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Wayne-Sanderson Farms

Nation's third-largest poultry producer

Vice President of Marketing

Full-Time
No salary listed
Expert
Bachelor's, Master's, MBA
Oakwood, GA, USA
In Person
Growth & MarketingMarketing Generalist & Management

About the job

Requirements
  • The candidate must have 15+ years of progressive leadership experience within food manufacturing, protein, consumer packaged goods, or related industries.
  • The candidate must have proven success leading marketing, category management, product strategy, commercial excellence, or business leadership functions.
  • The candidate must have experience influencing enterprise strategy and operating effectively within complex, matrixed organizations.
  • The candidate must have a demonstrated track record of driving profitable growth, portfolio optimization, and value-added innovation.
  • The candidate must have a deep understanding of product commercialization, category strategy, branding, and market development.
  • The candidate must have strong financial acumen and experience managing performance through a profit-and-loss lens.
  • The candidate must be able to translate market opportunities into executable business plans and measurable results.
  • The candidate must have experience partnering closely with Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Sales organizations.
  • The candidate must have an enterprise mindset and the ability to balance strategic vision with operational execution.
  • The candidate must have exceptional executive presence and communication skills.
  • The candidate must have strong organizational leadership and talent development capabilities.
  • The candidate must have a collaborative, influential leadership style capable of driving alignment across diverse stakeholder groups.
  • The candidate must be a data-informed and results-oriented decision maker.
  • A bachelor's degree is required.
Responsibilities
  • Lead the development and execution of marketing, category, and portfolio strategies that accelerate profitable growth while enhancing product mix, customer value, and market position.
  • Partner with executive leadership to identify opportunities for innovation, commercial expansion, and long-term value creation across commodity and value-added product portfolios.
  • Provide strategic leadership across the product lifecycle, from innovation and commercialization through optimization and portfolio management.
  • Balance customer needs, market opportunities, and operational realities to position products for sustainable growth, profitability, and scalability.
  • Champion innovation efforts that strengthen competitive differentiation and create additional value across the business.
  • Lead the integration of marketing, research and development, culinary innovation, operations, and sales to bring new products and solutions to market efficiently and successfully.
  • Build and elevate enterprise capabilities in market intelligence, consumer insights, category analytics, and commercial decision support.
  • Use data-driven insights to inform pricing, portfolio strategy, investment decisions, and growth initiatives across the organization.
  • Lead enterprise brand strategy, positioning, communications, and marketing execution across all channels.
  • Ensure the organization's brands maintain relevance, consistency, and differentiation while supporting strategic business objectives.
  • Collaborate with Commercial, Operations, Supply Chain, Finance, and Customer teams to align demand creation with supply realities and business objectives.
  • Act as a trusted advisor to senior leadership on market trends, customer dynamics, portfolio strategy, and growth opportunities.
  • Build and inspire a high-performing, multifunctional team while developing future leaders and strengthening organizational capabilities.
  • Create a culture of accountability, innovation, agility, and collaboration that supports enterprise growth objectives.
Desired Qualifications
  • Experience in poultry, protein, food manufacturing, agriculture, or other vertically integrated industries.
  • Experience with commodity and value-added product portfolios.
  • Experience in United States Department of Agriculture or highly regulated manufacturing environments.
  • Experience leading innovation, research and development, and product development.

About the company

Wayne-Sanderson Farms is a large poultry producer that raises and processes chicken for retail, foodservice, and other customers. It operates 23 facilities across Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, and Texas, and employs more than 26,000 people. It offers a broad portfolio of brands, including WAYNE FARMS, SANDERSON FARMS, COVINGTON FARMS, PLATINUM HARVEST, CHEF’S CRAFT, and NAKED TRUTH, with both fresh and further-processed chicken. The company focuses on affordable, high-quality poultry and emphasizes integrity and responsible farm and workplace practices to serve customers and communities.

Company Size

1,001-5,000

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Oakwood, Georgia

Founded

2022

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • The July 2025 Harrison Poultry acquisition expanded Wayne-Sanderson's Georgia footprint and capacity.
  • September 2026 Mercy Chefs shipments prove operational flexibility across disasters and regions.
  • May 2026 Mississippi State feed mill backing strengthens talent pipelines, research ties, and feed innovation.

What critics are saying

  • The DOJ's January 18, 2025 enforcement motion targets Agri Stats data-sharing and monitorship violations.
  • The 2022 consent decree still burdens management and can extend into 2026 court remedies.
  • Any adverse antitrust ruling could trigger deeper pricing scrutiny, damages, and supplier distrust across poultry.

What makes Wayne-Sanderson Farms unique

  • Wayne-Sanderson is the nation's third-largest poultry producer, with 24 facilities and 27,000 employees.
  • Its vertically integrated network spans hatcheries, feed mills, processing plants, and 2,000 farm partners.
  • The Sanderson brand's 2024 AI chatbot shows unusual consumer-facing experimentation inside a commodity producer.

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Benefits

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

Life Insurance

Disability Insurance

401(k) Retirement Plan

401(k) Company Match

Company News

Poultry Producer
Jul 28th, 2025
Wayne-Sanderson Farms Acquires Harrison Poultry, Expanding Its Footprint in Georgia - Poultry Producer

Wayne-Sanderson Farms, one of the largest vertically integrated poultry producers in the U.S., has announced the acquisition of Harrison Poultry, solidifying its presence in Georgia and expanding operational capacity across […]

PR Newswire
Jan 19th, 2025
Wayne-Sanderson Farms Seeks Relief From Court Against Recent Actions By The U.S. Department Of Justice

OAKWOOD, Ga., Jan. 18, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Wayne-Sanderson Farms today filed its own motion seeking clarity and relief from the court that its participation in the industry-standard Agri Stats subscription service is lawful and permitted. This was necessitated by unprecedented actions taken by the Antitrust Division of the U.S. Department of Justice. At 2:15 a.m. Saturday morning, the Division filed a motion seeking to declare the Company in violation of the Consent Decree and to force the Company to abandon its longstanding use of the industry benchmarking service Agri Stats

PR Newswire
Jun 4th, 2024
Sanderson Farms Brand Debuts Industry-First Artificial Intelligence Chicken Chatbot Tool

Latest Innovation by Wayne-Sanderson Farms Brand Enhances Online Customer ServiceOAKWOOD, Ga., June 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- What if instead of having to search online for ideas on what to do with the fresh chicken in the fridge, consumers could ask the experts at Sanderson Farms® for specially-crafted recipes and inspiration for their next meal? This is where the revolutionary new artificial intelligence (AI) Chicken ChatBot comes in. Affectionally known as "Sandy" and powered by OpenAI's API for ChatGPT, consumers can start a chat on the Sanderson Farms website for quick cooking tips, fast recipe finds, helpful serving suggestions, and more. Meet Sandy our new chatbot. "We are proud to introduce Sandy, the first-ever chicken chatbot tool, to answer just about any question as it relates to recipes and cooking tips," said Hilary Burroughs, Vice President of Marketing for Wayne-Sanderson Farms. "We hope consumers find Sandy to be polite, witty and helpful, just like a good friend, to discuss all things chicken."When visiting the Sanderson Farms website, consumers will be prompted to start a chat with Sandy to answer their chicken queries. Sandy is equipped to share delicious chicken recipes based on the unique details provided, and can make recommendations for specific dietary needs and preferences, like gluten-free, Keto, and low-fat