Area Manager - CA

Mission Linen Supply; Newark (CA); On-site; USD 75,000 - 85,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Retirement plan

Paid time off

Job summary

Mission Linen Supply in the western states is hiring an Area Manager to lead Route Sales & Service Representatives (RSSRs), the drivers who deliver and service our linen, uniform, and facility products. You will oversee six to twelve RSSRs, shape sales strategies, and report to a General Manager or Branch Manager.

This role demands hands-on transportation or route management experience and a track record of coaching teams to meet service and retention goals.

Qualifications

• Experience in transportation, route management, or logistics is required.
• Proven ability to lead a team and meet service and retention goals.
• Comfort with developing sales strategies and pricing at district level.
• Strong customer service and problem-solving skills.
• Must be detail-oriented with good organizational skills.
• Ability to pass a physical agility test and lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Direct and supervise six to twelve RSSRs to meet service and sales goals.
• Lead route coverage, check-in, and restructuring to optimize operations.
• Coach RSSRs on customer service and upsell opportunities.
• Manage account renewals and protect revenue on at-risk accounts.
• Help develop sales strategy and define market area and pricing.
• Drive plant goals including forecasted volume and retention.
• Recruit and train RSSRs and provide ongoing coaching.
• Pursue new business and close sales with selected customers.

Skills

Route operations

Team leadership

Account management

Business acumen

Customer service

Strong work ethic

Organization

Valid driver's license

Physical agility

Job description

Responsibilities

Mission Linen Supply is hiring an Area Manager to lead a team of Route Sales & Service Representatives (RSSRs), the drivers who deliver and service our linen, uniform, and facility product lines, ensuring unsurpassed customer satisfaction and pushing the depot and district to achieve operational goals. This role is the direct equivalent of what many route-based companies call a “District Manager,” and is a core leadership position with a clear path toward General Manager and Branch Manager roles at Mission.

You'll need proven, hands-on transportation or route management experience, whether in beverage distribution, courier/parcel delivery, waste services, field service, or another route-based industry. You don't need industrial laundry or uniform-industry experience; if you know how to run a team, hit service and retention goals, and grow accounts, we'll train you on our specific products and systems.

Why Mission Linen Supply

If you're looking for a stable industry with real, ongoing leadership opportunities, not just a job but a career path toward General Manager, this role is built for that. Mission Linen Supply is a family-owned, privately held company and a leading provider of linen, uniform, and facility service products across five western states. Founded in 1930 and headquartered in Santa Barbara, CA, Mission has grown from a one-man operation into an industry leader, while remaining stable, essential, and steadily growing. Industrial laundry and linen services are a recession-resistant, essential industry. Hospitals, hotels, and restaurants need clean linens and uniforms regardless of the economy. That means real, ongoing opportunities for career advancement, not a static org chart.

Total Compensation Opportunities

Base salary: $75,000–$85,000, based on education, experience, other qualifications, and location of assignment. On top of base pay, Area Managers have multiple, ongoing ways to grow their total compensation throughout the year:

• Company-Wide Sales Contests: tied to key business initiatives like new business development, seasonal promotions, and direct sales campaigns, with recurring payout opportunities based on branch and individual performance
• Product-Specific Performance Bonuses: additional bonuses tied to plant-level performance in targeted categories such as Retail Services and First Aid
• Top-Performer Recognition Incentive: an additional annual incentive for Area Managers who rank among the company's top performers
• Quarterly Sales Incentive: based on the sales performance of your route team
• Annual Performance Incentive: tied to overall company and plant performance

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance
• Retirement savings program
• Paid time off (sick, holiday, vacation)
• And more

Qualifications

The Opportunity

As Area Manager, you'll be assigned to a specific market area with six to twelve RSSRs as direct reports. You'll manage their daily activities (route check-in, route coverage, and route restructuring) and help shape sales strategy, market area definition, product lines, and pricing for your district. This role reports directly to a General Manager, District Manager, or Branch Manager, and is one of Mission's primary pipelines into those senior leadership positions.

Duties & Responsibilities

• Manage the daily activities of your RSSRs, including route check-in, route coverage, and route restructuring
• Lead and coach RSSRs on customer service standards at every stop, ensuring service issues are resolved quickly and correctly the first time
• Direct and train RSSRs on upselling and cross-selling additional products and service lines to existing accounts
• Manage account renewals and contract terms, proactively renewing agreements and protecting revenue on accounts at risk of cancellation
• Assist in developing sales strategies and shaping market area definition, product lines, merchandise quality, advertising, and pricing
• Drive achievement of plant goals including forecasted volume, account retention, and contract management
• Administer a recruitment and training program for RSSRs, including initial orientation, product familiarity, company policy, goals, and objectives, plus ongoing coaching on account retention, planning, sales technique, and professionalism
• Pursue market potential, follow up, and close sales with selected customers in coordination with the General Manager, Sales Representatives, and RSSRs
• Maximize new business, deepen penetration of existing accounts, and own account retention across your market

Supervisory Responsibilities

• Directly supervises six to twelve Route Sales & Service Representatives (RSSRs)
• Recruits, trains, coaches, and holds RSSRs accountable to daily and weekly service and sales goals

Required Skills & Qualifications

• Transportation, route operations, delivery, or logistics management experience (required)
• Direct leadership or supervisory experience managing a team
• Proven account management skills, including customer service delivery, upselling/cross-selling, account renewals, and contract terms
• Strong business acumen and comfort owning plant/district-level performance goals
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to provide effective leadership
• Excellent work ethic, a high level of organization, and computer literacy
• Valid driver's license with a clean driving record
• Ability to pass a physical agility test and lift up to 50 lbs (