitive pricing and market intelligence to support Product Management’s decision making
• Manages expenses within approved budget parameters
• Represents Company at trade shows and industry meetings
• Updates job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities; reading professional publications; maintaining personal networks; participating in professional organizations
• Develops and maintains good cross functional relationships to ensure proper execution of product development/production and optimum service levels
• Manages overall team workload and ensure that work is done accurately, efficiently, and complies with all policies, procedures, standards, and optimum working practices
• Build a team environment that inspires performance, passion, and energy in a productive collaborative atmosphere that enables people to grow personally, develop professionally, and deliver clearly set goals.
• Ensure appropriate development plans, succession strategies, and back-up structures are in place for all direct reports
• Provides guidance, motivation, and ongoing performance reviews to maintain and enhance competency levels for direct reports, while identifying future training requirements and goals to heighten performance and career aspirations

PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Attend company required training
• Remain current with technical knowledge in areas of responsibility
• Remain current on learning methodologies and best in class processes
• Attend regular 1:1 coaching/update sessions
  
  

REQUIREMENTS

• Post secondary degree/diploma in Business, Marketing, Merchandising or equivalent
• Financial skills in order to prepare budgets, cost standards, analyze variances, etc.
• Experience working in the fresh protein/disassembly industry preferred
• Possess strong business acumen with demonstrated ability to develop and close business opportunities
• Strong understanding of customer and market dynamics
• Excellent prospecting and relationship building skills
• Willingness to travel
• Ability to work independently and handle multiple projects at the same time
• Excellent planning, time management and decision-making skills
• Proficient in the Microsoft Office suite
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including ability to tailor communication to audience, mediate and facilitate communications between others
• Must have ability to gain buy-in from stakeholders on complex issues
• Ability to exercise professional judgment and assume responsibility for decisions
• High energy team builder with leadership skills, committed to continuous improvement
• Maintain excellent communication and relationships with others; be a team player; maintain a positive attitude, and work collaboratively cross functionally
  
  

KEY COMPETENCIES
Service Excellence

• Communicates clearly, ensuring leaders understand expectations, reasoning, and implications for their teams and what success looks like.
• Builds alignment by surfacing issues through productive conflict, encouraging respectful debate on ideas and drawing out quieter voices.
• Drives resolution and follow-through by clarifying decisions, assigning ownership, and establishing clear next steps to ensure commitment and accountability.
  
  

Enabling Change

• Promotes continuous improvement by highlighting opportunities, encouraging people to question how work is done and contribute practical ideas that lead to better ways of working.
• Prioritizes initiatives that strengthen culture, and business outcomes, focusing effort and resources on the changes that matter most.
• Removes obstacles, enabling teams to test ideas, learn quickly, and implement improvements.
  
  

Accountability & Initiative

• Translates organizational strategy into clear priorities, sequencing, and success measures.
• Demonstrates business acumen in evaluating opportunities, anticipating impacts and risks, and making decisions that position the company for future success.
• Allocates financial resources with a producer-owner mindset. Making practical spending decisions that support business priorities and long-term value. (Spend like it’s your own money.)
  
  

CONTACT INFORMATION
Search managed by Tim Hewat, Head of Executive Search, North America. If you are interested in being considered for this meaningful opportunity, please contact:

Tim Hewat
Head of Executive Search, North America
[email protected]
416-526-1084

Ed Perkovic
Vice President, Search Delivery & Ops.
[email protected]
416-640-4311

This is a job posting for an existing role/vacancy. LHH Knightsbridge does not use artificial intelligence (AI) to screen, assess, or select applicants for a position.