Key Account Manager I

Key Account Manager I - Dedicated Mars C-Store HQ Team

We are seeking a dynamic Key Account Manager (KAM) to be responsible for making sales calls on designated customers (both distributors and retail chains) in the convenience channel. The Key Account Manager works closely with the Sales Team Leader within an assigned geographic territory.

This position works closely with the Mars Broker Team to align and execute against annual joint business objectives (JBO's) to include: gross sales volume (GSV), speed-to-market, assortment, promotions, planograms and trade management. Additionally, this position works with internal Advantage Solutions associates such as Key Account Manager II's, Category Managers and Sales Director to drive client (Mars) and assigned customer relationships.

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.

What we offer:

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

Essential Job Duties and Responsibilities:

• Meets or exceeds client's goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume at assigned customers.
• Responsible for ensuring retail/merchandising execution.
• Achieves targeted objectives by implementing promotional and marketing strategies.
• Analyzes trends and results to identify growth opportunities and makes recommendations to the client and assigned customers.
• Monitors and drives growth through efficient management of promotional spending and trade budgets within guidelines on assigned customers.
• Launches strategies to pursue new opportunities
• Complete retailer headquarter calls and penetrate key positions to drive relationships to ensure customer access and client perspective that we are connected and engaged with key stakeholders
• Monitor retail pricing
• Secure Client approved schematics for all Clients' brands by providing direction and insights to assigned customers and key decision makers.
• Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKU's
• Collaborate with category management team to develop retailer presentations by using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysis
• Manage accounts to achieve the targeted ACV on Innovation
• Provide timely and fluid communication on client goals, programs, price changes, and priorities to include all necessary people and information.
• 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 50 %

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

Field of Study/Area of Experience: 3-5 years of experience in consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry. Experience in confectionery and/or convenience channel is a plus.

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

• Must be proficient in Microsoft Office Suite of applications (i.e.: Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook and Teams).
• 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

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 guidelines
o Responsible for ensuring retail/merchandising execution and basic eCommerce execution

o Achieves targeted income and expense budgets by implementing promotional and marketing strategies
o Analyzes trends and results to identify growth opportunities and makes recommendations to clients and customers
o Monitors and drives growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines on assigned clients
o Meets budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill-back funds for assigned clients
o 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 volume
o Launches strategies to pursue new opportunities
Implements 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 guidelines
o Ensure that all retail pricing and indirect order guides within the division is updated by regularly correcting discrepancies
o Secure Client approved schematics for all Clients' brands by providing direction and communication to our schematic, reset, and retail departments
o Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKU's
o Collaborate with category management team to develop retailer presentations by using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysis
o 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 stakeholders
o Demonstrates sales accomplishments and areas of opportunity by developing sales presentations for Customers and Clients
o Implements Customer HQ Calls and demonstrates an ability to penetrate key positions at the retailer
o 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 information
o 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 Descriptions
Job 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.