Associate Director, Sales - Nutrition

Within our Corporate Nutrition Sales team located in Denver - Leprino is seeking an Associate Director, Nutrition Ingredient Sales to lead strategic customer growth across our nutrition ingredients portfolio. This role partners with B2B customers across nutrition manufacturing, co-manufacturing, ingredient distribution, and trading channels, with a strong focus on dairy protein applications and ingredient functionality. You'll lead complex commercial relationships that span pricing, applications, innovation collaboration, and long-term growth strategy while helping expand Leprino's presence across the nutrition ingredients market.

At Leprino, starting compensation for this role typically ranges between $162,000 and $189,000. This position has an annual target bonus of 15%.

What You'll Do:

• Lead strategic customer relationships across multiple nutrition industry channels including manufacturing, co-manufacturing, ingredient distribution, and trading.
• Manage commercial performance across assigned accounts with accountability for sales volume, margin growth, pricing strategy, and long-term business expansion.
• Build strong partnerships with existing customers while identifying, pursuing, and closing new business opportunities across targeted nutrition markets.
• Coordinate closely with product management, quality assurance, customer service, supply chain, finance, and innovation teams to support customer growth and business performance.
• Lead commercial discussions tied to dairy protein functionality, formulation support, ingredient applications, and manufacturing performance across sports nutrition, functional food, and nutrition ingredient customers.
• Guide contract negotiations, pricing activities, inventory planning, freight coordination, and broader account management responsibilities for assigned customers.
• Support customer education and product adoption through presentations, application discussions, technical reviews, and collaborative planning sessions.
• Investigate and help resolve customer concerns related to product quality, logistics, service, or ingredient performance alongside internal technical and operational teams.
• Monitor inventory positions and collaborate with internal partners to improve inventory utilization and reduce aging product exposure.
• Lead customer reviews, commercial planning discussions, and internal business updates tied to assigned accounts and nutrition market segments.
• Partner cross-functionally with teams across product development, marketing, quality assurance, FP&A, and customer service to support business objectives and strengthen customer relationships.
• Travel regularly to customer sites, industry events, and manufacturing facilities to support commercial growth initiatives and strengthen strategic partnerships!

You Have At Least (Required Qualifications):

• A Bachelor's degree in Business, Food Science, Dairy Science, Nutrition, Marketing, or another related field, or equivalent commercial experience within the food ingredients industry.
• 12 years of national account management, strategic sales, or business development experience within food ingredients, dairy ingredients, nutrition ingredients, or related B2B manufacturing markets.
• Experience managing complex customer relationships involving pricing strategy, contracts, inventory planning, commercial negotiations, and long-term business development.
• Experience supporting ingredient-focused sales conversations tied to functionality, applications, processing, or manufacturing performance.
• Experience prospecting, developing, and closing new business opportunities within a business-to-business commercial environment.
• A willingness and ability to travel up to approximately 30% of the time, including occasional international travel.

We Hope You Also Have (Preferred Qualifications):

• Experience leading indirect teams, cross-functional commercial initiatives, or strategic customer programs within a food ingredients or nutrition business.
• Experience working with high-value dairy proteins, functional nutrition ingredients, or ingredient application systems.
• Experience supporting customers across manufacturing, co-manufacturing, ingredient distribution, or food ingredient trading environments.
• Experience presenting commercial or technical information to executive leadership teams, R&D groups, or strategic customer stakeholders.
• A strong understanding of ingredient pricing structures, contract management, and margin optimization within the food ingredients industry.

At Leprino, we believe in equal employment opportunity and make employment decisions based on each individual's unique talents, experience, skills, and knowledge; we do not discriminate on the basis of any personal characteristics. We know we are better together and are committed to creating an inclusive and supportive culture in which all employees can thrive.

Offering You In Return:

A chance to be part of a global team of individuals passionate about producing and delivering high-quality products that help feed and nourish families around the world. Leprino could not be where it is today without our incredible employees. That is why we share in our success together by rewarding you for your hard work. Hiring great people who are in it for the long run is our goal. Through competitive salaries and bonuses, life, medical/dental/vision coverage, voluntary benefits, employee assistance programs, wellness incentives, tuition assistance, vacation, ten paid holidays, sick time, paid parental leave, annual merit increases, as well as the LFC Profit-Sharing & 401(k) plan. Your impact will be noticed and rewarded, as you seek to further our company, our customers, and one another.

Our Story:

Leprino's history dates back to the 1950s, when Jim Leprino first started making small batches of mozzarella for local markets and eateries in the Little Italy neighborhood of Denver. We've grown a bit since then. Today, Leprino is the world's largest manufacturer of mozzarella and lactose, and a leading producer of whey protein. Still owned by the Leprino family, our sights are set to be the "World's Best Dairy Food and Ingredient Company." From a small corner grocery store we have grown to over 5,500 employees throughout the globe. Will you join us on our journey?