Key Account Manager II

Advantage Solutions; Charlotte (NC); On-site; USD 65,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading sales solutions provider is seeking a Key Account Manager II in Charlotte, NC. The role involves driving client business at assigned customers, managing relationships, and achieving sales quotas. The ideal candidate will have a bachelor's degree and 4–6 years of experience working with key retailers. Responsibilities include implementing promotional strategies, collaborating with retailers, and ensuring compliance with sales budgets. Travel may be required up to 20% of the time.

Qualifications

• Proven experience managing high-value accounts.
• Experience developing long-term relationships with stakeholders.
• Ability to deliver on customer objectives (sales growth, promotional execution).

Responsibilities

• Drive clients' business at assigned customer to increase distribution and sales.
• Ensure retail execution and basic eCommerce execution.
• Achieve income and expense budgets by implementing promotional strategies.
• Analyze trends and results to identify growth opportunities.
• Monitor and manage promotional spending for assigned clients.
• Meet budgetary goals and manage fund balances.
• Implement retailer headquarters calls and manage key positions.

Skills

Strong sales presentation and development skills

Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills

Working knowledge of syndicated data

Intermediate or advanced computer skills

Strong written and verbal communication skills

Conflict management skills

Cross-functional leadership

Detail-oriented

Ability to handle a fast-paced work environment

Ability to manage multiple duties

Education

Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience

4–6 years of experience with key retailers

Job description

Key Account Manager II

The KAM II is a salesperson responsible for meeting sales quotas and expense budgets for assigned clients by managing sales programs, promotional spending, distribution levels, shelf placement and strategic planning initiatives. Our clients are manufacturers, vendors, or brands that have contracted Advantage as their sales force. Our customers are retailers, wholesalers or distributors, to whom we sell our clients' brands.

This teammate will collaborate with clients to develop strategic plans to accomplish business goals and work with retailer associates on Headquarter calls to implement the programs. This teammate will own the relationship with our clients.

This teammate will make decisions regarding spending of our clients' trade funds to drive increased sales, and will sign, implement, and execute contracts at our customers, on our clients' behalf.

This position also works closely with internal Advantage Solutions associates such as Customer Managers and order entry, claims, category management, schematics and retail associates to increase sales volume within a market. The incumbent may serve one or multiple clients' goals while also encompassing customer relations and implementation. Clients will consist of Pioneering clients (manufacturers that do not currently have distribution in the customers the associate is responsible for), Regional clients (manufacturers not represented through a National contract but rather retain the services on a regional, market, or customer‑specific basis) or Tier 3 clients (manufacturers with minimal volume, SKU counts, and commission revenue).

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled.

Responsibilities

• Drive our clients' business at assigned customer: increase distribution, grow sales dollars/units/share/other KPIs while staying on spend.
• Ensure retail/merchandising execution and basic eCommerce execution.
• Achieve targeted income and expense budgets by implementing promotional and marketing strategies.
• Analyze trends and results to identify growth opportunities and make recommendations to clients and customers.
• Monitor and drive growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines on assigned clients.
• Meet budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill‑back funds for assigned clients.
• Meet expectations for managing period‑ending fund balance performance with no overspends versus trade budget.
• Meet or exceed clients' goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume.
• Launch strategies to pursue new opportunities.
• Implement retailer headquarters 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 are updated by regularly correcting discrepancies.
  • Secure client‑approved schematics for all clients' brands by providing direction and communication to schematic, reset, and retail departments.
  • Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKUs.
  • Collaborate with the category management team to develop retailer presentations using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysis.
  • Manage accounts to achieve the targeted ACV on Innovation.
• Build and maintain effective client and retailer relationships to ensure customer access and the client perspective that we are connected and engaged with key stakeholders.
• Demonstrate sales accomplishments and areas of opportunity by developing sales presentations for customers and clients.
• Implement customer headquarters calls and demonstrate ability to penetrate key positions at the retailer.
• Offer strategic input pursuant to annual business plans, problem‑solving, ongoing customer management; find the intersection of retailer and client objectives and drive win‑win scenarios.
• Provide timely and fluid communication on client goals, programs, price changes, and priorities to all necessary people and information.
• Manage difficult situations, issues and conflicts to reach effective outcomes.

Education & Qualifications

Bachelor's Degree (or equivalent experience) and 4–6 years of experience managing or working closely with key retailers, including department heads, category managers, buyers and other retail stakeholders; proven experience managing high‑value accounts, developing long‑term relationships, and delivering on customer objectives (e.g., sales growth, promotional execution).

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 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 adjust according to changes in projects or business environment
• Ability to complete multiple duties with accuracy while shifting from one to another with frequent interruptions and competing deadlines

Travel & Physical Requirements

Travel and driving are essential functions of this job. Travel up to 20% of the time.

Office/Sedentary: Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Requires ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ of each day), ability to hear telephone, ability to enter data on a computer, and may require lifting up to 10 lbs.

Additional 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 reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified 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 law.

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 law.