Vice President of Sales

Description

ABOUT US

Do you enjoy working with friendly and passionate people? Do you love pizza and bread made from the best local ingredients?

Against the Grain is a Vermont-based gluten- and grain-free bread company committed to making food differently. For over 15 years, we’ve handcrafted every product in our dedicated commercial bakery in Brattleboro, VT using clean, simple, non-GMO ingredients that consumers can trust. Our lineup includes pizzas, rolls, baguettes, poppers, and bagels sold across natural, conventional, and mass retail channels nationwide.

We’ve recently partnered with HumanCo to support our mission of helping people live healthier lives, and to drive our next phase of national growth. People are our most important ingredient and we’re looking for a passionate, experienced leader to help us scale.

Learn more at Against the Grain and @againstthegraingourment on Instagram.

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are seeking a visionary, analytical, and results-driven Vice President of Sales to lead our high-performing sales organization into its next chapter of growth. This individual will be responsible for developing and executing Against the Grain’s national sales strategy, expanding our presence across retail channels, and managing both internal and external sales resources.

This role directly oversees the Natural Sales Manager, Sales Operations Manager, and Shopper Marketing Manager, ensuring strategic alignment across retail execution, trade promotion, and customer marketing. The VP of Sales will play a key role in driving collaborative, data-backed decisions that deliver results.

The VP of Sales is a member of the senior leadership team and reports directly to the COO/CFO.

Requirements

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Sales Strategy & Growth

· Develop and execute a national sales strategy spanning natural, conventional, and mass channels

· Set and achieve annual revenue, margin, and velocity goals (TDPs, product mix, EBITDA, etc.)

· Lead cross-functional alignment on forecasting, promotional strategy, pricing, and innovation launches

Team Leadership & Collaboration

· Lead and mentor the Natural Sales Manager and Shopper Marketing Manager to ensure unified go-to-market execution and communication across teams

· Build a high-performing internal sales team and manage a national network of brokers

· Foster a culture of accountability, strategic thinking, and continuous learning across the sales and marketing functions

Customer & Channel Management

· Cultivate strong relationships with key retail partners and distributors

· Lead top-to-top retailer meetings, line reviews, and trade shows

· Optimize trade investment strategy and measure ROI to drive profitable growth

Product Launch & Shopper Activation

· Own the go-to-market strategy for new product innovation

· Partner with the Shopper Marketing Manager to execute retail programs that drive trial and repeat

· Ensure channel and customer execution aligns with brand standards and company goals

Data & Forecasting

· Leverage syndicated data (SPINS, IRI, etc.) to inform business decisions, whitespace opportunities, and category strategies

· Oversee demand planning and forecasting processes in collaboration with Finance and Operations

· Use data to drive team accountability and identify growth levers

QUALIFICATIONS

· 10+ years of progressive sales leadership experience in the CPG industry (preferably refrigerated/frozen)

· Track record of scaling brands across both natural and conventional channels

· Experience managing national broker networks and key accounts (Whole Foods, Kroger, UNFI, KeHE, etc.)

· Strong analytical skills, including experience with syndicated data tools (SPINS, IRI, Nielsen)

· Experience launching new products and optimizing trade marketing programs

· Ability to thrive in an entrepreneurial, growth-stage environment

· Bachelor’s degree required; MBA a plus

YOU MIGHT BE A GREAT FIT IF…

· You’re a strategic thinker and tactical operator who loves building structure and driving results

· You bring a collaborative, team-first mindset and know how to lead across departments

· You’re energized by working with mission-aligned brands and helping them scale sustainably

· You balance relationship-building with data-backed decision-making

BENEFITS

· Competitive base salary + bonus potential

· 401(k) with company contribution

· Unlimited PTO + additional paid holidays

· Health and wellness stipend

· Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance

· Career development and advancement opportunities within a high-growth brand

Against the Grain is proud to be an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Please note that this job is not available for remote work from Colorado.