KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER, Convenience & Gas Channel, Canada – CPG HYBRID SALES ROLE

Lock Search Group; Toronto; Hybrid; CAD 80,000 - 110,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the CPG sector is seeking a Key Account Manager for the Convenience & Gas channel in Toronto. This hybrid role focuses on driving sales strategy, managing relationships, and achieving KPIs. The ideal candidate will have a strong background in CPG account management, excellent communication skills, and the ability to analyze market trends. This position offers an opportunity to make a significant impact within a dynamic sales team.

Qualifications

• Proven negotiation and influencing skills with stakeholders.
• Strong forecasting skills and knowledge of trade promotion management.
• Thorough understanding of the retail landscape in Canadian Convenience & Gas channels.

Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain relationships with accounts at all levels.
• Achieve KPIs through account plans and brand strategies.
• Manage trade funds supporting marketing and promotional plans.

Skills

Strategic thinking

Negotiation

Analytical skills

Communication

Presentation

Networking

Education

3+ years of Key Account Management

Tools

Microsoft Office

Job description

KEY ACCOUNT MANAGER, Convenience & Gas Channel, Canada - CPG HYBRID SALES ROLE

Description and reporting line

As a key member of the sales team, the Key Account Manager (KAM) – Convenience & Gas, will play a crucial role in developing the brand within this important channel. The KAM focuses on executing the business strategy within their customer base and converting it into retailer-specific strategies that deliver win/win/win outcomes for the business, retailer, and consumer. The role requires the ability to work independently and collaborate with other departments to create an excellent retailer and consumer experience. The primary objective is to drive sales strategy through the assigned customer base, managing relationships, sales results, and trade spend budgets. The KAM will drive growth by maximizing distribution, increasing share of shelf, enhancing brand presence within planograms, expanding into seasonal/limited-time offers, increasing secondary displays, and improving promotional effectiveness. Strategic thinking and strong analytical skills are essential to develop business plans and achieve KPIs. Excellent communication and presentation skills are crucial for securing stakeholder buy-in.

This position reports to a Director of Sales.

Employee supervision: None

Location: Toronto, Canada

PLEASE NOTE: This role requires prior CPG account management experience within the Gas and Convenience channel. Only candidates with this experience will be considered.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and maintain solid relationships with accounts at all levels
• Achieve KPIs through account plans and brand strategies
• Manage trade funds supporting marketing and promotional plans
• Provide accurate forecasts for a dynamic category
• Monitor market, category, channel, and consumer trends; track competitor activity
• Conduct regular meetings, trade visits, and maintain contact with accounts
• Collaborate with internal teams to align with brand and category objectives and develop retail strategies
• Develop and implement annual business plans with volume targets, trade spend, and strategies aligned with brand and corporate goals
• Analyze post-promotional ROI and competitive activity
• Communicate account program information to internal stakeholders to ensure execution (planogram compliance, display placement, promotions, inventory, bookings, pricing)
• Resolve issues during planning and execution
• Maintain an up-to-date pipeline of opportunities and provide real-time visibility to management

Key Performance Indicators

• Achieve sales volume and value targets
• Meet distribution and secondary display placement targets
• Execute promotional plans within budget

Key Qualifications

• Strategic thinker with hands-on capability
• Ability to craft a holistic story
• Proven negotiation and influencing skills with stakeholders
• Strong forecasting skills
• Knowledge of trade promotion management
• Motivated, passionate, adaptable
• Open-minded, flexible, self-motivated
• Solution-oriented mindset
• Attention to detail in execution
• Proactive with high personal responsibility
• Strong analytical skills
• Excellent communication, presentation, negotiation, networking skills
• Thorough understanding of the retail landscape in Canadian Convenience & Gas channels
• Minimum 3+ years of Key Account Management in Canadian CPG/FMCG
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Outlook)
• Work location: Toronto (Hybrid)
• Travel up to 25%
• Fluent in English; French is a plus