Quebec Atlantic Sales Director

The New Zealand & Australia Lamb Company; Montreal; On-site; CAD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading company in the meat industry seeks a Quebec / Atlantic Sales Director to oversee sales, develop strategies, and manage customer relationships. The role requires strong leadership skills and extensive experience in the meat distribution sector, focusing on achieving sales targets and maintaining customer satisfaction.

Qualifications

• 8+ years’ experience as a sales leader in North American meat manufacturing.
• Fluent in English (verbal and written).
• Proven ability to lead teams and handle high stress demands.

Responsibilities

• Develops annual sales strategies and plans for the region.
• Leads a team to meet sales targets and KPIs.
• Maintains relationships with major retail and food service clients.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Customer Service

Strategic Planning

Commercial Acumen

Education

College degree or equivalent

Tools

MS Office

ERP software

Job description

Position Reports To : VP Sales, Canada

Position Overview

Reporting to the VP Sales, Canada, the Quebec / Atlantic Sales Director is responsible for the Company’s sales, sales promotion, market development, and customer service activities for Quebec / Atlantic, and manages sales staff in fulfilling these responsibilities. This role is accountable for providing leadership, developing and implementing sales strategy, and monitoring, analyzing, and achieving retail, food service, and trade sales goals as measured against agreed to plan with the goal of achieving and maximizing short and long-term margin, volume, and market retention / penetration goals for the Company’s product lines. The Quebec / Atlantic Sales Director works closely with the North American sales and marketing teams to meet Shareholder expectations in terms of growth, returns, customer service and Company values while maintaining certainty of supply of The Lamb Company product to all customers in the region. This position also works closely with the Plant Management Team to ensure accurate planning for production and customer fulfillment.

Major Responsibilities

• Sales Strategy : Together with the VP Sales, Canada and other members of the sales team and the Marketing & Social Media Manager, the Quebec / Atlantic Sales Director researches and develops annual strategies and plans, identifying opportunities for better serving existing retail, food service and trade customers and fulfilling new customer needs in the region.
• Sales and Marketing : In conjunction with the VP Sales, Canada, and working closely with other team members, develops an annual sales plan and where appropriate, long term marketing plans. Leads the preparation of all sales operational plans, including sales business plans and budgets, ensuring that they are complete, align with the objectives of the organization, and adhere to statutory requirements and are completed on time. Manages full sales cycle from prospect through to product implementation. Coordinates the planning, development, issuance and delivery of company promotional and sales communications materials ensuring that local requirements around language and messaging are respected.
• Leadership : Leads and manages a highly effective team that is focused on meeting or exceeding individual and organization performance targets. Ensures that the sales organization is fully staffed, trained on and understanding of business goals, needs, and direction; establishes and implements KPIs for all direct reports; monitors and manages direct report performance and overall regional performance; and plans and manages performance in collaboration with direct reports to ensure achievement of departmental and individual KPIs. Ensures the sales organization maintains robust reporting systems. Keeps VP Sales, Canada current on matters of importance for the organization and reports on and recommends solutions to resolve variations to budget in sales performance.
• Customer & Distribution Relationship Management : Maintains and strengthens mutually beneficial, profitable, effective and enduring customer relationships with superior communications, programs and distribution strategies for strategic and exclusive / primary supply contracts with major retail, food service, and trade users. In accordance with the strategic objectives of the organization, identifies prospective customers and distribution channels and actively develops relationships with the view to convert into profitable and sustainable business. Directly manages major and critical developing customer key accounts, and coordinates the management of all other accounts. Maintains continuous contact with designated clients at both the buying and senior management levels and regular contact with select industry counterparts and intercompany peers.
• Product Availability & Distributor Relations : Working closely with the North American procurement team, reviews and confirms monthly and seasonal inventory replenishment orders in line with annual sales plan and shifting customer demand. Keeps VP Sales, Canada and procurement team aware of any planned and new feature / ad activity that will require additional product. In accordance with the strategic objectives of the organization, has regular contact with the procurement team and periodic contact with various product suppliers’ marketing personnel as well as with regional cold store personnel. Provides guidance to Procurement team on planned promotions and forecasted demand. Oversees and coordinates the channels of distribution in the region in conjunction with Transportation and Logistics personnel to ensure timely, reliable deliveries of customer orders. Monitors stocks on hand in regional storage centres maintaining proper inventory levels within corporate guidelines and ensuring proper product rotation.
• Performance Effectiveness : Ensures that the Sales organization achieves all financial, customer, product, and business goals in the designated market and in every product line on a monthly, quarterly and annual basis. Reviews and monitors accounts receivables for designated customers, ensuring prompt payments are received so as to reduce Company exposure to bad debts and to improve cash flow. Prepares monthly reports and general comments on customer’s products versus plan and market activity on a timely basis. Ensures that the VP Sales, Canada is kept informed of all pertinent developments risks, opportunities, and information relating to designated market. In conjunction with the VP Sales, Canada, prepares and undertakes professional development and prepares and supports professional development activities for Sales staff.
• Business Development : Identifies and considers opportunities for business growth and development. Works with other teams to Identify and execute new retail, food service and trade product opportunities. Maintains a network of influencers, stakeholders, and others who may assist in the identification, analysis, validation, and conversion of business opportunities. Makes recommendations where appropriate to pursue and convert such opportunities. Maintains a solid market intelligence network to keep abreast of competitive activities and customer developments and to safeguard the company’s financial and volume interests.

