Position: ATX -Area Manager Indirect Retail/Specialty/Independents
Supervisors: City Manager, Austin TX
Job Type: Full-time
Job Description:
Management position leading the deployment of brand-building initiatives, consumer engagement programs, and commercial execution for heated tobacco product. This position provides a conduit for communication between field sales/brand teams and senior leadership; Leads planning for success with a strong local-market and consumer-centric perspective. Drives critical strategic initiatives across brand awareness, adult consumer acquisition, and sales growth; Builds agile, high-performing teams and manages execution excellence; Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements; Communicates effectively with team members and leadership; Oversees retail visibility, merchandising standards, and experiential activations; Works with leadership on partnerships, retail agreements, and channel development.
Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides regular updates on activation performance, sales metrics, market insights, challenges, and achievements.
- Elevates operational, regulatory, and commercial risks appropriately.
- Conducts structured monthly and quarterly business reviews with direct reports.
- Collaborates to deliver excellence within consumer activation channels.
- Sets clear objectives and execution of roadmaps aligned with KPIs (e.g., adult smoker conversion, guided trial rates, lead generation).
- Reviews KPIs regularly with the team, identifies gaps, and implements corrective actions to optimize performance.
- Recruits, trains, and develops a high-performing field team focused on both brand storytelling and sales conversion.
- Ensures teams are well-versed in product knowledge, device usage, and responsible communication guidelines.
- Delivers coaching and ongoing feedback to improve engagement quality and sales effectiveness.
- Promotes a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
- Oversees indirect retail execution, including merchandising, visibility standards, and point-of-sale excellence within activation spaces.
- Leads adult consumer engagement programs, including product sampling (where permitted), demonstrations, and conversion-focused interactions.
- Assist in Identifying, negotiation, and activation of partnerships with key retail accounts.
- Conducts regular market visits and ride-along to ensure quality execution and gather insights.
- Supports workforce planning and scheduling through company systems; monitors time, attendance, and productivity.
- Ensures strict adherence to regulatory frameworks governing tobacco and nicotine product marketing and sales.
- Oversees direct reports adherence to inventory planning.
- Ensure timely and accurate distribution of marketing materials and assets.
- Monitors asset utilization and maintains operational efficiency across locations.
Skills/Knowledge:
- Leadership and team development
- Strategic thinking with commercial acumen
- Communication and influence
- Networking and negotiation
- Performance management and accountability
- Collaboration and cross-functional alignment
- Adaptability in regulated and dynamic environments
- Problem-solving and decision-making
- Relationship building
- Time and priority management
- Strong understanding of tobacco/nicotine regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements.
- Knowledge of adult consumer behavior and conversion journeys.
- Sales management and brand activation principles within CPG environments.
- Retail execution and merchandising standards.
- Operational logistics and inventory management.
- Requires managing multi-level communications across field teams, cross-functional stakeholders, and executive leadership.
- Operates within a highly regulated industry requiring strict adherence to local, state, and national tobacco/nicotine regulations.
- Balances brand-building, consumer engagement, and direct sales accountability.
- Navigates diverse retail environments and evolving competitive landscapes.
Preferred Education and Experience:
- Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Business Management, or a related field.
- Minimum 8+ years of experience in CPG, field marketing, brand activation, or sales management.
- Minimum 2-3 years of experience in a managerial role leading field or commercial teams.
- Experience within nicotine, tobacco, or other regulated categories preferred.
Physical Requirements:
- Must be able to lift objects of at least fifty (50) pounds.
- Must have a valid government issued driver's license.
Technology:
- Square reader
- Inventory Software
- ID Scanner
- Electronic Tablets
- Office suite software - Microsoft Office including Teams and OneDrive
- Electronic mail software - Microsoft Outlook
- T-Sheets
Work Schedule
- Flexible scheduling
- Must be available evenings & weekends.
