Vice President Culinary Innovation Jobs in Springfield, MA

W.F. Young, Inc., a global leader in animal health and the company behind Absorbine® and The Missing Link® brands, is hiring critical roles to support rapid growth and drive innovation as we enter our 134th year.

We are committed to enhancing the lives of companion animals and livestock through high-quality, innovative health and wellness products. Guided by our founders’ pioneering spirit, we strive to create unique solutions that meet unmet market needs, grow our product line organically, and uphold our mission to improve animal health worldwide. Our C.A.R.E Values foster a culture of creativity, continuous improvement, and speed to market, empowering breakthrough innovations.

The W.F. Young team is seeking a Vice President of Sales & Business Development to lead sales performance, strengthen customer relationships, and drive long-term growth through new channels, partnerships, and market opportunities. This customer-facing leader will develop a high-performing sales team while building strategic trade relationships that support W.F. Young’s commitment to quality, service excellence, and continued growth in the animal health and wellness marketplace.

• Partner with the Chief Revenue Officer to develop, recommend, and execute sales plans and go-to-market strategies that support current business objectives, new product launches, and long-range growth plans.
• Drive accountability and sales process discipline through clear expectations, defined performance measures, and consistent sales management practices.
• Develop and guide the usage of sales facing tech stack tools to optimize sales team benefit while providing access to activity and performance.
• Support improved performance across existing sales teams through coaching, influence, and collaboration with team leaders, including in areas not under direct reporting responsibility.
• Identify, evaluate, and develop new sales channels and customer opportunities to expand the company’s market presence and support long-term growth.
• Develop scalable market entry models, including assessment of commercial viability, investment requirements, and go-to-market considerations.
• Strengthen and build relationships with key customers, distributors, brokers, and external partners.
• Analyze sales methods, organizational structure, costs, and results, and recommend changes to improve effectiveness and efficiency.
• Leverage channel specific strategies to create and implement a cohesive annual sales plan focusing on symbiotic cross channel relationships to maximize growth.
• Develop a strong partnership with the Director of eCommerce and the eCommerce team to ensure all sales channels work in unison to execute the annual sales plan objectives.
• Establish short- and long-range sales goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures consistent with company strategy.
• Work with Channel Leads and Sales Managers to develop annual strategic customer growth plans, specific goals, co-op plans, and key performance indicators.
• Coordinate with Marketing, Operations, Finance, and other functional areas to support execution of commercial priorities.
• Represent the company in meetings with customers, partners, and external stakeholders as appropriate.

• Provide leadership across the sales organization by aligning structure, roles, and priorities to support business objectives and future growth.
• Promote performance improvement across existing sales teams through clear expectations, accountability, coaching, and collaboration with team leaders.
• Partner with Human Resources on organizational design, talent planning, succession planning, and recruitment to support evolving business needs.
• Develop performance management approaches, training priorities, and coaching plans to strengthen sales discipline and commercial effectiveness.
• Support the development of sales leaders and team members to build organizational capability and bench strength.

• Establish and maintain accurate monthly and longer-range sales forecasting processes to provide timely visibility to Operations and the Executive Team.
• Lead development of annual sales budgets, growth plans, and commercial assumptions across existing channels and emerging opportunities.
• Evaluate the financial potential of new channels, partnerships, and market entry models, including revenue opportunity, margin implications, and required investment.
• Oversee sales promotional spend, including co-op spending, require and review promotional ROI analytics.
• Manage selling expenses within approved budget parameters while balancing investment in strategic growth initiatives.
• Partner with Finance and executive leadership to assess profitability, performance, and return on investment for key commercial initiatives.

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field is required; an MBA or other advanced business education is preferred.
• Demonstrated executive-level leadership experience with responsibility for commercial performance across multiple sales teams, channels, or business units.
• Demonstrated ability to establish structure, forecasting discipline, accountability, and sales process rigor within a growing organization.
• Experience identifying, developing, and scaling new business opportunities, channels, partnerships, or market entry strategies.
• Strong strategic planning and execution skills, with the ability to translate growth opportunities into actionable commercial plans.
• Ability to lead through influence in matrixed or shared-responsibility environments.
• Strong financial and business acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, margin management, and evaluation of commercial investments.
• Effective communication, relationship management, and stakeholder engagement skills.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, solve problems effectively, and make sound business decisions.
• Experience leading organizational change, building capability, and supporting sustainable growth.
• Commercial leadership experience within consumer products, animal health, pet, equine, veterinary, grocery, or related channels is preferred.

• Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Fitness & Weight-loss Reimbursement Programs
• Educational Assistance Program & Professional Development Assistance Program
• Supplemental Bonus Program
• Company Paid STD/LTD
• Company Paid Life Insurance
• 401(k) – with company match
• Pet Insurance
• Paid Time Off Programs