Success Measures

• All brands and sales achieve market share, volume, profit contributions, revenue, and accounts receivable objectives on a quarterly basis for the region
• Achieves retention and growth of the key accounts
• Adheres to the Company inventory targets and ensures the successful delivery of retail, food service, and trade products, within the Company’s approved procurement programs at all times and throughout the region, fully satisfying customer supply needs
• Customer satisfaction and loyalty survey scores meet survey objectives and key customers meet or exceed same
• Regretted employee turnover continues to be minimal and employee engagement and productivity is at or above goal

Qualifications & Considerations for the Position

• College degree or equivalent
• 8+ years’ experience as a sales leader developing and implementing sales strategy in a sizeable North American meat manufacturer or distributor, where international supply and distribution expertise is key
• Previous experience in retail fresh and frozen protein sales, preferably beef, and previous experience selling to major retailers, such as Metro, Loblaw’s, Costco or Walmart; food service experience with Gordon Food Service and Sysco, an asset
• Understanding of case ready retail ready further processed meat processing capabilities
• Previous attribute-based selling style in the grass fed protein market, an asset
• Demonstrated skills in strategic demand planning and execution. Displays strong commercial acumen. Analyses key drivers, opportunities, and competitive advantages to develop and execute on strategies to benefit the Company’s business. Has been able to develop and convert strategic business relationships into valuable business. High degree of expertise in contract negotiation, structuring, setting, and managing sales quota and revenue goals
• Understands and has appropriate relationships and a track record of securing supply to ensure fulfillment of customer needs
• Proven ability to plan marketing strategy and promotional and advertising campaigns, across all media and platforms
• Demonstrated leadership in serving customer needs while maintaining the highest possible standards
• Outstanding customer service, interpersonal and communication skills
• Fluent in English (verbal and written)
• Leads by example; demonstrates professionalism throughout the organization and is a credible and trustworthy person who holds the respect and loyalty of all stakeholders; provides clear expectations and direction; has tenacity in pursuing goals and ensures that team and personal goals align with and contribute to attainment of Company goals
• Is open to and accepts taking on such responsibilities as assigned by the VP Sales, Canada to support achievement of annual and strategic business goals
• Results driven and able to effectively handle the high stress, time and travel demands that come with responsibility as Quebec / Atlantic Sales Director for the Lamb Company’s operations
• Effective communication skills with the ability to inspire and lead teams to success
• Strong MS Office skills and ERP software knowledge

For information about the company, go to

Only qualified candidates will be contacted for an interview.

The Lamb Company is an equal opportunity employer and considers qualified applicants for employment without regard to sex, race, color, religion, ethnic or national origin, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, pregnancy, leave status, disability, veteran status, genetic information and / or any other characteristic or status protected by national, federal, state or local law.

The Lamb Company is committed to providing an accessible and barrier-free environment. Accommodations are available on request for candidates throughout the selection process. Please contact Human Resources if accommodation is required.

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