Business Manager

About SunOpta

SunOpta delivers customized supply chain solutions and innovation for top brands, retailers, and foodservice providers across a broad portfolio of beverages, broths, and better-for-you snacks. With over 50 years of expertise, SunOpta fuels customers' growth with high-quality, sustainability-forward solutions distributed through retail, club, foodservice, and e-commerce channels across North America.

Job Summary:

This position leads the internal business team supporting low‑acid aseptic beverages, broths, and better‑for‑you fruit snacks for a portfolio of key private label and co‑manufacturing customers.

Essential Functions of the Job:

• Business Management leads a cross-functional team of: Commercialization Manager, Sales, Sales Operations, R&D (product development), and Customer Service.
• This role will also work cross-functionally with internal team members across supply chain, R&D, finance, and sales to create, launch, and support strategic initiatives
• Identify strategic customer & innovation targets to grow our business in fruit snacks and low acid aseptic
• Monitor industry trends, consumer insights, and competitive set
• Make strategic recommendations based on business results and marketplace dynamics to support on-going growth objectives
• Analyze complex business data and situations and develop a range of solutions; analyze secondary data to mine insights, trends and uncover root cause of changes in consumer behavior or channel/retailer performance
• Manage current portfolio in pricing, contracts, and sales growth
• Closely collaborate with sales to maximize profitability of assigned customers & channels

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• None

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's Degree required; MBA preferred
• 4+ years of General Management, Marketing, and/or Product Management or other relevant experience.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Manufacturing, Food/Ag, and/or CPG experience.
• B2B marketing experience supporting strategic customer accounts

Knowledge and Skills:

• Must possess strategic thinking, leadership, teamwork, and analytical skills
• Creativity and effective interpersonal communication skills required
• Strong strategic skills required as incumbent must drive short- and long-term brand & category growth and profitability
• Demonstrated leadership capabilities and the ability to work effectively across the organization and foster teamwork cross-functionally
• Must be highly accountable and with internal drive to accomplish goals

Additional Considerations:

• Travel Expectation: Up to 15% to various SunOpta locations, to customer meetings, and for conferences.
• Sunflex Hybrid Work Model: This role is eligible for SunOpta's Sunflex hybrid work option, which includes working in the office three (3) days per week and the opportunity to work remotely two (2) days per week.
• Location: This role will be located at our office in Eden Prairie, MN.
• Work Environment: Approximately 95% of work is done in an office environment; 5% of work may be performed in a manufacturing environment.
• Relocation or international remote working arrangements (outside of the US) will not be considered.

Featured Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Paid Family leave
• Paid maternity leave
• 401(k) with Match
• Voluntary Life, Accident, Critical Illness and Hospital indemnity
• Paid Holidays
• Tuition assistance
• Short-term and Long-term Disability insurance

Please note this job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities that are required of the employee for this job. Duties, responsibilities, and activities may change at any time, with or without notice.

AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER

EOE M/W/VET/DISABLED