Key Account Manager II

Advantage Solutions; Minneapolis (MN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Full‑Time Benefits (Medical, Dental, V

401(k) with company match

Training and Career Development

Generous Paid Time‑Off

Job summary

JLB, an award-winning retail consulting firm, seeks a Key Account Manager II to drive sales programs, manage trade funds, and collaborate with buyers and category managers at Target and other retailers. You will sign and execute contracts on behalf of clients and work with Advantage Solutions teams.

The role requires 4–6 years’ experience in retail/CPG, strong presentation and communication skills, and the ability to develop strategic plans with clients and retailers.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 4–6 years of experience with retail, CPG, account management, agency, broker.
• 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 ability.
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced environment.
• Flexible and adaptable to changing projects and deadlines.

Responsibilities

• Drive our clients’ business at assigned customer; increase distribution, grow sales dollars/units/share 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.
• Monitor and drive growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines.
• Meet budgetary goals by maintaining accrual and bill-back funds for assigned clients.
• Meet or exceed client goals for sales, distribution, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume.
• Launch strategies to pursue new opportunities and coordinate retailer HQ calls.
• Secure client-approved schematics and ensure incremental sales through product distribution.

Skills

Sales presentation

Interpersonal skills

Organizational skills

Verbal communication

Written communication

Conflict management

Cross-functional leadership

Attention to detail

Adaptability

Multitasking

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

Microsoft Excel

MS Office

Job description

About JLB

JLB is

Key Account Manager II - JLB

About JLB

JLB is a award-winning retail consulting firm that is passionate about helping brands succeed at Target and Target win in the Marketplace. More than a traditional broker, we offer tailored solutions across Sales, Strategy, Category Management, Insights, Digital, Shopper Marketing, and more — helping brands thrive at one of the world’s most innovative retailers.
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 defined as the manufacturers, vendors, or brands who have contracted Advantage as their sales force. Our customers are defined as retailers, wholesalers, or distributors, to whom we sell our clients’ brands.
This teammate will collaborate with clients to develop strategic plans to accomplish the business goals and work with retailer associates (such as buyers, category managers, replenishment managers, and others) on Headquarter calls to implement the programs. This teammate will have a 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. This incumbent may be dedicated to servicing 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).

About The Company

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies, specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of consumer-packaged goods. We support a broad range of trade channels and partner closely with our clients to deliver solutions that drive performance and growth.
Take this opportunity to join a growing organization and build your career while working with talented teams across technology and business functions.

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 on spend
• In addition to the above statement, also 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 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 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 Clients
• Implements Customer HQ Calls and demonstrate 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

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 4-6 years of experience with retail, CPG, account management, agency, broker
• 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

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled