Account Manager - New York Metro

New York Ag Connection; New York (NY); Remote; USD 35,000 - 70,000; Full time

Job summary

United Natural Foods Inc. seeks a Manager Account to lead strategic sales for assigned accounts, acting as a conductor of sales plans and programs.

You will manage relationships with vendors and trade partners, drive joint business plans, and ensure customer satisfaction while coordinating with merchandising, product specialists, and services teams. The role emphasizes strategic selling, core product expertise, and building trust with customers to achieve store-level success.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.
• 3+ years of sales experience preferred.
• Understanding of products and ability to develop and execute business and sales plans.

Responsibilities

• Execute sales plans to increase sales, profit margin, and minimize expenses.
• Develop joint business plans and identify new sales opportunities.
• Forecast profit, volume growth and assist with sales budget for assigned accounts.
• Bridge between Sales and Ops to resolve customer issues.
• Owns key accounts and drives mutual sales and profit growth.
• Coordinate with cross-functional teams to achieve account goals.

Skills

Excellent communication

Negotiation

Presentation skills

Financial reporting

Lead without authority

Cross-level interaction

Project management

Customer service & problem solving

Attention to detail

Organizational skills

Judgment under supervision

MS Office proficiency

Education

Bachelor’s degree

Job description

Job Overview

The Manager Account is responsible for providing high-quality, streamlined service with a focus on corporate initiatives for assigned chain or independent account(s). They operate as a team conductor to manage, direct, and coordinate all sales plans and programs.

The Manager Account is responsible for strategic selling, bringing core product expertise, and leveraging specialists when needed. They are responsible for creating partnering relationships of trust, integrity, customer satisfaction, and loyalty and ensuring customer compliance. They collaborate with their teams to achieve the objective of building out the store.

Job Responsibilities

Account Management & Strategic Sales Planning

• Execute sales plans and goals designed to increase sales, profit margin, and minimize expenses.
• Develop joint business plans.
• Identify and manage new sales opportunities and servicing of existing accounts.
• Forecast profit, volume growth, and other related goals as determined. Assist with the preparation of a sales budget for assigned accounts.
• Makes key decisions on addressing and identifying customer needs and concerns for assigned accounts.
• Bridge between Sales and Ops to manage through challenges and resolve for customers.

Deliver Account Results

• Analyze sales reporting and create strategies to drive sales.
• Operates as the account conductor and owns the specialty sales deployment process.
• Develops and maintains a JBP that drives sales and profit margin.
• Responsible for sales and profit margin results for assigned account(s).
• Focuses plans to drive sales and profit margin across products and services.
• Delivers corporate goals to deliver synergy and cross-selling capabilities to customers.

Manage Relationships

• Create and maintain partnerships with vendors, brokers, and other trade partners.
• Meet or exceed client expectations and established deadlines.
• Drives proactively the company’s initiatives to ensure the success of the customer.
• Focuses efforts on mutual sales and profit growth.
• Owns one or more key account customers.

Manage Execution

• Conduct regular reviews of sales activities and effectiveness. May develop promotions and incentives to increase sales and improve performance.
• Coordinate with a cross-functional team of resources to ensure account goals are achieved. Works collaboratively with Merchandising, Product Specialists, and Professional Services to identify strategic selling opportunities for account(s).
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Job Requirements

Education and Certifications

• Bachelor’s degree is strongly preferred.

Experience

• Minimum 3 years of sales experience preferred.
• Understanding and knowledge of products.
• Development and execution of business plans, sales plans, and/or commission programs.
• Familiarity with sales opportunities.
• Understanding of sales forecasting, programs, promotions, and related techniques.
• Understanding of margin and company profitability.
• Proven track record of meetings and exceeding customer expectations.
• Ability to work in a result-driven environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and company systems.
• Demonstrated ability to drive new business and close sales.

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Aptitude for financial reporting.
• Ability to lead without reporting authority.
• Ability to interact at all levels of the business.
• Able to manage and coordinate projects.
• Able to excel at customer service skills, problem-solving, attention to detail, and organizational skills.
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

Work Environment

Remote Role

This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

Travel (major)

Travel is required up to 50% for this position.

This position may require the associate to travel to company offices, distribution centers, or retail locations for specific meetings or other business reasons.

Physical Environment/Demands

Office Roles

Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.

Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.

Incumbent may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment during a normal workday.

Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature of the work performed by the employees assigned to this job. All employees must comply with Company policy and applicable laws. The responsibilities, duties and skills required of personnel so classified may vary within each department and/or location.

Equal Opportunity Statement

UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. All qualified applicants will receive equal consideration for employment without regard to race, color, age, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, protected veteran status, or other protected ground. Accommodation is available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the job selection process. - Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.

Company

United Natural Foods Inc.

Compensation

UNFI anticipates paying the above-referenced pay rate (or within the above-referenced pay range) for this position. Actual Pay, where applicable, will depend on a number of factors, including, but not limited to, education, experience, training, and any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements. UNFI is committed to transparency in pay in compliance with applicable state/provincial and local laws.

Benefits

For Washington positions (or positions that may be performed remotely from Washington).

Candidates hired into this position will also be eligible to participate in the following benefits programs: Paid Time Off; Sick Time; paid holidays and parental leave; 401K Program (or retirement savings plan if in Canada); medical, dental, vision, life, and accidental death/dismemberment insurance; short-term and long-term disability insurance program, Flexible Spending Account and/or Health Savings Account (U.S. only), subject to meeting the eligibility requirements and the terms and conditions of these programs, and subject to any requirements under applicable collective bargaining agreements.

Sales Positions Only: For sales positions that are commission-based, the above range is an estimate of total potential commission-based compensation during an associate’s first year, but UNFI offers an introductory period minimum of $680 per week. After the introductory period, as a 100% commission-based role, there is no set salary. UNFI’s commission plans are uncapped and average earnings vary depending on territory and sales achieved, among other factors.

UNFI’s compensation, benefits, and paid time off policies are subject to change in the Company’s sole discretion, consistent with applicable law. This job posting should not be construed as an offer of employment with certain terms, nor should it be construed as a guaranteed minimum.

Qualified applications with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance and the California Fair Chance Act or for Canadian applicants in accordance with provincial human rights legislation.