Customer Manager (Natural Channel)

Acosta Sales & Marketing; Oak Brook (IL); On-site; USD 57,000 - 72,000; Full time

Job summary

Acosta is seeking a Customer Manager to drive sales and market share for our principals within designated customer accounts. The role focuses on achieving sales goals, strategic planning, client engagement, and cost management in the natural/organic foods channel.

You will develop and execute Customer Business Plans, call on key decision-makers, and manage trade marketing funds to maximize revenue while maintaining cost efficiency.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree or equivalent work experience.
• Experience: At least six months in retail (CPG), marketing, space management or resets; sales admin/finance experience preferred.
• Technical Skills: Proficiency in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook) with strong presentation and communication skills.
• Project Management: Ability to manage multiple projects with strong organizational skills.
• Experience in natural/organic foods channel is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Achieve Sales Goals: deliver principals' objectives including volume, merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving.
• Strategic Planning: develop a Customer Business Plan aligned with principals' priorities.
• Client Engagement: call on decision-makers to present and sell business plans and concepts.
• Cost Management: optimize selling costs while maximizing revenue from brokerage, commissions and bonuses.
• In-Store Presence: ensure superior in-store presence by engaging customer operations personnel.
• Trade Marketing: manage trade marketing funds and leverage data to sell concepts.
• Budget Adherence: operate within designated budget.
• Proactive Communication: maintain open lines with principals for alignment.
• Retail Initiatives: collaborate on new product launches and selling drives.
• Market Knowledge: use knowledge of customer and market to involve resources.
• Timely Information Sharing: provide selling priorities to managers and teams.
• Team Collaboration: share insights to build organizational capacity.
• Technology Utilization: use systems to achieve Customer Business Plan objectives.
• Feedback and Improvement: provide feedback to leadership for improvements.
• Special Projects: complete special projects as requested.

Skills

Presentation skills

Communication skills

Multi-tasking

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Tools

PowerPoint

Excel

Word

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. We are looking for experience in the natural / organic foods channel.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Here's what you'll be doing:

• 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.
• Experience in the natural and/or organic foods channel is a PLUS

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

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 its not just about what we do - its 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.

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: $57420.00 - $71720.00

Company: Acosta Employee Holdco LLC