Sales Manager

The Gateway Institute; Hancock Township (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Vacation time

SIMPLE IRA 3% match

Per diem

Relocation assistance

Employee discounts

Job summary

Vollwerth and Co in Hancock, Michigan seeks a Sales Manager to lead and develop the sales team, grow revenue and margins, and strengthen customer relationships across channels. Regular regional and occasional overnight travel are required.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree or equivalent with 5+ years of progressive sales experience, including at least 2 years leading professionals in food-related markets. Base salary ranges $60,000–$90,000 with bonus potential and relocation support.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years progressive sales experience.
• Food manufacturing, meat, refrigerated foods, or CPG/foodservice experience preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading sales teams and delivering profitable growth.
• Knowledge of pricing, margins, trade spends, forecasting, territory management, account planning, and CRM systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the sales team with clear revenue, margin, activity, territory, and account performance targets.
• Build a qualified pipeline across grocery, retail, wholesale, distributor, foodservice, convenience, specialty, and institutional channels.
• Personally lead major opportunities, bids, presentations, plant visits, negotiations, and new-business development efforts.
• Manage key customer relationships and account plans focused on retention, growth, pricing, promotions, service, and new opportunities.
• Recommend pricing and review quotes, bids, contracts, discounts, rebates, and special terms within authority.
• Evaluate customer profitability and prepare forecasts, performance reports, and corrective action plans.
• Coordinate product launches, promotions, seasonal demand, and major orders with cross-functional teams.
• Maintain product and market knowledge and manage the sales budget, trade shows, customer events, and distributor meetings.

Skills

Sales leadership

Sales experience

CRM knowledge

Forecasting

Negotiation

Communication

Presentation

Analytical

Organizational skills

Education

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience

Tools

CRM systems

Microsoft Office

Job description

Vollwerth and Co is seeking a Sales Manager based in Hancock, Michigan to lead and develop our sales team, grow profitable revenue and margins, strengthen customer relationships, and drive new business across retail, wholesale, distributor, foodservice, and other channels. Regular regional travel and occasional overnight travel are required.

What We Offer

• $60,000 – 90,000 base salary plus bonus, based on experience.
• Three weeks of vacation plus sick time accrued at six hours per month.
• SIMPLE IRA with a 3% company match.
• Per diem, relocation assistance, and employee discounts.

What You Will Do

• Lead, coach, and develop the sales team while setting clear expectations for revenue, margin, activity, territory, and account performance.
• Build a qualified pipeline across grocery, retail, wholesale, distributor, foodservice, convenience, specialty, and institutional channels.
• Personally lead major opportunities, bids, presentations, plant visits, negotiations, and new-business development efforts.
• Manage key customer relationships and account plans focused on retention, growth, pricing, promotions, service expectations, and new opportunities.
• Recommend pricing and review quotes, bids, contracts, discounts, rebates, promotions, and special terms within approved authority.
• Evaluate customer and account profitability and prepare forecasts, performance reports, and corrective action plans.
• Coordinate product launches, promotions, seasonal demand, and major orders with production, purchasing, inventory, quality, customer service, logistics, and finance.
• Maintain strong product and market knowledge, set customer-service standards, and manage the sales budget, trade shows, customer events, and distributor meetings.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, food-industry management, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and relevant experience.
• 5+ years of progressive sales experience, including at least 2 years leading sales professionals.
• Food manufacturing, meat, refrigerated foods, consumer packaged goods, grocery, wholesale distribution, or foodservice experience is preferred.
• Demonstrated success leading sales teams, developing customers, winning new business, negotiating agreements, and delivering profitable growth.
• Working knowledge of pricing, margins, trade spending, forecasting, territory management, account planning, performance analysis, CRM systems, and Microsoft Office.
• Strong communication, presentation, coaching, analytical, organizational, negotiation, and conflict-resolution skills, with the ability to travel regularly and meet applicable driving and insurability requirements.

Location & Travel

This is a full-time position based in Hancock, Michigan. Regular regional travel and occasional overnight travel may be required. The role also includes time in customer, vehicle, warehouse, and food-manufacturing environments.

About Vollwerth And Co

Founded in 1915 in Hancock, Michigan, Vollwerth and Co is a multigenerational family business producing high-quality sausage from fresh ingredients and traditional recipes for customers throughout Michigan and Wisconsin.

Vollwerth and Co is an equal opportunity employer.

Qualified applicants are considered without regard to any status protected by applicable law.