Sales Director

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Date: 13 Oct 2025

Location: Evanston, IL, US, 60201

Company: Ornua Co-operative Limited

Job Title: Director of Sales 

Location: Remote, with some time in Evanston, Chicago IL  

Department: Sales 

Reports To:  VP of Sales 

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Company Background: 

The most important element of our company background is our purpose.  We are a dairy cooperative of cooperatives.  That means that we exist to create value for our cooperatives and the 14,000 Irish family dairy farms they support.  This is central to how we operate, critically important for our employees and what fuels our ambition to win. 

With that, Ornua is Ireland’s largest exporter of Irish dairy, exporting to over 110 countries with annualised sales of €3.4 billion. 

We are multi-national, operating from 19 subsidiaries worldwide and employing over 2,300 staff. Ornua has teams working in-market across all four corners of the globe from Algiers to Beijing, to Lagos and LA. 

The business is structured across two core divisions: Ornua Foods and Ornua Ingredients. 

Ornua Foods owns the iconic Kerrygold brand, as well as the Pilgrims Choice, Dubliner, Forto and BEO Milk Powder brands. 

Ornua Ingredients supplies superior quality dairy ingredients to leading global food manufacturers from some of the world’s most technically advanced manufacturing and prepacking facilities located in Africa, China, Ireland, Germany, Saudi Arabia, Spain, the UK and the US. 

Ornua Foods North America is headquartered in Evanston, IL with additional teams located throughout the US.  The consumer foods product portfolio is spread across butter, cheese and powders. 

The North America division is a powerhouse within Ornua, with an iconic and beloved brand and a highly-engaged, highly inclusive, and high-performing team that, together, have delivered double-digit, profitable growth on the business for the last twenty years.  

 

Position Overview: 

We are seeking a dynamic, results-oriented Director of Sales to lead strategy and execution across key retail channels and customers in the U.S. Market. This is a high-impact leadership role responsible for delivering revenue, profit, and share growth while expanding distribution and building best-in-class customer partnerships.  

As Director of Sales, you will shape and execute our go-to-market strategy, lead, coach and develop high-performing sales team, and collaborate cross-functionally with marketing, supply, category, finance and e-Commerce teams. The ideal candidate brings deep expertise in the CPG industry, a passion for growing brands in retail and a proven track record of leading teams.  

This is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to join a purpose-led organization, winning team, and own transformational projects to continue to drive growth for an iconic brand. 

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Key Responsibilities: 

  • Sales Strategy & Growth:  

  • Develop and execute a comprehensive sales strategy to deliver revenue, volume, distribution, innovation, and share targets across channels and customers 

  • Identify growth opportunities through expansion into new channels and customers, lead team in development of right solutions 

  • Translate brand and business objectives into actionable customer plans 

  • Customer Leadership & Joint Business Planning:  

  • Establish and own senior-level relationships with key retailers, distributors and strategic partners in assigned area 

  • Lead Joint Business Planning with top customers to unlock category growth and establish long-term partnerships 

  • Negotiate annuals trade terms, promotional allowances to maximize profitability 

  • Business Performance & P&L Ownership 

  • Deliver annual sales, profit, trade spend targets with disciplined forecasting 

  • Ensure performance against key KPIs including distribution (TDPs), share of TDPs, velocity, Share, Merchandising 

  • Lead optimization of trade spend for the assigned area in partnership with Finance to achieve positive ROI while remaining on budget.  

  • Team Leadership & Development  

  • Lead, coach, and develop high performing sales team 

  • Foster a performance-driven culture focused on executional excellence, customer-centricity, and cross-functional collaboration 

  • Assess talent capability, create succession plans aligned with growth ambitions 

 

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Qualifications: 

  • 10 years of progressive sales leadership experience in CPG industry 

  • Bachelor’s degree required, MBA preferred 

  • Proven success managing key national and regional customers delivering revenue and share KPIs 

  • Understanding of trade spend, optimization, JBP building, category management 

  • Clear communication, stakeholder management, and project management skills 

  • Excellent analytical, problem solving, decision-making and negotiation skills. 

  • Experience leading and scaling high-performing teams in a fast paced environment 

  • Willingness to travel, both domestically and internationally 

  • Self-motivated and positive attitude with great energy and growth mindset. Passionate about good, high-quality food. 

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What You’ll Gain: 

  • The opportunity to shape the future of a dairy brand in double digit growth in the US 

  • A collaborative, purpose-driven culture that values innovation and insight 

  • Competitive compensation, benefits, and career development opportunities 

  • Dynamic Working policy in place which facilitates flexible hours and hybrid working, with 3 days/week in office, plus a 2 week per year ‘Work From Anywhere’ option. 

 

Total Rewards at Ornua Foods North America will include a competitive salary and annual bonus scheme. The following are a list of other benefits you can avail of: low employee contribution for Medical, Vision and Dental benefits cover; 401k; Paid Time Off; Maternity Leave (20 weeks); Parental Leave; Flexible working; Fitness Reimbursement; Charity Donation; Complimentary Kerrygold products; Free car parking and secure bicycle storage; Free healthy snacks and drinks in the office; Reward & Recognition program; Volunteering opportunities; Long Service Awards. The salary range for this role is $153,000 to $196,000 and the candidate will be offered a salary commensurate with their level of experience.  

 

Ornua Foods North America Inc is an equal opportunity employer, and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, colour, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. Applicants must be authorized to work for any employer in the U.S.     


Nearest Major Market: Chicago