Business Development Manager - Fresh Herbs & Produce

Description

About Rocket Farms

Where Horticulture Meets Inspiration

Rocket Farms is one of the West Coast's leading suppliers of fresh culinary herbs, offering conventional and organic programs across multiple formats including potted herbs, living herbs, fresh-cut herbs, and microgreens. Our products are found in many of the nation's leading grocery retailers, where consumers increasingly seek fresh, local, and convenient flavor solutions.

Position Summary

Fresh herbs continue to be one of the fastest-growing categories in produce, and Rocket Farms is investing in the future of that growth. As our Business Development Manager - Fresh Herbs & Produce, you'll identify new customers, expand distribution, and help bring our expanding portfolio of fresh herbs, microgreens, and value-added produce products to more retailers across grocery, club, and mass retail.

Location 

This California-based role requires travel for customer visits, meetings, trade shows, and other industry events. Candidates must currently reside in California.

Essential Functions (Duties & Responsibilities)

Business Development & Growth

· Partner with the VP of Sales and Marketing to identify and pursue strategic growth opportunities that support sales and profitability objectives within grocery, club, and mass retail.

· Develop new business by securing new retail customers and expanding Rocket Farms' presence across new banners, divisions, and regions.

· Build and maintain a robust sales pipeline through strategic prospecting, networking, industry relationships, and customer engagement.

Customer Acquisition & Relationship Development

· Develop trusted relationships with produce buyers, category managers, and key decision-makers by presenting innovative herb, microgreen, and fresh produce programs and tailored business solutions.

· Lead customer presentations, business reviews, and sales meetings that highlight Rocket Farms' expanding fresh herb, microgreen, and produce programs and support new business opportunities.

· Successfully transition new customer relationships to long-term account partnerships.

Market Development

· Identify emerging produce trends, category opportunities, and customer needs to expand Rocket Farms' fresh herb and produce footprint.

· Represent Rocket Farms at customer meetings, trade shows, and industry events to expand brand awareness and cultivate new business relationships.

Cross-Functional Partnership

· Partner with Operations, Production, Customer Support, Marketing, Supply Chain, and Finance to ensure successful onboarding and execution of new customer programs.

· Collaborate across departments to support a seamless customer experience from initial opportunity through successful launch.

Additional Responsibilities

· Perform other duties as assigned in support of department and company objectives.

Business Travel Requirement

· This role requires approximately 20-25% travel

Compensation: $110 - $150K DOE

Requirements

Qualifications (Knowledge, Skills & Experience)

· Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.

· 5+ years of business development, national account management, or strategic sales experience selling produce, fresh herbs, perishables, or other fresh categories into grocery, club, or mass retail customers.

· Demonstrated success identifying, developing, and securing new business opportunities while achieving sales and profitability objectives.

· Established relationships with grocery, club, or mass retail buyers and key decision-makers strongly preferred.

· Experience within the produce, horticulture, perishables, floral, or other consumer packaged goods (CPG) industries strongly preferred.

· Strong prospecting, relationship-building, presentation, negotiation, and business development skills.

· Proven ability to develop strategic sales plans, manage a robust sales pipeline, and successfully close new business opportunities.

· Experience with CRM, EDI, syndicated scan/category management data, and ERP systems (Microsoft Dynamics NAV preferred).

· Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and Word.

Physical Requirements 

While performing the functions of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; frequently required to talk or hear; and occasionally required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle or feel, reach with hands and arms, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee must occasionally lift and or move up to 25 pounds. Specific vision abilities by this job include close distance and color vision.

*This position description does not promise or imply that the functions listed in the Position Summary are the only duties to be performed or that the position may not change or be eliminated. Employees interested in learning more about the essential duties and responsibilities of this position should complete the Position Interest Form and submit it to the Human Resources Department.