At Link Snacks, we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.
We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands: Jack Link’s®, Lorissa’s™ Organic Snacks, Golden Island®, BiFi®, Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few, there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.
Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.
Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.
Job DescriptionLink Snacks, Inc. is seeking a highly motivated and experienced Sr. Customer Development Manager – Military Business to lead strategic growth, business development, and distribution execution across all military retail channels. This is a remote position with a preference for candidates based in the Dallas, Texas area. In this role, the manager will own the sales strategy for key government and military accounts, including DeCA, AAFES, NEXCOM, MCX, and CGX. This position requires a deep understanding of the unique military resale channel, strong relationship-building capabilities, and a proven track record of driving CPG brand visibility and volume growth.
JOB SUMMARY
The Sr. Customer Development Manager for the Military Business is responsible for maximizing sales volume, net revenue, and category share for the Link Snacks portfolio of products within the military channel. This individual will manage direct relationships with military/government buyers, oversee broker networks, and execute joint business plans to drive maximum distribution and promotional effectiveness.
The ideal candidate will live in the Dallas area but can manage remotely with quarterly travel to market.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
- Own and manage the customer relationship with DeCA, AAFES, NEXCOM, MCX, CGX, and broker partners to unlock new distribution placements and optimize product shelf presentation.
- Achieve top-line and bottom-line sales and profit goals.
- Build strong customer relationships.
- Develop solid DSMP (Distribution, Shelving, Merchandising, Pricing) plans that drive category growth.
- Understand customer strategy and align to annual business plans that meet growth expectations.
- Develop 1–3-year strategic customer plans by segment.
- Provide transparent and timely communication to internal team members and customers/brokers.
- Develop plans for channel-specific business opportunities focused on expanding Link Snacks’ in-store presence.
- Responsible for analyzing customer data and developing an action plan to achieve sales goals.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams (Demand Planning, RGM, Sales Strategy) in creating both short- and long-term category and channel strategies.
- Create and present information compellingly and persuasively.
- Effectively build relationships throughout customer organizations and at various levels internally at Link Snacks, including Executive Management, Operations, Supply Planning, Accounting, and Marketing.
- Manage deduction and AR issues on all applicable accounts.
- Responsible for training and leading the broker network where applicable.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS
- Approximately 30% - 40% travel depending on business needs.
- Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
- 5+ years of CPG experience within the industry.
- 3+ years of direct sales experience in military channels.
- Strong communication and presentation skills.
- Solid MS Office skills.
- Ability to keep up in a fast-paced, dynamic environment.
- Ability to travel approximately 30% - 40% travel depending on business needs.
The pay range for this role is $140,000 - $170,000 (Annual). Actual wage will vary based on several factors, including but not limited to external market data, internal equity, location, and candidate skill set and experience. Base pay is just one component of Link Snacks Total Rewards package for Team Members. Other rewards may include annual incentive and program-specific awards. Link Snacks provides a variety of benefits to eligible Team Members, including medical, dental and vision benefits, life and disability insurance, 401k participation, paid holidays, and paid time off.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS
The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to be successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
While performing the duties of this job, the Team Member is regularly required to sit, use hands and fingers, handle, or feel, and talk or hear. The Team Member is required to stand, walk, and reach with hands and arms and lift for extended periods while conducting store audits, setting up promotional displays, or attending trade shows. Must be able to regularly lift, carry, and maneuver 25 or more pounds of product cases, display materials, and sales supplies during retail visits and industry events. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
Work from a dedicated home office, utilizing modern digital collaboration tools (Microsoft Teams, Slack, Zoom) to maintain seamless communication. Partner closely with remote Sales Managers overseeing other retail channels (such as Mass, Grocery, and Convenience) to share consumer insights, align pricing guardrails, and implement cohesive national brand campaigns.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER:
Link Snacks provides equal employment opportunity (EEO) to all persons regardless of age, color, national origin, citizenship status, physical or mental disability, race, religion, creed, gender, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, genetic information, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, veteran status, or any other characteristic that is protected by federal, state or local law.
E-VERIFY:
Link Snacks is participant in the federal E-Verify program to confirm the identity and employment authorization of all newly hired employees. For information about the E-Verify program, please visit: http://www.uscis.gov/e-verify/employees
All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience
- 5+ years of CPG industry experience
- 3+ years of direct sales experience in military channels
- Strong communication and presentation skills
- Solid Microsoft Office skills
- Ability to work in a fast-paced, dynamic environment
- Ability to travel approximately 30%–40%
What We Do
When it comes to being wild, we know a thing or two. We're not afraid of trying something new or the hard work it takes to make it happen. It's in our DNA. We've turned a family recipe into a new snacking category. And the wilderness into the world's largest meat snack business, that's still proudly family owned and operated. We're a company built by innovators, and are driven to not only satisfy your hunger, but to also feed your journey – whether that journey is on the road, on the run, at the campground, at the playground, in the office or in the moment. It’s a journey we share with you. It’s the journey forward of our people, of our communities, of our category…with a reverence for quality and an irreverence for the status quo. At Jack Link's Protein Snacks, we see every moment of every day as an opportunity to move forward, to forge new ground. To realize our vision of becoming the World’s #1 Protein Snacking Company. We never give up. You never give up. Together, we keep going. Are you wild enough to join us?
