Customer Manager

Acosta Sales & Marketing; Watertown (WI); On-site; USD 62,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Acosta Group is seeking a Customer Manager in Watertown, WI, to drive principals’ business at designated accounts. You will lead sales initiatives, develop strategic plans, and engage decision-makers to grow market share.

Responsibilities include managing costs, optimizing in-store presence, and coordinating trade marketing efforts with Retail Sales Managers. The role requires strong communication, project management, and collaboration across teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor of Arts Degree or equivalent work experience.
• Six months of relevant experience in retail (CPG), marketing, space management, or resets; sales admin or finance helpful.
• Strong presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects with good organizational skills.

Responsibilities

• Achieve Sales Goals: deliver principals’ objectives at the assigned customers, including merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving goals.
• Strategic Planning: develop a comprehensive Customer Business Plan aligned with principals’ priorities.
• Client Engagement: call on decision-makers to present business plans and programs that drive results.
• Cost Management: maximize revenue while minimizing selling costs and overseeing manufacturer expenditures at the customer.
• In-Store Presence: ensure competitive in-store presence by engaging store personnel and HQ teams.
• Trade Marketing: manage trade funds, process direct shipments, and leverage data to sell concepts.
• Budget Adherence: operate within the designated budget and ensure efficient resource use.
• Proactive Communication: maintain open lines with principals for alignment.
• Retail Initiatives: collaborate on new products, selling drives, and contests with Retail Sales Managers.
• Market Knowledge: use customer, market, and principal knowledge to involve marketing and admin resources.
• Timely Information Sharing: share priorities with Retail Sales Managers and shared resources.
• Team Collaboration: share insights to build organizational capacity.
• Technology Utilization: use systems to support Customer Business Plan and develop skills with Acosta platforms.
• Feedback and Improvement: provide feedback to leadership to improve operations.
• Special Projects: complete special projects to support team success.

Skills

Presentation skills

Communication

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor of Arts Degree or equivalent work experience

Tools

Microsoft PowerPoint

Microsoft Excel

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Outlook

Job description

DESCRIPTION

Are you a dynamic professional with a passion for driving sales and market share growth?

Join our team as a Customer Manager and take charge of managing our principals' business within designated customer accounts.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Achieve Sales Goals : Deliver principals’ objectives, including volume and sales fundamentals such as merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving goals at the assigned customers, all at the lowest cost.

• Strategic Planning : Develop a comprehensive Customer Business Plan that aligns with the principals’ business priorities and drives long-term success.

• Client Engagement : Personally call on all decision-makers at the customer to present and sell business plans, programs, and concepts that enhance business results.

• Cost Management : Achieve results at the lowest possible selling cost while maximizing company revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, contest earnings, and more. Oversee all manufacturers’ expenditures at the customer.

• In-Store Presence : Ensure a competitively superior in-store presence in the assigned stores by calling on headquarters, supervisors, and other customer operations personnel for both direct and indirect customers.

• Trade Marketing : Manage manufacturers’ trade marketing funds, process direct shipments via the Sales Support Coordinator, and leverage data to sell concepts to the customer.

• Budget Adherence : Operate within the designated budget, ensuring efficient use of resources.

• Proactive Communication : Maintain open lines of communication with key principals to ensure alignment and collaboration.

• Retail Initiatives : Collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives, including new product introductions, selling drives, and contests.

• Market Knowledge : Utilize your knowledge of the customer, market, and principal to involve marketing, technology, and administrative resources in achieving objectives.

• Timely Information Sharing : Provide timely information on selling priorities to Retail Sales Managers, supervisors, and shared resources in marketing, technology, and administration.

• Team Collaboration : Share information and customer/principal insights with team members to build organizational capacity and drive collective success.

• Technology Utilization : Utilize computer systems and technology to achieve the objectives of the Customer Business Plan and continuously develop and maintain skill levels to support the use of Acosta communication systems.

• Feedback and Improvement : Provide feedback to the Team Leader and/or General Manager on ways to build organizational capacity and improve business operations.

• Special Projects : Complete special projects as requested, contributing to the overall success of the team.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Education : Bachelor of Arts Degree or equivalent work experience.

• Experience : A minimum of six months of relevant experience in retail (CPG industry), marketing, space management, and/or resets. Sales administration or finance experience is preferred.

• Technical Skills : Expertise in Microsoft software, including PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook, along with thorough knowledge of web-based applications. Excellent presentation and communication skills are a must.

• Project Management : Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with strong organizational skills.

Join us and be part of a team that values strategic thinking, proactive communication, and a commitment to achieving sales excellence.

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ABOUT US

Acosta is a part of Acosta Group – a collective of the industry’s most trusted retail, marketing and foodservice agencies reimagining the way people connect with brands at every point in their shopping journey.

Specializing in retail sales services, digital strategy, and business intelligence, Acosta empowers brands to thrive in the world of omnichannel shopping. Our sales and digital teams build lasting relationships, ensuring our client brands get the space they deserve in stores and outperform the competition online, while our merch reps make brands shine in retail locations across the world.

But it’s not just about what we do – it’s about who we are. With a team of over 20,000 associates, we’re a community of forward-thinking, value-driven professionals committed to an unmatched level of trust and transparency in the industry. And, we understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why many of our field roles provide our associates with flexible scheduling options. Join us and be a part of a team that values growth and making a real impact for our clients, retail partners and their customers.

Acosta Group is an equal opportunity employer and will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact [e-mail] . Be sure to include "Applicant Accommodation" in the subject of your email to expedite the request.

Acosta Group believes in good faith that the minimum and maximum annual salary or hourly compensation range for this opportunity is accurate and reasonable at the time of posting.

The Acosta Group utilizes E-Verify for validating the ability to work in the United States for all job candidates. If you want more information on what this entails and your rights as a job applicant, please use the link provided to access information on our use of E-Verify and your right to work. Employer Resources (e-verify.gov)

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Acosta, and its subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer

Job Category: Wholesale

Position Type: Full time

Business Unit: Sales

Salary Range: $62000.00 - $72000.00

Company: Acosta Employee Holdco LLC

Req ID: 37710

Employer Description: US_ACOSTA_EMPLOYER DESC