The Sales Operations Manager – Wholesale Division is a working leader and manager within the Wholesale Division of Convivial Brands which includes Design Design and TABLEAU brands. This individual will partner with VP of Sales and the Sales Leaders to develop and optimize selling strategies, identify short-term and long-term goals, drive and develop scalable methods of tracking production, and deep dive to resolve sub-par performance. This person would supervise a team that encompasses order processing, sales-relevant inventory management, sales rep systems and tools, tradeshow operations and management, sample management, account analysis and support, back-order management, merchandising solutions and analysis, customer service, day-to-day administrative work, and more. The Sales Operations Manager – Wholesale Division must be able to manage multiple projects at once and identify similarities between brands to create efficiency in all areas. Overall, the Sales Operations Manager – Wholesale Division is a self-starter, proactive problem-solver, and dedicated to creating an environment for the Sales Team to thrive, so they can focus on growing sales.
Principal Duties and Responsibilities:
- Provides direction and leadership to the teams under scope of responsibility.
- Identifies, defines, and articulates processes for efficiency and improvement.
- Puts plans and processes into place to execute the strategic direction from the VP of Sales, Marketing Director, Product Director, and in alignment with the vision of the organization.
- Works with Sales Leadership to develop goals with Sales Operations that are aligned to the overall growth strategy of the organization.
- Selects, maintains, and implements sales automation, CRM, sales commissions and Sales Incentive programs.
- Manages CRM data and analyzes it to know where to focus, adjust, and streamline – ensuring it’s up-to-date and relevant.
- Defines, Creates, and Documents all Sales and Sales Operations Processes, and then works cross-departmentally on automating and streamlining for efficiency.
- Drives operational excellence by establishing standard KPIs and metrics to track and readout weekly around forecast trends.
- Coordinates, leads, manages, and improves key sales processes such as, but not limited to, Events (annual and quarterly sales conferences), Tradeshow Operations, CRM data integrity, Sales Ordering Tools, Merchandising management tools and executing Sales Support Needs.
- Manages and coordinates all sales activities and programs including, but not limited to, salesperson training/presentations, new hire training programs, continuing education/training events, and major sales initiatives.
- Manages sales process adoption and compliance from sales team.
- Pioneers the discovery and adoption of tools that will streamline the sales process – based on marketing strategy, sales strategy and necessity.
- Coordinates and manages top opportunity meetings and content; researches key top opportunities by uncovering data and distributing it to the sales team.
- Supports and helps drive all business development and outbound lead generation efforts, while also supporting inbound lead generation efforts.
- Analyzes sales and product data to develop insights and make recommendations on areas for optimization.
- Coordinates and manages sales meeting agenda as defined by sales leadership.
- Establishes technical improvements to the sales process to create effectiveness and efficiencies for the sales team to hit top line numbers.
- Collaborates with Sales and Product and Creative Team to put processes of sales training into place.
- Clarifies and supports an effective merchandising model that creates the strongest service for National/Regional accounts (specifically for the Design Design brand).
- Lead, Manage, and ensure a team is executing Card Manager and Planogramming
- Owns the Customer Card in the Organizations ERP and is a key contributor to the Item Card in the Organization’s ERP – partnering closely with the Product Development Department.
- Plays a key role in the implementation and management of B2B Online Wholesale eCommerce Platform.
- Performs other duties as assigned.
Convivial Brands Expectations of all Employees:
- Adheres to all Convivial Brands Policies and Procedures.
- Always conducts self in a manner consistent with Convivial Brands’ Core Values.
- Maintains a positive and respectful attitude with all contacts.
- Consistently reports to work on time and prepared to perform the duties of the position.
- Meets productivity standards and performs duties as workload necessitates.
- Maintains the privacy of all company proprietary information.
- Treat visitors, vendors, customers, and team members with respect and dignity.
- Able to safely perform the essential functions of the job with or without reasonable accommodation.
Supervisory Responsibilities:
- Leads, Manages, and holds the team accountable.
- Supports, encourages, coaches, and maintains accountability to ensure success of team members and of the organization.
- Participates in the hiring and training of direct reports.
- Organizes structure of direct reports.
- Organizes and oversees the work of direct reports.
- Performs annual performance reviews for direct reports.
- Handles coaching, disciplinary action, and terminations as needed for direct reports.
Required/Desired Qualifications:
- Bachelor's degree in Business Administration, Sales, Marketing, or other related field; or equivalent combination of relevant education and experience.
- At least 5-7 years of experience in the consumer-packaged-goods industry, retail industry, or wholesale goods industry. Experience in social expression product or giftware industry with a background and expertise in product development, project execution, preferably within the context of consumer-packaged-goods is a major plus.
- Strong understanding of how to measure success in Sales through KPIs and Process development/improvement.
- Strong understanding of current Marketing Trends and Techniques to create buy-in to Marketing’s initiatives with the Sales Field.
- Critical competencies and required experience for this role include sales & operations leadership, new product development and creative services understanding, and marketing strategy understanding.
- Must be a self-starter and problem solver, capable of functioning in a dynamic, fast paced, change-oriented environment.
- Excellent organizational, analytical, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.
- Collaborative team player with the ability to connect and work with employees at all levels; interacting effectively with senior management and staff to carry out the organization’s mission and objectives.
- Ability to understand and assess business priorities and act accordingly.
- Ability to give and receive constructive feedback.
- Ability to be influential and to effectively and quickly build relationships that establish trust, respect, competence, and confidence.
- Exceptional interpersonal, presentation, verbal/written communication, and listening skills.
- Exceptional managerial and diplomacy skills.
Job Type: Full-time
Pay: From $70,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- 401(k)
- 401(k) matching
- Dental insurance
- Disability insurance
- Employee assistance program
- Employee discount
- Health insurance
- Life insurance
- Paid time off
- Vision insurance
Ability to Relocate:
- Grand Rapids, MI 49503: Relocate before starting work (Preferred)
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Grand Rapids, MI 49503