Manitoba Potato Starch (MSP) is a Canadian expert in manufacturing starch-based potato product, working with human health, animal health and food ingredient industry leaders. With over 20 years of market expertise, our team is known for making remarkable products that exceed customers’ expectations for product safety, quality and delivery.

We are excited to present this new opportunity to join MSP as a Vice President to oversee two of our main Business Units: Animal Feed (AF) and Food & Industrial (FI) Grade Potato Starch

The Vice-President is a pivotal leadership role responsible for driving the global growth of the MSP[RS] and MSP businesses. This includes its application as a value-added ingredient in the AF & FI markets.

Reporting to the CEO, the Vice-President will lead the strategic direction and business plans execution, and overall business performance, ensuring the brand's market expansion in both business units. The VP will be expected to lead and direct the growth of the business and our brand in the Animal Feed segment for production animals, in particular the swine sub-segment, as well as appropriately direct the business in the Food Industry. The successful candidate will have strong Leadership skills as well as senior business skills to be considered seriously to succeed the existing CEO and President in the medium term.

What are the key responsibilities of the Vice-President?

Strategic Leadership:
Develop, articulate and execute the annual Business Plan for both business units, including key commercial strategies, budgeting, marketing & travel expenses and headcount requirements to achieve revenue targets.
Identified, evaluates and negotiates new sales and marketing growth opportunities across multiple areas.
Evaluate and develop new marketing initiatives and analyze business opportunities in both new and existing markets.

Operational Excellence: Provide quarterly production forecasts and adjust volume projections to ensure MSP remains a reliable supplier to its partners.
Translate market intelligence, competitive analysis, and customer feedback into actionable insights for product development, operations, and strategy.
Act as the executive sponsor for strategic customer accounts, building and maintaining senior-level relationships to support retention and growth.
Marketing and Brand Management: Oversee all marketing initiatives and brand promotion efforts to enhance market presence and brand equity.
Runs sales and marketing initiatives, includingrepresenting the organization to promote and sell its products and services to individuals or other organizations, and supporting business growth by disseminating information that promotes a favorable view of the organization and its products and services.
Represent the organization at key industry events, conferences, and customer meetings to enhance brand reputation and identify business opportunities.
Team Leadership: Lead and mentor the AF and FI commercial teams, fostering a collaborative and high-performance culture.
Lead, mentor, and inspire high-performing commercial teams, fostering accountability, collaboration, and innovation
Build organizational capabilities through talent acquisition, succession planning, and targeted professional development initiatives
Promote a culture of customer centricity, agility, and continuous improvement across all commercial functions.
Collaborative Innovation: Work closely with the Chief Scientific Officer (CSO) to support the AF team and identify strategic research opportunities.
Partner closely with Product, Operations, Finance, and Supply Chain teams to ensure commercial strategies are executable and aligned with operational capabilities.
Facilitate transparent communication of commercial priorities, performance metrics, and strategic initiatives across the organization.
Distributor Management: Direct and support Quadra Ingredients in North America for FI and manage distributors in US and Canada for AF to drive branded ingredient sales.
Market Analysis: Conduct market research and competitor analysis to inform decision-making. Monitor market trends, competitor activities and customer needs to identify opportunities and challenges.
Leadership Team Participation: Actively participate in the MSP Leadership Team, contributing to the development of strategies for resistant potato starch in various markets, and overall health of the business.
Provide regular, data-driven updates to the CEO and Board of Directors on commercial performance, strategic initiatives, risks, and market developments.
Qualifications:
Bachelor’s degree in a science-related field, Business Administration, or a related field. A completed MBA or Master’s degree would be a strong asset.
A minimum of 15+ years of industry experience including commercial leadership with Animal Feed, strong preference for swine nutrition background in North America.
Proven senior commercial experience in developing and executing growth strategies.
Strategic thinking: Ability to identify and capitalize on growth opportunities, develop market strategies, and manage competitive landscapes.
Understanding of financial modeling, budgeting, and resource allocation to support growth initiatives.
Experience in managing P&L, budgeting, and delivering on financial targets.
Experience in developing and executing business strategies with a strong understanding of budgeting, market trends and competitive analysis, strategic planning and execution.
Demonstrated leadership skills with experience managing cross-functional teams; proven experience in coaching and building high-performing teams
Ability to effectively communicate scientific and business information to both technical and non-technical audiences.
Excellent communication, negotiation, and relationship-building abilities.
Analytical mindset with strong problem-solving and strategic planning skills.
Strong computer skills with familiarity with digital tools such as CRM, ERP Systems, KPI and performance reporting tools.
Willingness to travel as required for trade shows, networking events, supplier & customer meetings, and team engagement. You must hold a valid passport and driver’s license.
A strong network of contacts within the Animal Feed market.
Adaptability and Flexibility: Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment and adapt to changing market conditions.

Core Competencies & Personal Attributes

Visionary leadership with the ability to translate strategy into actionable plans and measurable results.
Commercial acumen and financial literacy to evaluate opportunities and manage risk effectively.
Superior interpersonal, negotiation, and communication skills to influence the executive and customer levels.
Entrepreneurial mindset balanced with disciplined execution and operational rigor.
Agility and resilience in navigating dynamic and competitive markets.

Reporting Structure:

Reports to Chief Executive Offer (CEO)
Direct Reports: AF Business Development Specialist, FI Director Sales & Marketing

Manitoba Starch Products

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