Senior Business Manager

Acosta Group; Oakbrook Terrace (IL); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Hybrid work schedule

Job summary

Acosta Group is seeking a Senior Business Manager to lead and grow our Costco partnership, developing strategic plans and driving sales growth across the account. The ideal candidate will manage relationships with Costco buyers, leverage category insights, and collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Retail Services, and Analytics to deliver results.

This is a hybrid role with in-office days in Illinois, offering exposure to senior leadership and cross-functional teams.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years in sales, customer management, or business management in CPG, food brokerage, or related industries.
• Direct Costco account management experience strongly preferred.
• Proven ability to use data insights and category management to drive growth.

Responsibilities

• Lead day-to-day management and growth of the Costco business.
• Develop and execute annual customer business plans with volume and profitability goals.
• Build relationships with Costco buyers, merchants, and key decision-makers.
• Identify opportunities to expand distribution and drive category growth.
• Use insights and shopper data to develop fact-based selling recommendations.
• Lead joint business planning, presentations, and reviews.
• Collaborate with Sales, Marketing, Retail Services, and Analytics to execute programs.
• Manage trade spend and customer investments to maximize ROI.
• Mentor team members and foster collaboration and accountability.

Skills

Costco account mgmt

Excel

PowerPoint

Communication

Negotiation

Category management

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience

Tools

PowerPoint

Job description

Acosta is seeking a Senior Business Manager to lead and grow key business partnerships with Costco Wholesale. This highly visible role is responsible for developing and executing strategic business plans, driving sales growth, managing customer relationships, and delivering exceptional results for both Acosta and our principal partners.

The ideal candidate brings deep experience working with Costco, strong customer leadership skills, and a proven track record of growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) businesses through strategic selling, category management, and collaborative customer partnerships.

What You'll Do

• Lead the day-to-day management and strategic growth of the Costco business.
• Develop and execute annual customer business plans that deliver volume, sales, market share, and profitability goals.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with Costco buyers, merchants, and key decision-makers.
• Identify opportunities to expand distribution, increase sales, and drive category growth.
• Utilize category insights, syndicated data, and shopper trends to develop fact-based selling recommendations.
• Lead joint business planning, customer presentations, and business reviews.
• Collaborate with cross-functional teams including Sales, Marketing, Retail Services, and Analytics to execute programs successfully.
• Manage trade spending and customer investments to maximize return on investment.
• Monitor competitive activity, pricing, and category performance to identify opportunities and risks.
• Serve as a trusted advisor to principals by providing strategic recommendations and business insights.
• Mentor and support the development of team members while fostering a culture of collaboration and accountability.

What We're Looking For

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 7+ years of sales, customer management, or business management experience within CPG, food brokerage, or related industries.
• Direct Costco account management experience strongly preferred.
• Proven success building relationships with Costco buyers and driving business growth.
• Strong understanding of category management, customer planning, and fact-based selling.
• Experience utilizing syndicated data and analytical tools to develop business recommendations.
• Advanced proficiency with Excel and PowerPoint.
• Exceptional communication, presentation, and negotiation skills.
• Ability to influence stakeholders and manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience working with national consumer packaged goods brands.
• Strong understanding of Costco's business model, promotional strategies, and merchandising processes.
• Experience leading customer business reviews and presenting to senior-level stakeholders.

Why Join Us?

You'll have the opportunity to lead one of our most important customer partnerships, influence strategic business decisions, and drive meaningful growth for both Acosta and our brand partners while working alongside a talented and collaborative team.

• Costco experience is highly preferred and will be a key differentiator for candidates considered for this role. This is a Hybrid role working 3 days per week in office.