Ecosystem Development Jobs in Minnesota (NOW HIRING)

The Business Development Manager - Target is responsible for driving profitable growth for Kinder's by building deep partnerships with Target's merchant and cross-functional teams, executing best-in-class Joint Business Plans, and elevating Kinder's presence across Target's omnichannel ecosystem. This role blends strategic leadership, guest-centric thinking, and data-driven insights to accelerate Kinder's growth within Target's food & beverage portfolio.

• Own and strengthen relationships with Target Merchants (Buyers), Associate Buyers, and cross-functional partners (Category Management, Supply Chain, Site Merchandising) to unlock long-term growth.
• Develop and execute Joint Business Plans (JBPs) aligned with Target's enterprise priorities, delivering against sales, profit, share, and guest experience goals.
• Serve as a trusted category partner, aligning Kinder's strategies with Target's category roles, guest insights, and owned brand positioning.
• Identify assortment gaps and lead item innovation, new item setup, and distribution expansion, ensuring alignment with Target's curated assortment strategy.
• Leverage Circana/IRI/Nielsen data, Target POS, and guest insights to identify growth opportunities and inform strategic decisions.
• Build compelling, insight-led selling stories that position Kinder's as a category growth driver within Target's food ecosystem.
• Own sales forecasting by leading promotional and merchandising planning, including trade promotion management (TPM), event planning, forecast alignment, and post-promotion ROI analysis and ensuring alignment with Target's promotional calendar (Circle offers, seasonal events, and key traffic-driving moments).
• Manage trade investment and promotional funding, ensuring efficient allocation and strong ROI against Target-specific programs.
• Drive best-in-class omnichannel execution, including:
  • In-store merchandising and display strategy (endcaps, sidecaps, pallets)
  • Target.com content optimization (digital shelf, PDP quality, search visibility)
  • Seasonal and event-based activations
• Partner with Target teams to execute off-shelf placements, secondary displays, and incremental merchandising programs that drive basket growth.
• Collaborate cross-functionally with Kinder's marketing, supply chain, demand planning, and finance teams to deliver seamless execution and support Target-specific needs (forecasting, service levels, item setup).
• Monitor and analyze weekly POS, inventory, and forecast performance, proactively identifying risks and opportunities.
• Lead business reviews, assortment reviews, and line reviews with clear, concise, and insight-driven storytelling tailored to Target's expectations.
• Champion process improvements that align with Target's systems, timelines, and ways of working (e.g., item setup, promotional planning cadence, supply chain coordination).

• Bachelor's degree required
• 10+ years of CPG sales or customer leadership experience
• Direct experience managing Target with strong merchant relationships highly preferred
• Proven track record of delivering profitable growth within Target or similar mass retailers
• Deep understanding of Target's operating model, including merchandising structure, promotional cadence, and omnichannel ecosystem
• Strong expertise in category management, shopper insights, and trade promotion management
• Demonstrated success building brands within Target's unique, guest-first environment
• Strong analytical and financial acumen; ability to translate data into actionable, guest-focused insights
• Experience in fast-paced, high-growth, and matrixed organizations
• Excellent communication and storytelling skills, with the ability to influence at multiple levels within Target
• Leadership capability with a strong ownership mindset and bias for action
• Adaptability and comfort operating in ambiguity while delivering results
• Willingness to travel (~15%)

This role is remote but must be based in Minneapolis, MN, to support Target's headquarters and team collaboration. Occasional travel to Kinder's home office in Walnut Creek, CA, and other business needs will be required.

The expected starting salary range for this role is $135,000-$155,000 per year. We may ultimately pay more or less than the posted range based on the location of the role. The amount a particular employee will earn within the salary range will be based on factors such as relevant education, qualifications, performance and business needs.