Remote Innovation Strategist Jobs in Wisconsin (NOW HIRING)

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.

The Opportunity:

Lakeside Foods is hiring a National Account Manager – Foodservice to lead national and multi‑unit foodservice accounts across our Specialty Products portfolio. This role drives national account strategy, customer development, pricing and contract management, and long‑term, profitable growth in the U.S. foodservice channel.

Ideal candidates bring experience managing national foodservice chain accounts, GPOs, distributors, and buying groups, along with strong commercial strategy skills, deep foodservice industry knowledge, and the ability to translate insights into customer‑centric innovation.

What You'll Do

• Own and execute strategic account plans that deliver profitable volume, revenue, and margin growth across national foodservice accounts.
• Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities within both existing customers and targeted national chain prospects.
• Proactively secure new national accounts by leveraging your industry network, developing customer-specific entry strategies, and leading the commercial process from initial engagement through commercialization.
• Lead annual business planning, line reviews, contract negotiations, pricing discussions, and volume commitments.
• Develop executive-level relationships across Procurement, Culinary, R&D, Marketing, Operations, and Supply Chain to create long-term partnerships.
• Translate customer objectives into collaborative business plans aligned with Lakeside Foods' growth strategy.
• Position Lakeside Foods as a strategic partner by delivering value through innovation, category expertise, supply reliability, and operational excellence—not simply price.
• Lead customer business reviews, growth planning sessions, innovation presentations, and executive meetings.
• Partner closely with Marketing, R&D, Culinary, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain to ensure successful commercialization and execution of customer initiatives.
• Champion Limited-Time Offers (LTOs), menu innovation, and category expansion opportunities that generate incremental revenue and strengthen customer partnerships.
• Own customer pricing strategy, contract management, profitability, and long-term account health.
• Maintain accurate forecasts, opportunity pipelines, and account plans while delivering predictable sales performance.
• Monitor industry trends, competitive activity, menu innovation, and customer strategies, translating insights into commercial opportunities.
• Represent Lakeside Foods

What You Bring

• Bachelor's degree required; MBA or advanced business degree is a plus.
• Five or more years of progressive national account management experience, preferably within foodservice, food manufacturing, or CPG.
• Demonstrated success winning new national business while growing existing strategic accounts.
• Established relationships with key decision-makers across national chain restaurants, distributors, GPOs, and foodservice operators.
• Strong understanding of the U.S. foodservice landscape, including distributors, re-distributors, GPOs, contract management, and chain account selling.
• Experience leading complex commercial negotiations involving pricing, contracts, and long-term strategic partnerships.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to manage profitability, pricing strategy, and margin performance.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and executive relationship-building skills.
• Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and influence without direct authority.
• Self-motivated, entrepreneurial, and comfortable operating in a fast-paced, growth-oriented environment.
• Willingness and ability to travel approximately 40–60% as business needs require.

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.

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