Business Development Manager – Albertsons Safeway

About the Role:

The Business Development Manager for Albertsons Safeway (ABSCO) is responsible for driving profitable growth for Kinder’s across Albertsons Companies’ national organization, divisions, and regional banners. This role manages day-to-day customer relationships, develops customer growth plans, and delivers best-in-class execution across brick-and-mortar, eCommerce, loyalty, and retail media platforms. 

This individual combines customer knowledge, data-driven decision-making, financial acumen, and strong execution to accelerate Kinder’s growth across the Albertsons enterprise. Success requires the ability to translate national strategies into effective division- and banner-level plans while navigating a complex, decentralized customer organization. 

Location & Travel 

This position is remote within the western US, with a strong preference for candidates located in convenient proximity to Albertsons’ corporate and division teams and a major metropolitan airport. The role requires periodic travel to Albertsons offices and divisions, customer meetings, industry events, and Kinder’s home office in Walnut Creek, California. Total travel is expected to be approximately 25%. 

Key Responsibilities Include: 

Customer Strategy & Relationship Management 

• Build and maintain strong relationships with Albertsons’ national merchandising teams, Regional and division leaders, category managers, and other key stakeholders. 
• Develop and execute annual customer plans and Joint Business Plans aligned with Kinder’s priorities and Albertsons’ strategic objectives. 
• Translate national strategies into division- and banner-level plans that reflect regional shopper needs, competitive dynamics, and merchandising priorities. 
• Position Kinder’s as a trusted growth partner by bringing forward actionable category, shopper, and consumer insights. 
• Maintain a strong understanding of Albertsons’ organizational structure, division priorities, planning processes, systems, and go-to-market strategies. 

Assortment, Innovation & Omnichannel Growth 

• Identify opportunities to expand distribution, improve assortment, increase household penetration, and accelerate profitable sales growth. 
• Lead item-authorization and assortment-optimization processes, including new-item presentations, innovation selling, and division-level follow-up. 
• Navigate national, regional, and division-level planning processes to secure authorizations and translate approvals into retail execution. 
• Develop omnichannel growth plans across Albertsons’ websites, apps, pickup and delivery platforms, for U, FreshPass, and other shopper engagement programs. 

Sales Planning, Forecasting & Trade Management 

• Lead base and promotional forecasting, event planning, and forecast alignment in partnership with Kinder’s Sales Planning and Supply Chain teams. 
• Manage trade investment across the ABSCO business, ensuring promotional funding, shopper marketing, digital media, and customer-specific investments support strategic and financial objectives. 
• Support, implement, and evaluate annual planning and promotional negotiations. 
• Partner with Albertsons’ replenishment and supply chain teams to support service levels and proactively address inventory or execution risks. 

Customer Selling & Retail Execution 

• Prepare and deliver line reviews, category reviews, customer business reviews, and other customer-facing presentations using syndicated data, Albertsons shopper and loyalty insights, category trends, and Kinder’s consumer research. 
• Drive execution of planograms, displays, secondary placements, seasonal programs, and cross-merchandising opportunities. 
• Execute off-shelf programs, including shippers, pallets, display vehicles, and seasonal merchandising initiatives aligned with national and division calendars. 
• Establish clear priorities and performance expectations for broker partners supporting Albertsons divisions and monitor execution against agreed-upon plans. 

Performance Management & Cross-Functional Leadership 

• Track and communicate customer, category, and financial performance, proactively identifying risks, opportunities, and corrective actions. 
• Collaborate with Kinder’s Sales Strategy, Category Management, Marketing, Shopper Marketing, Sales Planning, Supply Chain, Finance, Trade Finance, and Operations teams to deliver customer priorities. 
• Coordinate cross-functional workstreams, clarify responsibilities, and maintain accountability against key milestones, monitoring objectives and delivering measurable results. 

Skills & Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree required. 
• 5–7 years of CPG sales, customer management, or related commercial experience. 
• Direct experience supporting Albertsons / Safeway mandatory. 
• Understanding of Albertsons’ national and division-level operating model; including proficiency with Albertsons Partner Portal, item authorization, promotional planning, merchandising, and retail execution. 
• Familiarity with Albertsons’ digital commerce, loyalty, personalization, and retail media capabilities, including for U and Albertsons Media Collective. 
• Strong analytical and financial acumen, including experience with trade investment, forecasting, promotional planning, and performance analysis. 
• Ability to navigate a matrixed customer organization and influence national, division, and banner-level stakeholders with strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and storytelling skills 
• Experience working with and managing broker partners across multiple geographies. 
• Demonstrated ability to lead cross-functional work and drive results without formal authority. 
• High ownership mindset with a bias for action, adaptability, and measurable results. 
• Willingness to travel approximately 25%. 

Pay Transparency:

The expected starting salary range for this role is $135,000- $155,000 per year. The salary range posted for this role reflects the good-faith base pay range Kinder’s reasonably expects to offer at the time of posting and may vary based on the location of the role. Individual compensation within the posted range will be determined based on factors such as relevant education, experience, qualifications, skills, and business needs.