Associate Manager, Business Unit (Condiments)

At Winland Foods, our success starts with people who live our values of Excellence, Quality, Integrity, Respect, and Collaboration every day. If you're looking for a role with real ownership, broad exposure to general management leadership, and the opportunity to collaborate with top retailers, we'd love to talk.

In this role, you will:

• Own the strategy and financial performance of a ~$100M sauces business.

• Drive innovation across some of North America's largest retailers.

• Lead cross-functional teams to bring new products from concept through commercialization.

• Build skills that prepare you for future Business/General Manager or Brand Manager leadership roles through broad exposure to strategy, commercialization, finance, innovation, operations, and customer engagement.

Winland Foods may not be a household name because our name isn't on the package—but our products are found at many of North America's leading retailers. As part of the Windoria Group and financially sponsored by Investindustrial, we manufacture private label and branded foods across 12 categories from 29 facilities in the U.S., Canada and Italy. By partnering with many of the world's largest retailers and foodservice companies, you'll influence multiple brands rather than a single consumer brand.

We believe that great food starts with great people. That's why we're proud to have a company culture that's rooted in creativity, collaboration, and respect for each other and the world around us. From our leaders on the plant floor to our R&D scientists, every member of our team is valued and respected for their unique skills, ideas, and contributions. We believe that by working together, we can create a better, more delicious, and more sustainable food future for everyone.

Success in this role requires a self-starter with growth mindset and bias for action as well as strategic thinking, financial/business acumen, analytical rigor, intellectual curiosity, and the ability to influence cross-functional teams to deliver profitable growth.

Employee Type:

Full time

Location:

IL Oak Brook

Job Type:

Marketing

Job Posting Title:

Associate Manager, Business Unit (Condiments)

Job Description:

Schedule: Hybrid office schedule; T-W-TH in office

Work Location: 2015 Spring Road Suite 400, Oak Brook, IL 60523

Benefits: Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with match, STD/LTD/AD&D/Life, HSA, FSA, EAP, Hospital indemnity, Accident Insurance, Identity and Fraud Protection Plan, Legal, and Critical Illness.

Salary, based on experience and other qualifications: $73k - $109k annually with additional bonus potential

Reporting to the Business Unit Director, the Associate Manager will have responsibility for the ~$100M Sauces category within the Condiments Business Unit with the following key responsibilities:

Business Performance & Strategy

• Develops annual and long-range business plans that deliver profitable growth, market share gains, and innovation objectives.

• Owns the Sauces category P&L in partnership with Finance. Understands the drivers influencing the P&L to meet and exceed financial plans.

• Develops and executes objectives to achieve the strategic business plan. Identifies any gaps to plan and recommends corrective actions.

• Leads and motivates cross-functional teams to accomplish new product plans, renovation projects, and simplification efforts that support the business.

• Applies knowledge of product and competitive strengths and weaknesses, developing defensive strategies as needed.

• Collaborates with Supply Chain and Demand Planning to develop demand forecasts that optimize customer service, inventory, and profitability.

Category, Consumer & Competitive Expertise

• Provides ongoing reporting and analysis of Sauces category dynamics, including sales, velocity, distribution, pricing, and promotional performance.

• Leverages syndicated data (Circana/Nielsen), Technomic, Mintel, AI-enabled analytics tools, and market research to identify emerging trends and provide selling stories for key initiatives.

• Understands and monitors competitive landscape, including new item launches and performance.

Communication

• Serves as the daily primary contact for business guidance, decisions, communication and management for the Sauces category, acting with a sense of urgency to provide direction.

• Creates category and product presentations, leveraging category and consumer insights.

• Presents category insights, innovation strategies, and new product recommendations to retail and foodservice customers.

Portfolio & Innovation Management

• As part of the Stage Gate process, provides guidance on manufacturing feasibility and financial viability.

• Conducts “size of prize” analysis and cannibalization modeling.

• Partners with the Commercialization Manager to lead cross-functional execution of product launches from concept approval through first shipment and post-launch performance evaluation.

• Collaborates with Innovation and R&D to develop and execute a three-year innovation pipeline.

• Optimizes the product portfolio to maximize growth, profitability, and manufacturing efficiency.

Qualifications & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business, or related degree required; MBA preferred

• Minimum of 2 years of progressive experience required, serving as the business owner of products and having responsibility for:

• Building short-term and long-term business plans

• Owning the P&L by understanding business levers to influence financial outcomes

• Analyzing and reporting of data to understand trends and business opportunities

• Identifying competitive strengths and weaknesses to define growth opportunities

• Product development and launches from concept through commercialization

• Consumer research and POS data (IRI and/or Nielsen preferred)

• Food CPG experience preferred

• Strong financial acumen with understanding of P&L drivers and pricing

• Demonstrated success in leading cross functional teams and collaborating with others

• Ability to influence cross-functional partners without direct authority

• Self-starter with the ability to work independently

• Demonstrated curiosity, learning agility, and bias for action

• Exceptional analytical capabilities

• Strategic thinker with growth mindset

• Thrives in an entrepreneurial, fast-paced work environment with a high level of ambiguity and change

• Ability to prioritize work and effectively manage multiple priorities with a sense of urgency

• Excellent presentation and storytelling skills with the ability to translate complex data into compelling business recommendations

Travel Requirements:

• Occasional travel to business meetings and/or company locations may be required

Physical Demands and Work Environment:

• Repetitive use of hands/fingers and ability to operate standard office equipment

• Sedentary position with occasional light to moderate lifting when working in an office environment

• Ability to sit for extended periods of time while working at desk, with occasional standing or walking

• Requires close visual acuity to work on a computer and/or viewing data

• Work performed in an office environment where temperatures variations and noise levels are minimal

EEO Statement:

Winland Foods seeks to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people from a diverse candidate pool, and as a global company we believe our success is enhanced by fostering equity and inclusion in the workplace. Therefore, Winland Foods is committed to providing an environment of mutual respect where equal employment opportunities are available to all applicants and teammates without regard to race, color, religion, sex, pregnancy, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military or veteran status, and any other characteristic protected by applicable law.

About Us

At Winland Foods, we’re passionate about creating exceptional food experiences that bring people together. We are a dynamic and growing company specializing in meal preparation products—from pasta and sauces to plant-based proteins and more. Our portfolio includes beloved consumer brands and custom private-label solutions for retail and foodservice channels.

Why Work With Us?

We believe in being exceptional from the land to the table . That means:

• Commitment to Quality: We consistently exceed industry standards across our value chain.

• Sustainability & Responsibility: We prioritize environmental stewardship and make a positive impact on the world around us.

• People First: The safety, well-being, and growth of our employees are at the heart of everything we do.

Our Culture

We’re a team of food enthusiasts who value collaboration, innovation, and integrity. At Winland Foods, you’ll find an environment where your ideas matter, your contributions are recognized, and your career can thrive.

Explore Opportunities

At Winland Foods, you’ll find opportunities across operations, supply chain, marketing, and product development—roles where your work truly makes an impact. By joining our team, you become part of a forward-thinking organization that values passion, collaboration, and shared success with our customers. Together, we’re shaping the future of food.

To All Recruitment Agencies

Winland Foods does not accept unsolicited agency resumes/CVs. Please do not forward resumes/CVs to Winland Foods employees, or any company location(s). Winland Foods is not responsible for any fees related to unsolicited resumes/CVs.