Key Account Manager I

The Key Account Manager I is responsible for driving sales growth, distribution, and execution for assigned customer accounts. This role partners closely with internal teams including Customer Managers, Order Entry, Claims, Category Management, Schematics, and Retail Services to achieve client objectives and increase sales volume within assigned markets.

The incumbent may support multiple client accounts and is responsible for customer relationship management, client engagement, sales execution, and business growth initiatives. Assigned clients may include:

• Pioneering Clients: Manufacturers seeking to establish distribution with customers where they currently have little or no presence.
• Regional Clients: Manufacturers that engage services on a regional, market-specific, or customer-specific basis rather than through a national agreement.
• Tier 3 Clients: Manufacturers with smaller sales volume, SKU counts, and revenue contribution requiring dedicated account support and growth initiatives

What We Offer

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Training and Career Development
• Generous Paid Time-Off 

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Job Duties & Responsibilities

• Drive client business growth within assigned accounts by increasing distribution, sales, market share, and key performance indicators while managing within budget guidelines.
• Ensure successful retail merchandising execution and support basic eCommerce initiatives.
• Achieve sales, income, and expense targets through effective marketing and promotional strategies.
• Analyze sales trends and performance data to identify growth opportunities and provide strategic recommendations to clients and customers.
• Manage promotional spending efficiently to drive growth while maintaining compliance with budget parameters.
• Oversee trade funds, accruals, and bill-back programs to ensure accurate financial management and prevent budget overspend.
• Meet or exceed client objectives for sales, distribution, market share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume.
• Identify and execute strategies that capitalize on new business opportunities.
• Lead retailer headquarters engagement and build relationships with key decision-makers to support business objectives.
• Maximize manufacturer marketing and promotional investments while adhering to financial guidelines.
• Maintain accurate retail pricing and indirect order guides by proactively resolving discrepancies.
• Secure approved planograms and schematics for client brands through coordination with schematic, reset, and retail teams.
• Drive incremental sales through new product distribution and effective management of existing SKU portfolios.

Supervisory Responsibilities

• This position does not have direct supervisory responsibilities.
• This position does not have indirect supervisory, coaching, mentoring, or guidance responsibilities.

Travel Requirements

• Travel and driving are essential functions of this position.
• Up to 20% travel may be required.

Education & Experience

• High School Diploma, GED, or equivalent work experience required.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred.
• 1-3 years of experience in sales, account management, consumer packaged goods, retail, or a related field preferred.

Skills, Knowledge & Abilities

• Strong sales presentation, negotiation, and business development skills.
• Excellent interpersonal, relationship-building, and organizational skills.
• Working knowledge of syndicated data and category insights.
• Intermediate to advanced computer proficiency, including Microsoft Office applications.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Effective conflict resolution and problem-solving abilities.
• Demonstrated ability to influence and collaborate across cross-functional teams.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing business needs and priorities.
• Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously while maintaining accuracy and meeting deadlines.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data and identify growth opportunities.
• Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and drive results.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities

o Drive our clients’ business at assigned customer. Increase distribution, grow sales dollars/units/share/other KPI’s, while staying within budget guidelineso Responsible for ensuring retail/merchandising execution and basic eCommerce execution

o Achieves targeted income and expense budgets by implementing promotional and marketing strategieso Analyzes trends and results to identify growth opportunities and makes recommendations to clients and customerso Monitors and drives growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines on assigned clientso Meets budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill-back funds for assigned clientso Meets expectation for managing period ending fund balance performance with no overspends vs. trade budget.o Meets or exceeds Client’s goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volumeo Launches strategies to pursue new opportunitiesImplements retailer headquarter calls and penetrate key positions at the retailer to: o Achieve sales goals by managing and maximizing manufacturer marketing and promotional funds while staying within financial guidelineso Ensure that all retail pricing and indirect order guides within the division is updated by regularly correcting discrepancieso Secure Client approved schematics for all Clients’ brands by providing direction and communication to our schematic, reset, and retail departmentso Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKU’so Collaborate with category management team to develop retailer presentations by using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysiso Manage accounts to achieve the targeted ACV on Innovationo Builds and maintains effective client and retailer relationships in order to ensure customer access and client perspective that we are connected and engaged with key stakeholderso Demonstrates sales accomplishments and areas of opportunity by developing sales presentations for Customers and Clientso Implements Customer HQ Calls and demonstrates an ability to penetrate key positions at the retailero Offers strategic input pursuant to annual business plans, problem solving, ongoing customer management. Finds the intersection of retailer and client objectives and drive win/win scenarioso Provides timely and fluid communication on Client goals, programs, price changes, and priorities to include all necessary people and informationo Manages difficult situations, issues and conflicts to get to an effective outcome

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports- This position does not have guidance or mentoring responsibilities for indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

- Travel and Driving are essential duties and function of this job 

- Travel up to           20 %

Education Level: (Required): High School Diploma/GED or equivalent experience                         (Preferred): Bachelor's Degree

Field of Study/Area of Experience: 1-3 years of experience in applicable field

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong sales presentation and development skills• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills• Working knowledge of syndicated data• Intermediate or advanced computer skills• Strong written communication and verbal communication skills • Conflict management skills• Demonstrated ability to provide cross-functional leadership• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced work environment• Flexible and adaptable, able to change and alter according to changes in projects or business environment• Ability to complete multiple duties with accuracy shifting from one to another with frequent interruptions and competing deadlines

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements: Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically, requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may require the ability to lift up to 10lbs.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job DescriptionsJob duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by law.