Director, Customer Experience & Commercial Strategies

Director, Customer Experience & Commercial Strategies Naperville, IL Job Details Full-time $143,330 - $210,177 a year 1 day ago Benefits Health savings account Paid holidays Disability insurance Health insurance Dental insurance 401(k) Flexible spending account Paid time off Vision insurance Benefits from day one Employee stock ownership plan Life insurance Paid sick time Qualifications Jira Performance dashboard reports Strategic management Client onboarding Operations management Order management system Vendor management 5 years Engineering Bachelor's degree in business Warehouse management system Risk mitigation strategy implementation ROI Master's degree Change management Analysis skills Bachelor's degree in engineering Bachelor's degree Budget planning Supply chain management Smartsheet Vendor relationship management Computer skills Senior level Microsoft Project Cross-functional collaboration Business Account management Project leadership Cross-functional team management Leadership Financial acumen Supply Chain Management Communication skills Negotiation Cross-functional communication Supply chain collaboration Order fulfillment Supply chain planning Stakeholder management Full Job Description Why Work for KeHE?:

Full-time Pay Range:

$143,330.00/Yr. - $210,177.00/Yr.

Shift Days:

,

Shift Time:

Benefits on Day 1 Health/Rx Dental Vision Flexible and health spending accounts (FSA/HSA) Supplemental life insurance 401(k) Paid time off Paid sick time Short term & long term disability coverage (STD/LTD) Employee stock ownership (ESOP) Holiday pay for company designated holidays

Overview:

At KeHE, we're obsessed with creating solutions, unboxing potential, and serving others - and it all starts with you. As an employee-owned distributor of natural and organic, specialty, and fresh products, we're committed to making a positive impact and scaling our success together. With a culture that fosters development and opportunity, you'll be embarking on a career that's moving forward. When you join KeHE, you're becoming part of a team that is a force for good.

Primary Responsibilities:

The Director of Customer Experience & Commercial Strategies is a high-impact, cross-functional leader responsible for aligning Commercial strategy with Operations, Supply Chain, IT, and Customer Experience. This role oversees a portfolio of commercial and operational programs that improve sales execution, fulfillment performance, customer onboarding, and enterprise planning. This leader drives initiatives that connect customer needs with operational capabilities, ensuring programs are executable, scalable, and grounded in strong change management. The Director partners closely with leaders across the organization to enhance commercial performance, optimize network capabilities, and elevate customer experience across the food distribution network. As with all positions at KeHE Distributors, we expect that all actions will be consistent with KeHE's Mission, Vision, and Values.

Essential Functions:

DUTIES, TASKS AND RESPONSIBILITIES

Translate Commercial priorities into executable programs for Sales, customers, and internal partners. Lead initiatives that improve sales execution, account management, customer onboarding, retail execution, and customer-specific operational requirements. Serve as the Commercial owner for cross-functional strategic initiatives. Ensure alignment between customer requirements, sales programs, and distribution center capabilities. Act as a key liaison between Sales, Operations, Supply Chain, and IT to ensure commercial strategies are operationally feasible and aligned with network strategy. Support enterprise-wide initiatives including new DC builds, retrofits, network redesign, SKU placement optimization, and service model changes. Lead the development, execution, and governance of major commercial and operational programs. Oversee a team of project managers, senior managers, and SMEs supporting cross-functional workstreams. Direct major initiatives such as OMS optimization, customer onboarding workflows, network optimization, and enterprise planning enhancements. Ensure all initiatives include clear milestones, risk mitigation, timelines, and measurable business outcomes. Apply the organization's change management playbook across all programs. Ensure project plans include communication strategies, training and readiness plans, deployment sequencing, hyper-care/stabilization support, and PDCA-based results tracking. Drive adoption of new tools, processes, and behaviors across Sales, Operations, and Supply Chain. Develop KPIs, dashboards, and reporting to measure commercial performance, service levels, and program outcomes. Provide executive-level updates, business cases, and performance insights. Identify and resolve structural gaps impacting commercial or operational readiness. Manage external vendors, consultants, and technology partners. Other duties and projects as assigned.

SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE AND ABILITIES

Deep understanding of food distribution, commercial operations, fulfillment, and supply chain planning. Proficiency with OMS, S&OP, EP&F, network optimization, and enterprise planning systems. Proven success leading complex cross-functional programs across multiple distribution centers. Strong financial acumen, including budgeting, capital planning, and ROI analysis. Proficiency with project management tools (MS Project, Smartsheet, Jira, etc.). Excellent analytical, problem-solving, communication, and executive presentation skills. Strong stakeholder management and negotiation capabilities. Ability to lead teams of project managers, SMEs, and cross-functional contributors. Comfortable navigating ambiguity in a fast-paced environment. Periodic multi-state travel required.

Minimum Requirements, Qualifications, Additional Skills, Aptitude:

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE

Bachelor's degree in business, Engineering, Supply Chain, or related field; Master's degree preferred. PMP certification is strongly preferred. Minimum of 10+ years in commercial operations, supply chain, or program management roles, preferably in food distribution or CPG. Minimum of 5 years of managerial experience and leading cross-functional programs, including commercial systems, supply chain processes, or capital/operational projects. Experience working with OMS, WMS, TMS, planning systems, and automation technologies is a strong plus. Experience with OMS, S&OP, EP&F, network optimization, and enterprise planning systems.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Must sit, stand, or walk for extended periods of time. May spend long periods of time at desk or computer terminal. May use calculators, keyboards, telephone, and other office equipment during workday. Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in completion of job duties. Work is fast paced; occasional evening and weekend work may be required.

Requisition ID:

2026-28912

Equal Employer Opportunity Statement:

KeHE Distributors provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits all forms of discrimination and harassment on the basis of race, color, religion or faith, sex, gender, age, ancestry, national origin, mental or physical disability or medical condition, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, marital status, military or veteran status, genetic information, or any other category protected under federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training as well as the administration of all Human Resources and Talent Acquisition processes.