National Grocery Accounts Lead

ARI (Axcel Recruiting Inc.); St. Louis (MO); Hybrid; USD 90,000 - 120,000; Full time

Job summary

ARI (Axcel Recruiting Inc.) is seeking a Grocery Sales Manager responsible for National Account Customers and Broker Account Managers for shelf-stable product lines. The role drives revenue, profit and market share with strategic planning, data‑driven selling and cross‑functional leadership.

Flexible location is available; Midwest major metro preferred, but candidates from anywhere in the Midwest will be considered. Grocery National Account and Broker Management experience is required.

Qualifications

• Outstanding demonstrated leadership skills.
• Excellent strategic capabilities.
• Strong results orientated skills.
• Excellent business planning/organizational/project management skills.
• Solid understanding of the financial impact of sales and managing within an allocated budget.
• Strong working knowledge of supply chain principles/processes.
• Understanding of the impact of consumer trends and the food industry.
• Demonstrated success in developing business opportunities, identifying customer needs and changes in their markets.
• Solid interpersonal skills.
• Demonstrated success in developing broker and/or customer relationships.
• Excellent negotiation and “closing” skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication/presentation skills.
• In-depth working knowledge of fact based selling, category management, consumer goods, and sales & marketing.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the Sales Director and Broker Business Development Managers to develop the strategic and tactical plan for the business within the assigned geography and National Account Customers.
• Adopt and implement fact based selling techniques, analysis, and reporting using syndicated data sources to develop action plans.
• Lead broker reviews to drive revenue, profit and market share within budgets.
• Build and maintain positive relationships with customers, brokers, and HQ teams to enable partnerships.
• Lead account planning and customer business reviews; develop compelling sales presentations.
• Partner with broker reps; lead customer business development, negotiations, and sales calls.
• Leverage Nielsen/IRI data with category management resources to support category reviews, assortment, pricing, promotions and shelving tactics.
• Lead cross-functional teams to ensure excellent customer service and high product service levels.
• Track shipments vs consumption; communicate gaps and opportunities with solutions.
• Manage monthly forecasts for non-promoted and promoted business; analyze promotions for ROI.

Skills

Leadership

Strategic thinking

Results oriented

Business planning

Budgeting

Supply chain

Industry knowledge

Business development

Interpersonal skills

Relationship management

Negotiation

Communication

Data analysis

Category management

Sales & marketing

Tools

Excel

Word

Access

PowerPoint

Outlook

Job description

ARI (Axcel Recruiting Inc.) is seeking a Grocery Sales Manager responsible for National Account Customers and Broker Account Managers for shelf-stable product lines. The role drives revenue, profit and market share with strategic planning, data‑driven selling and cross‑functional leadership.

Flexible location is available; Midwest major metro preferred, but candidates from anywhere in the Midwest will be considered. Grocery National Account and Broker Management experience is required.