Retail Sales Leader, Grocery - ATLANTA

Mars; Atlanta (GA); On-site; USD 101,000 - 139,000; Full time

Job summary

Mars in Atlanta, GA (or Nashville, TN) seeks a Retail Sales Leader to guide a team of Retail Sales Associates and merchandisers. You will coach, develop, and motivate the team to hit KPI targets and advance talent within Mars.

Lead in planning, field execution, and data-driven decision making to achieve account strategies, display objectives, and profitable growth across your region. Expect up to 50% travel and strong cross-functional collaboration.

Qualifications

• 3+ years of experience in a customer-facing or people management role.
• Proven ability to communicate complex information clearly to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
• Proven ability to influence, motivate, direct, and empower.
• Strong analytical capability with experience using data sources to build a selling story.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Strong follow-up and follow-through skills.
• Active listening.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook & Power BI).
• Up to 50% overnight travel, air travel, and some weekends.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Responsibilities

• Recruit, onboard, develop and coach performance of Retail Sales Managers and merchandisers.
• Lead execution of annual retail plans delivering profitable sales growth, distribution gains, and display objectives.
• Monitor performance metrics, analyze data from multiple sources, and provide insights.
• Spend minimum 60% of time in the field to ensure accountability and coach staff.
• Work cross-functionally to align priorities and strengthen customer relationships.
• Penetrate higher levels of management to sell and influence category driving programs.
• Communicate weekly priorities to merchandisers.
• Build and maintain a team engagement action plan.
• Embed company vision and champion change management.
• Execute quarterly retail work to assess effectiveness and coaching needs.
• Manage seasonal surge budgets in collaboration with third-party surge teams.

Skills

People leadership

Analytical capability

Communication

Influence

Planning & organization

Active listening

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Tools

Microsoft Office

Power BI

Job description

Job Description

Location: Atlanta, GA or Nashville, TN

At MARS, we are committed to developing our people and celebrating success. Reporting to a Retail Sales Director, you will join a high-performing, collaborative team where leadership, teamwork, and strategic execution drive results.

As a Retail Sales Leader, your primary role will be to develop and lead a team of Retail Sales Associates and part-time merchandisers (where applicable) by establishing priorities and evaluating performance. The expectation of the Retail Sales Leader is to provide continual coaching to direct, engage and motivate the Associate(s) to achieve their individual and team key performance indicators (KPI’s) while actively developing them for their next best role within Mars.

The Retail Sales Leader must have proven People leadership, analytical capabilities, and coaching skills to build and develop an effective and highly motivated field sales team. The role is responsible for translating company strategies into actionable plans for the region and directing the team in the use of data insights to achieve these plans while ensuring alignment with account strategy, business objectives, and selling priorities across your area of responsibility.

Key Responsibilities

• Recruit, onboard, develop and coach performance of Retail Sales Managers retain talent and build a strong talent pipeline.
• Partner closely with customer teams and lead the execution of annual retail plans that deliver profitable sales growth, distribution gains, and display objectives.
• Role model the ability to monitor retail performance metrics, analyze data from multiple sources, and provide insights during field work-withs, lead bi-monthly and quarterly Retail Execution calls with your team and account partners to ensure performance against goals.
• Spend minimum 60% of time in the field to ensure accountability and manage individual performance while coaching and developing skills and capabilities to enhance performance and achieve business results.
• Work cross- functionally to align priorities, drive execution, and strengthen customer relationships as well as identifying market specific needs and opportunities for the categories under your responsibility.
• Cultivate collaborative relationships and penetrate higher levels of management (Regional, Market, District, and/or General Managers) to sell and influence category driving programs and initiatives (where applicable).
• Communicate weekly priorities and schedule to part-time merchandisers (where applicable).
• Build and maintain a comprehensive team engagement action plan to foster a high-performing team environment.
• Embed company vision and purpose by championing change management principles to effectively lead and inspire team.
• Perform quarterly retail work behinds to assess RSM effectiveness and identify coaching opportunities (where applicable). Take appropriate follow-up action as required.
• Effectively execute Great Line Management responsibilities inclusive of ongoing performance management and associate development.
• In some channels, navigate complex challenges to influence and manage a seasonal surge executional budget across region in collaboration with 3rd party surge team to deliver seasonal sell through targets.
• Consistently demonstrate and hold team accountable for exhibiting the Mars Five Principles.
• Perform special projects assigned by leadership.

Job Specifications/Qualifications

Education & Professional Qualification:

• Bachelor’s Degree

Knowledge/Experience

Minimum Qualifications:

• 3+ years of experience in a customer-facing or people management role.
• Proven ability to communicate complex or detailed information clearly and effectively to diverse audiences, both verbally and in writing.
• Proven ability to influence, motivate, direct, and empower.
• Strong analytical capability with experience using multiple data sources (e.g., account data, scan data, POS data, share data) to build a compelling selling story.
• Excellent planning and organizational skills.
• Strong follow-up and follow-through skills.
• Active listening.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook & Power Bi)
• Work in conditions that have multiple and sometimes conflicting priorities resulting in extended work hours.
• Up to 50% overnight travel, air travel, and some weekends.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.

Preferred Qualifications:

• 5-10 years of Consumer-Packaged Goods (CPG) Industry experience.
• Selling experience at the headquarters, district, regional, or market level undefined.
• Thorough understanding of the retail environment and consumer products.
• Ability to work cross-functionally to build alignment.
• Demonstrated key account and people management experience.
• Demonstrated broker management experience.

What can you expect from Mars?

Work with diverse and talented Associates, all guided by the Five Principles.

Join a purpose driven company, where we’re striving to build the world we want tomorrow, today.

A strong focus on learning and development support from day one, including access to our in‑house Mars University.

An industry competitive salary and benefits package, including company bonus.

The base pay range for this position at commencement of employment is between the range listed below, however, base pay offered may vary depending on multiple individualized factors, including but not limited to job-related knowledge, skills, and experience. The total compensation package for this position will include variable pay, medical and dental benefits, participation in 401k plan, and paid time off benefits. Details of participation in these benefit plans will be provided if an applicant receives an offer of employment.

The pay range shown is applicable to all US locations listed within the job posting:USD 101,120.00 - USD 139,040.00