Regional Sales Manager

**Fully Remote (Candidates located in the Eastern and Central Time Zones Preferred, especially in IL, CO & TX) **

Job Description

As Regional Sales Manager at Hero Bread, you will be responsible for achieving annual sales, trade spending and profit goals at Regional Grocery Accounts across the East, Midwest and Southern Regions of the country. You will be tasked with executing the end to end sales process for both new and existing accounts as well as directly managing broker and distributor relationships. Hero Bread is looking for a candidate that is self-driven, organized, and meticulous, with a history of opening new doors and driving growth across a list of priority grocery retailers in the Eastern and Central Time Zones. If you have a proven history of success in sales and account management, along with strong communication, leadership, and strategic thinking skills, come join us at Hero Bread!

Responsibilities:

• Achieve annual sales, trade spending, and profit goals at key regional customers across the East, Central and Southern Regions of the US
• Manage trade budget across key regional customers (Trade Spend, Deductions, Slotting, Merchandising, Broker Fees, etc.), ensuring all plans are accurately tracked and reconciled.
• Build and maintain strong relationships at regional accounts to drive sales growth, open new doors, sell in features and displays, maximize profitability and market share.
• Manage a network of broker partners, including planning and executing in-store merchandising and secondary display programs.
• Conduct Joint Business Planning and regular business reviews with top customers to identify opportunities for growth and improvement
• Accountable for customer and SKU level demand forecasts, working closely with internal Sales and Supply Chain teams to track and manage customer orders and DC inventory
• Negotiate pricing and trade spend agreements with regional accounts to ensure mutually beneficial partnerships
• Collaborate with Internal Sales, Operations and Marketing functions to ensure effective and timely execution of account strategies
• Represent Hero Bread at key selling events such as line reviews, trade shows, distributor events, etc.

Qualifications / Requirements:

• Bachelor’s Degree Required
• Proven ability to drive an immediate impact and growth in alignment with profit and brand-building goals
• Minimum 5 years of direct selling and broker management experience within CPG industry is required
• Experience in the Bakery/Deli/Bread/Baked Goods categories is strongly preferred
• Experience managing distributors UNFI, KeHE is required; C&S, AWG and Lipari are a plus
• Experience selling to East & Central Regional Grocers, e.g. Wegmans, Ahold/Delhaize, Publix, Kroger, Whole Foods, HEB, Meijer, Giant Eagle, Market Basket and Fresh Thyme
• Thorough understanding of business financials and experience managing to annual customer level P&Ls goals
• Direct experience with Trade Promotion Management software (e.g., BluePlanner, Vividly, etc.) and Customer Portals (e.g. KeHE, UNFI) is required
• Proficient in Excel, PowerPoint, Syndicated Data (e.g., Nielsen/SPINS/Circana)
• Data-driven approach with a strong attention to detail
• Positive, strong, can-do attitude with a collaborative way of working with cross-functional partners
• Ability to operate independently and as part of a larger team with a collaboration-first mindset
• Excellent communication skills, with experience presenting to executive level personnel at top Retailers
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment
• Flexible hours as vendors and teammates are spread out coast-to-coast
• Ability to travel 25% of the time

If interested, send your resume to: recruiting@hero.co or use the EASY APPLY function.