SummaryDrive profitable growth and strengthen market presence across valued East retail customers. As a Regional Sales Manager, you will lead sales and merchandising strategies across multiple categories, expanding distribution, optimizing assortment, and increasing market share across fresh and frozen ready-to-cook, ready to eat, deli, and prepared offerings while serving as the primary point of contact for assigned customers and building strong trust-based relationships. You will partner closely with internal teams to identify growth opportunities, influence customer strategy, and execute initiatives that deliver results aligned with business goals and core values. This role is ideal for a strategic, customer focused leader who thrives in a fast-paced environment, excels at relationship building, and is passionate about driving measurable results and long-term business growth.
Principal Essential Duties & Responsibilities- Develop and implement Regional Sales plan to include all categories across customers.
- Attain all budgeted product line volumes, pricing, mix, margin, and share objectives. Prepare and present annual joint business plans, line reviews, innovation sell-ins, and category reviews.
- Maintain consistent communications and standing meetings with customer teams to ensure strategic alignment.
- Monitor daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, and YTD customer performance metrics, identifying risks and opportunities and adjusting plans accordingly.
- Implement and champion procedures to continuously improve the accuracy of the Demand Plan forecast, collaborating closely with Supply Chain, Operations, and Customer Service to optimize customer satisfaction and business results.
- Manage all customer trade spend and customer programs.
- Utilize the TPM system to plan, track, and evaluate promotional effectiveness and ROI.
- Lead customer negotiations related to pricing, trade spend, distribution, promotions, and contract terms while protecting company margin objectives.
- Partner cross functionally to develop customer-specific assortment strategies, shelf sets, planograms, and merchandising solutions aligned to natural and fresh retail formats.
- Serve as the proactive voice of the customer internally as you work cross-functionally, translating retailer strategies and shopper insights into actionable business plans that utilize your knowledge and understanding of each retailer's goals and objectives.
- Travel regularly to customer locations (HQ, stores) to ensure industry leading customer service.
- Participate in leadership roles on special projects and cross-functional teams; continuously improve skills through training, classes, and seminars as outlined in the development plan.
- Ensure compliance with customer, regulatory, and company standards related to food safety, labeling, animal welfare, and sustainability.
Minimum Education and Experience- Bachelor's Degree in the areas of Sales, Marketing, or Business Administration.
- 3-5 years related work experience (CPG industries and/or Meat/Poultry).
- Direct or relevant experience/familiarity with Eastern Region retailers.
- Must possess strong communication, analytical and planning skills.
- Proficiency using Microsoft applications.
- Experience and competence with data driven selling, utilizing syndicated data (i.e. Circana/ Nielsen), and customer specific data insights.
- Proven ability to manage trade spend, pricing strategy, and margin performance in highly competitive categories.
Preferred Education and Experience- Experience working with premium brands and premium proteins (natural, organic, antibiotic-free, animal welfare-driven).
- Management experience in the food or food sales areas.
- Experience selling fresh chicken, meat, or value-added protein products, including short-shelf-life or fresh supply chains.
- Knowledge of food safety, quality assurance, USDA regulations, and customer-specific protein standards.
- MBA or advanced business coursework.
Physical Requirements and Environmental Factors- Position is remotely home-office based, preferably with close proximity to an airport, with anticipated travel 50% of the time and with flexibility.
- Position is mostly sedentary but may require occasional moving to other offices or buildings.
- May need to move light equipment or supplies from one place to another.
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