Senior Director of Customer Growth & Strategic Business Development – Foodservice Channel Expansion

About arenaflex

arenaflex is a dynamic, growth-focused organization at the forefront of the foodservice and consumer products industry. We partner with the world's most recognized brands and operators to unlock new revenue streams, deepen customer engagement, and deliver innovative beverage and food solutions at scale. Our culture is built on curiosity, empowerment, inclusion, and agility — values that have fueled decades of market leadership and continue to drive our evolution in an ever-changing consumer landscape. We believe that great ideas emerge when talented individuals are given the freedom to explore, the resources to execute, and the support of world-class leaders. At arenaflex, your work directly shapes how iconic brands connect with millions of consumers every day.

We are building a new Business Development Center of Excellence (COE) designed to accelerate growth across our foodservice platform. This is a rare opportunity to join a newly formed, strategically important team where your contributions will be visible, your impact measurable, and your career trajectory accelerated. If you thrive in ambiguous environments, enjoy creating structure where none exists, and relish the challenge of transforming "white space" into tangible business results, arenaflex is the place for you.

Position Overview

We are seeking a visionary and execution-focused Senior Director of Customer Growth & Strategic Business Development to lead the establishment and expansion of our Business Development Center of Excellence. Reporting to senior leadership, this remote role (with a preference for Atlanta-based candidates or those in Eastern or Central U.S. time zones) will serve as the strategic bridge between arenaflex and our highest-value potential and existing customers. You will be the voice of the customer inside our organization, translating consumer and operator insights into winning commercial strategies, compelling stewardship materials, and category-defining partnership proposals.

This is not a maintenance role — it is a builder role. You will lead cross-functional initiatives, cultivate C-suite relationships, and architect the commercial tools and content that empower customer teams across the organization to win new business and retain existing partnerships. Approximately 20–30% travel is expected.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership & Growth Acceleration

• Lead all growth and customer marketing activities for the newly established Business Development Center of Excellence, setting the strategic direction and operational cadence for the team.
• Build and maintain strategic, trust-based relationships with C-suite marketing executives at top-tier customers within the strategic pipeline, becoming a trusted advisor and long-term partner.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities and category growth initiatives that align with arenaflex's commercial objectives and customer needs.
• Serve as a senior team lead and liaison with internal stakeholders — including Insights, Digital, Brand, Assets, and Commercial teams — to secure alignment and resources for Business Development initiatives.

Customer Stewardship & Commercial Tool Development

• Support the strategic development of customer stewardship materials, including pitch decks, evolution narratives, value bundle frameworks, and consultant playbooks that elevate the perception of arenaflex and our brand portfolio.
• Contribute to and refine key commercial tools such as the Why arenaflex Evolution narrative, Value Bundle framework, and Code 5/10 Playbook, ensuring these resources are differentiated, data-driven, and customer-centric.
• Translate complex customer insights into actionable commercial recommendations that empower field sales and customer teams to win in competitive situations.

Insights, Innovation & Trend Identification

• Provide customer insights to brand, integrated marketing, innovation, and strategy teams, serving as the connective tissue between market signals and internal strategy.
• Identify when additional customer marketing research is required and partner with Insights teams to commission studies that position arenaflex to win new business or retain at-risk accounts.
• Monitor key trends and gaps within the value bundle (such as food and beverage pairings, occasion-based consumption, and emerging consumer behaviors), and connect with internal subject matter experts to develop solutions and commercialize best practices.

Executive Communication & Internal Alignment

• Create and execute a comprehensive communication plan for internal senior leaders that stewards marketing strategies across the organization, using a mix of newsletters, executive presentations, face-to-face meetings, and video conferencing.
• Build impactful relationships through industry engagements, representing arenaflex at trade events, conferences, and customer forums to strengthen our market presence and thought leadership.
• Champion a customer-first mindset across the organization, ensuring that customer perspectives inform product development, marketing campaigns, and commercial strategies.

Qualifications & Experience

Education

• Bachelor's Degree required; equivalent work experience will also be considered.

