Director of Business Development - Specialty Foods

At Lakeside Foods and our family of companies, we're committed to providing wholesome foods to enrich people’s lives through food. We are a culture that pursues our vision of growth and innovation with passion, confidence, and commitment. We are strongest together – valuing collaborative contribution, transparency and new ideas to enable change and growth. We are committed to an inclusive and respectful environment that promotes a healthy work-life balance, and there’s a seat at the table for you.

Shape the Future of Specialty Foods. Drive Strategic Growth. Lead with Impact.

Lakeside Foods is seeking a visionary Director of Business Development – Specialty to lead commercial growth for our Riverside (frozen appetizers) and Cher-Make (smoked sausage and meat snacks) businesses. This senior leadership role is pivotal in expanding our Specialty Division’s footprint across B2B, retail, private label, club, convenience store, and foodservice channels.

If you're a strategic thinker with a passion for innovation, market expansion, and executive-level relationship building, this is your opportunity to make a lasting impact.

What You'll Get:

At Lakeside Foods, we believe in taking care of our people. That’s why, as part of the Lakeside family, you’ll have a package of affordable benefit choices and resources to support your health, well-being, family, and future.

Comprehensive Benefits:

• A choice of three quality, affordable healthcare coverage options
• Vision and dental coverage
• Health savings account with employer contribution / flexible spending accounts
• Retirement planning including Profit Sharing and 401(k) match
• Company-provided life, AD&D, short- and long-term disability insurance
• Generous paid time off including vacation, personal days, and holidays

Work-Life Integration:

• Wellness programs and fitness reimbursement
• Dependent scholarship program
• Career growth opportunities
• Friendly office environment
• “Dress for your day” dress code

What You’ll Do:

• Architect Growth Strategy: Own and execute a multi-year business development roadmap aligned with Lakeside’s financial goals.
• Drive New Revenue Streams: Lead opportunity identification, evaluation, and negotiation for co-manufacturing and private-label partnerships.
• Lead Market Activation: Build and manage a robust commercial pipeline through lead generation, trade engagement, and strategic outreach.
• Influence Innovation: Collaborate with Marketing, R&D, Operations, and Finance to shape product development and pricing strategies.
• Represent Lakeside: Be the face of our Specialty Division at industry forums and executive-level customer events.
• Deliver Insights: Monitor market trends and competitor actions to inform strategy and innovation priorities.
• Build Relationships: Personally lead outreach and relationship-building with key decision-makers across the U.S.

What You Bring:

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced business degree preferred.
• 10–15 years of progressive commercial leadership in food, CPG, or specialty manufacturing.
• Proven success in driving revenue growth exceeding $50MM annually.
• Strong technical acumen in manufacturing economics and value-chain optimization.
• Executive-level selling and negotiation skills with high financial and business acumen.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with a collaborative leadership style.
• Willingness to travel up to 50% domestically.

Where You’ll Work:

Work Arrangement: Remote, Hybrid, or On-Site

• This position offers flexibility based on the candidate’s experience, qualifications, and business needs. While Lakeside Foods is headquartered in Manitowoc, WI, we welcome applicants who prefer to work remotely, on-site, or in a hybrid capacity. Travel expectations remain consistent regardless of work location.

WELCOME TO MANITOWOC

Thousands of visitors are drawn here each year to explore the USS Cobia World War II submarine, tour Rogers Street Fishing Village to view relics of famous shipwrecks, or sail across Lake Michigan on the S. S. Badger. We love company and invite you to explore 20 miles of spectacular Lake Michigan shoreline. From the pristine coastline with its stunning parks, beaches, and marinas, to historic downtowns and outdoor band concerts, Manitowoc-Two Rivers is a maritime treasure to visit — and a wonderful place to work and live.

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Lakeside Foods and our family of companies welcomes people of all backgrounds and the varied ideas they bring to the workplace. Being an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer is part of our heritage and culture. We recruit, hire and promote employees based on qualifications and merit, without regard to race, religion, age, gender, disability, marital or veteran status. Lakeside Foods participates in E-Verify.

Equal Opportunity Employer, including Veterans and Individuals with Disabilities