Key Account Manager I

Advantage-Solutions; New Orleans (LA); On-site; USD 55,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full-Time Benefits

401(k) match

Career Development

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Advantage-Solutions in New Orleans is seeking a Key Account Manager I to oversee strategic sales activities and strengthen client relationships. You will own annual planning with clients, identify opportunities, and drive growth through data-driven insights, promotions, and retail collaborations.

The role requires solid communication, cross-functional leadership, and the ability to influence product placement, pricing, and promotions across major accounts.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in sales, grocery, and CPG.
• 1-3 years of experience in applicable field.
• Strong sales presentation and communication skills.
• Ability to manage multiple relationships and programs with vendors.

Responsibilities

• Drive clients’ business at assigned customer and increase sales within budget.
• Ensure retail/merchandising execution and basic eCommerce execution.
• Analyze trends to identify growth opportunities and make recommendations.
• Build and maintain relationships with category buyers to influence product placement and pricing.

Skills

Sales presentations

Interpersonal skills

Written communication

Cross-functional leadership

Analytical thinking

Negotiation

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in sales, grocery, and CPG

Tools

Microsoft Word

Excel

PowerPoint

Access

Outlook

Web browsers

Job description

Summary

Key Account Manager I

As a Key Account Manager, you will play a pivotal role in overseeing and optimizing the strategic aspects of our sales process. Your primary responsibilities will include building and nurturing client and customer relationships, drawing on your customer expertise to deliver valuable insights and recommendations tailored to their specific needs. You will take ownership of the annual planning processes, collaborating closely with clients to set goals and objectives that align with both their business objectives and industry trends.In this role, you will actively identify new business opportunities by staying abreast of market trends, leveraging data-driven insights, and fostering a deep understanding of client needs. You will advocate for and secure favorable plans on behalf of our clients, ensuring mutually beneficial agreements with our customers. Furthermore, your role will involve close interaction with category buyers at our customers, where you'll establish and maintain deep relationships to influence product, placement, promotion, and pricing to drive successful outcomes for our clients.

What we offer

• Full-Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision, Life)
• 401(k) with company match
• Training and Career Development
• Generous Paid Time-Off

Responsibilities

• Drive our clients’ business at assigned customer. Increase distribution, grow sales dollars/units/share/other KPI’s, while staying within budget guidelines.
• Responsible for ensuring retail/merchandising execution and basic eCommerce execution.
• Achieves targeted income and expense budgets by implementing promotional and marketing strategies.
• Analyzes trends and results to identify growth opportunities and makes recommendations to clients and customers.
• Monitors and drives growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines on assigned clients.
• Meets budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill-back funds for assigned clients.
• Meets expectation for managing period ending with fund balance performance with no overspends vs. trade budget.
• Meets or exceeds Client’s goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume.
• Launches strategies to pursue new opportunities.
• Implement retailer headquarter calls and penetrate key positions at the retailer to:
• Achieve sales goals by managing and maximizing manufacturer marketing and promotional funds while staying within financial guidelines.
• Ensure that all retail pricing and indirect order guides within the division is updated by regularly correcting discrepancies.
• Secure Client approved schematics for all Clients’ brands by providing direction and communication to our schematic, reset, and retail departments.
• Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKU’s.
• Collaborate with category management team to develop retailer presentations by using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysis.
• Manage accounts to achieve the targeted ACV on Innovation Builds and maintain effective client and retailer relationships in order to ensure customer access and client perspective that we are connected and engaged with key stakeholders.
• Demonstrates sales accomplishments and areas of opportunity by developing sales presentations for Customers and Clients.
• Implements Customer HQ Calls and demonstrates an ability to penetrate key positions at the retailer.
• Offers strategic input pursuant to annual business plans, problem solving, and ongoing customer management. Finds the intersection of retailer and client objectives and drive win/win scenarios. Provides timely and fluid communication on Client goals, programs, price changes, and priorities to include all necessary people and information.
• Manage difficult situations, issues and conflicts to get to an effective outcome.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Achieves targeted income and expense budgets by implementing promotional and marketing strategies
• Analyzes trends and results to identify growth opportunities and makes recommendations to clients and customers
• Monitors and drives growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines on assigned client
• Meets budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill-back funds for assigned client
• Meets expectation for managing period ending fund balance performance with no overspends vs. trade budget.
• Meets or exceeds Client’s goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume
• Launches strategies to pursue new opportunities
• Implements retailer headquarter calls and penetrate key positions at the retailer to:
• Achieve sales goals by managing and maximizing manufacturer marketing and promotional funds while staying within financial guidelines
• Ensure that all retail pricing and indirect order guides within the division is updated by regularly correcting discrepancies
• Secure Client approved schematics for all Clients’ brands by providing direction and communication to our schematic, reset, and retail department
• Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKU’
• Collaborate with category management team to develop retailer presentations by using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysis
• Manage accounts to achieve the targeted ACV on Innovation
• Builds and maintains effective client and retailer relationships in order to ensure customer access and client perspective that we are connected and engaged with key stakeholders
• Demonstrates sales accomplishments and areas of opportunity by developing sales presentations for Customers and Client
• Implements Customer HQ Calls and demonstrates an ability to penetrate key positions at the retailer
• Offers strategic input pursuant to annual business plans, problem solving, ongoing customer management. Finds the intersection of retailer and client objectives and drive win/win scenarios
• Provides timely and fluid communication on Client goals, programs, price changes, and priorities to include all necessary people and information
• Manages difficult situations, issues and conflicts to get to an effective outcome

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience in sales, grocery, and CPG
• Strong sales presentation, interpersonal, and development skills
• Strong written and verbal communication skills
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced work environment
• Track record of building and maintaining customer/client relationships
• Strong computer skills including proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Outlook, and web browsers
• Working knowledge of syndicated data and driving insights
• Proven track record in sales

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

Important Information

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports- This position does not have guidance or mentoring responsibilities for indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

• Travel and Driving are essential duties and function of this job
• Travel up to 20 %

Education Level

(Required): High School Diploma/GED or equivalent experience (Preferred): Bachelor's Degree

Field of Study/Area of Experience

1-3 years of experience in applicable field

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Strong sales presentation and development skills
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Working knowledge of syndicated data
• Intermediate or advanced computer skills
• Strong written communication and verbal communication skills
• Conflict management skills
• Demonstrated ability to provide cross-functional leadership
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced work environment
• Flexible and adaptable, able to change and alter according to changes in projects or business environment
• Ability to complete multiple duties with accuracy shifting from one to another with frequent interruptions and competing deadlines