Related Work Experience

• 10+ years of progressive experience in marketing, agency, or consumer packaged goods (CPG) roles, with a strong preference for backgrounds involving foodservice customers.
• Demonstrated success in customer marketing or shopper marketing, ideally within a foodservice operating platform (FSOP) environment.
• Proven track record of developing unique, compelling beverage or food partnership strategies with top-tier customers.

Functional Skills & Competencies

• Customer-Centric Thinking: Deep understanding of customer marketing or shopper marketing principles, with the ability to translate consumer insights into commercial strategies.
• Strategic Communication & Influence: Exceptional written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence C-suite executives and align cross-functional stakeholders.
• Complex Project Leadership: Comfortable leading long-term, multifaceted projects that require patience, persistence, and the ability to navigate organizational complexity.
• Problem-Solving & Solution Orientation: Strong analytical and creative problem-solving skills, with a demonstrated ability to find opportunities and create value, even in ambiguous situations.
• Thriving in Ambiguity: Genuinely comfortable with "white space" — able to make progress when the path forward is not clearly defined.
• Planning & Organizing: Superior organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple workstreams, prioritize effectively, and deliver results on time.
• Change Leadership: Capable of leading teams and initiatives through periods of transformation, building buy-in and momentum along the way.
• Agility & Continuous Learning: A fast and agile learner who embraces growth, adapts quickly to new information, and consistently seeks to improve both business outcomes and personal capabilities.

Technical & Marketing Skills

• Brand Positioning & Architecture
• Channel Management & Shopper Marketing
• Competitor Analysis & SWOT Analysis
• Creative Brief Development & Evaluation
• Digital Media Strategy & Social Media Strategies
• Group Problem Solving & Collaborative Ideation
• Local Advertising & Media Planning
• Marketing Activation & Campaign Execution
• Sponsorships & Experiential Marketing

What arenaflex Can Do for You

Joining arenaflex means becoming part of an organization that invests in your growth, rewards your impact, and surrounds you with some of the brightest minds in the industry. Here is what you can expect:

• Challenging, High-Impact Work: Our unique global system offers constant opportunities to develop world-class skills and build a truly international career. The work you do will shape how millions of consumers experience our brands every day.
• Iconic Brand Portfolio: Work on some of the most recognized brands in the world and play a meaningful role in writing the next chapter of their growth story.
• Exposure to World-Class Leaders: Gain direct access to global marketing leaders who will expand your professional network, mentor your development, and expose you to emerging digital platforms, marketing innovations, and consumer insights.
• Continuous Learning Culture: We act with a growth mindset and believe in continuous learning as the path to improving our business and ourselves. You will be supported in pursuing development opportunities that align with your career aspirations.
• Inclusive, Empowering Environment: We are committed to fostering an inclusive culture grounded in our company purpose. Every voice is valued, every perspective respected, and every team member empowered to contribute at their highest level.

Compensation & Benefits

arenaflex offers a competitive compensation package designed to attract and retain top talent. The base pay range for this position is $175,000 – $201,000 annually, depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. In addition, this role is eligible for an annual incentive with a reference value of 30%, based on market-competitive data and individual performance against targets.

We also offer a comprehensive benefits package that typically includes medical, dental, and vision coverage; financial wellness programs; retirement savings plans; paid time off; and additional perks designed to support your total well-being. Specific offerings may vary by location and employment classification.

Our Purpose & Growth Culture

At arenaflex, we are taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture grounded in our company purpose: to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what is possible, and believe in continuous learning as the engine that improves our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors — curious, empowered, inclusive, and agile — and we value how we work as much as what we achieve. Our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive, and we invite you to bring these behaviors to life in your next role at arenaflex.

Equal Opportunity Employer

arenaflex is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, or basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class. When we collect your personal information as part of a job application or offer of employment, we do so in accordance with industry standards, best practices, and applicable privacy laws.

Ready to Build What's Next?

If you are a strategic, customer-obsessed leader with the vision, experience, and drive to build a world-class Business Development Center of Excellence, we want to hear from you. This is your opportunity to define a new function, shape the future of customer growth at arenaflex, and leave a lasting mark on one of the most exciting portfolios in the industry. Apply today and bring your ambition, your insights, and your leadership to a team that is ready to grow with you.