2+ years of sales, account management, or customer-facing experience in specialty food or grocery
Genuine interest in specialty food and retail with a focus on product knowledge
Strong organizational skills to manage multiple accounts and priorities
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently and collaboratively
Responsibilities
Support Account Managers in managing buyer relationships and communications
Assist in communicating pricing changes and operational updates to accounts
Identify and act on revenue growth opportunities within existing accounts
Develop strong knowledge of product assortment in specialty food categories
Coordinate with internal teams on order accuracy and buyer service needs
Benefits
Comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage for employees and dependents
Employer-paid basic life insurance policy of $25,000 with additional options
401(k) retirement plan with employer matching contributions
Access to a dedicated financial partner for investment education and planning
Full Job Description
SUMMARY OF POSITION
The Assistant Account Manager supports the Account Managers in managing and growing an assigned portfolio of accounts. This role handles day-to-day buyer communications, supports commercial activity, assists with order and service coordination, and identifies opportunities to grow revenue within the existing account base. The Assistant Manager is a development role designed to build the skills, product knowledge, and retail account expertise needed to advance into a full Account Manager position.
KEY RESPONSIBILITIES
Account Support & Buyer Relationships - Support the Account Managers in managing day-to-day buyer relationships, ensuring chain accounts receive timely, accurate, and professional responses. Serve as a primary point of contact for assigned accounts, handling routine buyer inquiries, order follow-ups, and communications within established SLA timeframes.
Operational & Policy Communication - Support the Account Managers in communicating pricing changes, policy updates, and operational changes to assigned accounts. Maintain accuracy and timeliness of customer and sales team data in the system.
Sales Support & Revenue Growth - Assist in identifying and acting on revenue growth opportunities within existing accounts, including new SKU introductions and program expansion. Support new account onboarding and participate in trade shows, buyer meetings, and customer events.
Product Knowledge Development - Develop strong knowledge of Peterson's product assortment, including cheese, charcuterie, and specialty food categories. Stay current on new products, seasonal offerings, and promotional programming.
Internal Collaboration - Coordinate with Customer Success & Sales Operations on order accuracy, issue resolution, and buyer service needs. Communicate account feedback and market observations to the Account Manager. Support forecasting, account planning, and reporting.
What You'll Bring
Required
2+ years of sales, account management, or customer-facing experience in specialty food, grocery, or a related field
Genuine interest in specialty food and specialty grocery retail, with a willingness to develop deep product knowledge
Strong organizational skills and ability to manage multiple accounts and priorities simultaneously
Excellent communication and interpersonal skills
Self-motivated and able to work both independently and as part of a collaborative account team
Preferred
Prior experience in a retail sales support or account coordination role in food or distribution
Familiarity with CRM tools and account planning processes
Knowledge of Pacific Northwest specialty or regional grocery accounts
College degree preferred
What We Bring
Compensation - In accordance with Washington state law, in good-faith, the total hourly compensation is estimated between $36 and $41, with final rate determined by skills and experience.
Medical, Dental & Vision Coverage - Comprehensive insurance plans are available to eligible employees and their covered dependents.
Life Insurance - Peterson Company provides $25,000 in employer-paid basic life insurance policy, with additional voluntary coverage options available
401(k) Retirement Plan - Employees may begin contributing after 30 days of employment. Peterson Company matches approximately $0.30 per dollar up to 6% of eligible income. A dedicated financial partner is available to support investment education and planning.
