National Account Manager

Ghirardelli Chocolate Company; Missouri; Hybrid; USD 119,000 - 154,000; Full time

Job summary

Lindt & Sprüngli Group is seeking a National Account Manager to drive sales and distribution for our premium chocolate brands in the U.S. You will manage and optimize sales controllables, exceed MAPS objectives, and build senior-level customer relationships to enable joint business planning.

You will lead cross-functional initiatives, prepare customer-facing presentations, and leverage category management to improve in-store execution. Travel up to 35% may be required.

Qualifications

• BA/BS Degree or equivalent work experience.
• Minimum of 5 years of direct selling experience.

Responsibilities

• Manage and achieve sales controllables
• Exceed MAPS objectives as outlined in customer game plan
• Develop senior level customer relationships that drive joint business planning execution
• Being a leader within the company and collaborating cross functionally to create customer driven initiatives that achieve game plan goals
• Ability to prepare and present customer-facing presentations that drive Ghirardelli's in-store execution
• Strong negotiation skills
• Demonstrate category management skillset that will drive customer partnerships and execution

Skills

Sales

Account management

Negotiation

Category management

Relationship building

Cross-functional collaboration

Presentation skills

Education

BA/BS Degree or equivalent

Job description

WHO WE ARE

At Ghirardelli, we honor tradition and drive innovation, aiming to be the top choice for premium chocolate. Our commitment to Making Life A Bite Better inspires both our products and the way we do business. We support personal and professional growth, recognizing that each employee's contribution directly impacts Ghirardelli's growth and success. Join our dynamic team and help shape Ghirardelli's future.

Job Summary

A National Account Manager is responsible for achieving the sales budget, new item distribution targets, trade promotion budget, forecasting targets, expense management, and MAPS objectives for assigned accounts. This includes all customer communication, trade funds management, forecasting and accountability for volume, profit and in-store conditions. This position may have multiple customers/HQ selling contacts and they may call on a larger customer directly as the main point of contact. Sales volume can range from $10M to $30M.

• Manage and achieve sales controllables
• Exceed MAPS objectives as outlined in customer game plan
• Develop senior level customer relationships that drive joint business planning execution
• Being a leader within the company and collaborating cross functionally to create customer driven initiatives that achieve game plan goals
• Ability to prepare and present customer-facing presentations that drive Ghirardelli's in-store execution
• Strong negotiation skills
• Demonstrate category management skillset that will drive customer partnerships and execution

Salary Range: $118,700 - $154,400

BA/BS Degree or equivalent work experience

Minimum of 5 years of direct selling experience

This position may work out of a team sales office or home office

Travel on average of 25% but up to 35%.

Spends 60% of time at desk working at computer or phone.

Spends 25% of time interacting with key customers for purpose of influencing business results.

Spends 15% of time observing conditions in retail outlets, attending off-site sales meetings and performing other miscellaneous activities.

Occasional to Constant Repetitive Fine Manipulation (keyboarding, ten key, writing)

Rare to Occasional ability to lift and carry up to 50 pounds

Ability to travel to various locations across the country or local travel to meetings

Looking to grow your career in a dynamic, international setting? Join the Lindt & Sprüngli Group!

Together, we thrive to achieve our bold ambitions, powered by our purpose and unique culture of community and mutual support - rooted in a proud tradition, yet always evolving to stay ahead and set new standards.

Across our diverse local teams, we think globally and act locally - empowering people to grow, take ownership and shape a sustainable future together.

We are a responsible "employer of choice" who provides an inspiring people experience.

Together, we build trust, drive innovation, and grow - as individuals and as a business.

Lindt & Sprüngli has been enchanting the world with chocolate for over 180 years. The long-established Swiss company with its roots in Zurich is a global leader in the premium chocolate category. Lindt & Sprüngli produces quality chocolates today at its 12 factories in Europe and the USA. Its products are sold by 41 subsidiaries and branch offices in around 620 of its own stores as well as via a network of around 100 distributors around the globe.

With around 15,500 employees, the Lindt & Sprüngli Group reported sales of CHF 5.92 billion in 2025.

Our commitment to contributing to a sustainable tomorrow is a key element driving the company’s actions and ambitions.

Since 2008, the Lindt & Sprüngli Farming Program has been our Responsible Sourcing Standard for cocoa.