Director, Strategic Accounts (Food/CPG)

Brantford, ON
On-site
Posted Oct 8, 2026
1 position

$135,470–$169,337 / year

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Employment type: Full-time
Experience level: Lead · 10+ years
Posting language: English
Working hours: 40 hours per week
Seniority: Director
Application method: Direct apply is available

Job summary

Own and grow the relationship with a major Canadian retail customer by developing account strategies, negotiating commercial agreements, and driving sales, profitability, and product innovation across Beef and Pork categories. Lead the site-based commercial team and collaborate with innovation, supply chain, procurement, and operations teams to meet customer needs and improve performance.

Job details

Job Title: Director, Strategic Accounts Location: Brantford, ON Type: Permanent, Full-time Industry: Food Manufacturing Our client is a growing food manufacturing organization with an exciting opportunity for a Director, Strategic Accounts to lead and grow a key national retail partnership. This is a high-impact commercial leadership role for someone who combines strategic account management with a hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves approach. About the Role As Director, Strategic Accounts, you will own the relationship with a major Canadian retail customer, working closely with senior commercial, innovation and supply chain stakeholders to drive sustainable sales growth, profitability, innovation and long-term partnership development. Key Responsibilities: Build and maintain strong senior-level relationships with the customer, becoming a trusted commercial partner. Develop and execute strategic account plans focused on growth, profitability and market opportunities. Lead commercial negotiations including pricing, promotions, new products and supplier relationships. Identify opportunities to grow existing categories and introduce new products. Partner closely with New Product Development, Supply Chain, Procurement and Operations to deliver customer requirements. Lead and develop the site-based commercial team, creating a collaborative, high-performance culture. Use market, customer and consumer insights to identify opportunities and inform commercial strategy. Monitor sales performance, forecasting, promotional activity and profitability to drive continuous improvement. Work collaboratively with the customer to develop opportunities across Beef and Pork categories. What We're Looking For: Strong experience in an own-label or branded commercial role, ideally with a leading Canadian retailer. Proven experience within the meat/protein industry, particularly Beef and Pork. Experience managing significant customer relationships and negotiating pricing and commercial agreements. A track record of growing accounts, improving profitability and identifying new opportunities within existing customers. Strong understanding of category management, forecasting, financial drivers and commercial analytics. Proven experience leading and developing a commercial team. Excellent communication, negotiation and influencing skills at all levels. Strong business acumen and the ability to turn customer and market insights into action. A hands-on, pragmatic approach and the ability to thrive in a fast-moving, evolving environment. The ability to travel, including regular travel to Mississauga. Compensation & Benefits: Salary: $135,470 – $169,337 per year, based on experience, plus an annual bonus of up to 25% 4 weeks vacation Benefits effective from Day 1 RRSP matching Health Care Spending Account Comprehensive health and dental coverage Car allowance/mileage support Why Kelly®? As a worker today, it’s up to you to take charge of your career and look for opportunities to learn, grow and achieve your potential. Helping you find what’s next is what we’re all about. We know what’s going on in the evolving world of work—just ask the nearly 500,000 people we employ each year. Connecting with us means getting the support, guidance and opportunities needed to take your career where you may have never imagined. About Kelly® At Kelly, we’re always thinking about what’s next and advising job seekers on new ways of working to reach their full potential. In fact, we’re a leading advocate for temporary/non-traditional workstyles, because we believe they allow flexibility and tremendous growth opportunities that enable a better way to work and live. Connecting great people with great companies is what we do best and our employment opportunities span a wide variety of workstyles, skill levels and industries around the world. Kelly is an equal opportunity employer committed to employing a diverse workforce and providing accommodations for people with disabilities in all parts of the hiring process as required under its Employment Accommodation Policy. Kelly will work with applicants to meet accommodation needs that are made known to Kelly in advance.

What you’ll do

Requirements

The role calls for substantial commercial experience in own-label or branded accounts, ideally with a leading Canadian retailer, and proven experience in the meat or protein industry, particularly Beef and Pork. Candidates should have a record of growing accounts and profitability, negotiating significant customer agreements, using category and financial insights, leading teams, and communicating effectively; regular travel, including to Mississauga, is required.