Key Account Manager - Grocery

Lock Search Group; Vancouver; Hybrid; CAD 100,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work after onboarding

Annual bonus

Strong extended health benefits

Limited travel

Job summary

Lock Search Group's client in the grocery/CPG sector seeks an experienced Key Account Manager to drive national accounts and develop strategic business plans. You will target sales growth, manage budgets, and foster strong client partnerships across categories.

You will collaborate with sourcing and logistics, oversee promotions, and conduct financial analyses to ensure joint success. A 10+ year track record in retail is preferred, with travel across Canada and a hybrid work setup.

Qualifications

• 10+ years in retail or grocery sales in a national account capacity
• Experience with shelf-stable products and seafood preferred
• Experience working with grocery retail head office accounts
• Strong analytical and financial capabilities
• Willingness and availability for occasional business travel within Canada

Responsibilities

• Market and sell various products and brands for the portfolio
• Develop comprehensive business and commercial plans encompassing volume, profitability, and promotions with monthly targets
• Communicate market research findings and identify prospects for clients
• Oversee budget distribution across clients
• Conduct quarterly assessments of customer performance and sales contribution
• Devise targeted corrective measures or sales strategies for anomalies
• Monitor inventory levels to coordinate timely replenishment
• Cultivate and reinforce client relationships and jointly define product success strategies
• Collaborate with sourcing and logistics to ensure adherence to agreements and promotions
• Facilitate internal communication to support daily operations
• Own category/product performance for each customer and align with projections
• Lead seamless introduction of new products
• Prepare proposals and perform essential financial analyses

Skills

Retail/Grocery sales experience

Analytical thinking

Customer relationship management

Team collaboration

Education

Post-secondary education in business or marketing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Excel

CRM software

Job description

Our client has sourced and developed products from around the globe for 100+ years and has found success through prioritizing relationships with key suppliers, processors and customers. They support organizations from sourcing, importing or exporting to quality management and logistics. Owner operated with a hands-on approach, always driving innovation to serve their customers and help them grow their business. They have engaged Nick Kanaan of Lock Search Group to find an experienced and high-potential individual to join their team for their Key Account Manager role.

This is a critical role and a remarkable opportunity for individuals with a background in account management and sales within the CPG Industry (preference for previous experience with shelf-stable food products) who can leverage their experience and existing industry connections.

Your responsibilities encompass creating comprehensive business and commercial plans, including sales targets, volume projections, profitability, and promotional strategies, with continuous monthly evaluation. You'll use current market research, to identify prospects for clients. Overseeing budget allocation and conducting regular assessments to evaluate customer performance, you'll develop tailored strategies to address anomalies. Collaborating with departments like sourcing and logistics, you'll ensure adherence to agreements while fostering strong client relationships and joint success strategies. Additionally, your role involves seamless product introductions, internal communication for efficient operations, and conducting necessary financial analyses.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Market and sell various products and brands for the portfolio.
• Develop comprehensive business and commercial plans encompassing aspects like volume, profitability, product sales potential, and promotional strategies. These plans will also outline sales targets per product category, subject to monthly monitoring and evaluation.
• Communicate up-to-date market research findings per product and category, identifying business prospects for individual clients.
• Oversee the budget distribution across clients.
• Conduct quarterly assessments to evaluate each customer's performance and contribution to sales.
• Devise targeted corrective measures or sales strategies for anomalies.
• Monitoring inventory levels to coordinate timely and cost-effective inventory replenishment
• Cultivate and reinforce client relationships to gain insights into their strategic directions. Collaborate to formulate a joint strategy for product success.
• Collaborate closely with sourcing and logistics departments to ensure adherence to company agreements by each customer. This covers aspects like volume, price adjustments, financial commitments, and promotional plans.
• Facilitate consistent internal communication to contribute to effective daily operations management.
• Assume accountability for the performance of categories and products concerning each customer, aligning outcomes with projected results and strategies.
• Oversee the seamless introduction of new products.
• Prepare proposals and carry out essential financial analyses when required.

REQUIREMENTS

• Ideally have 10+ years in Retail or Grocery Sales in a National Account Capacity
• Experience in CPG sales with preference to those with experience with shelf stable products and seafood products
• Experience working with grocery retail head office accounts
• Exhibit outstanding analytical and financial capabilities essential for swift and well-judged decision-making
• Showcase the capacity to thrive under pressure, exceptional motivation, and a collaborative team-member
• Proficient with Microsoft Office
• Excel in interpersonal aptitude, fostering and sustaining quality customer service
• Post-secondary education with a focus in business or marketing
• Willingness and availability for occasional business travel within Canada
• Applicants must be legally entitled to work in Canada without sponsorship.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

• $100K-$120K base + Annual bonus
• Strong extended health benefits
• Hybrid work (once onboarding completed)
• Limited Travel