Customer Business Manager

This is a fully remote position, open to applicants in California, +15 more states.

📋 Description

• Meet and exceed sales objectives for the designated territory, customer, and product category while adhering to the approved trade spend budget through effective negotiations with buyers regarding sales and product placement.

• Create, oversee, and regularly update the annual business plans for assigned accounts.

• Evaluate point of sale data and other sales metrics; communicate trends, insights, and potential risks through performance reports to Hartz internal teams and the category/replenishment teams of accounts.

• Utilize data to refresh and modify the customer business plan as necessary.

• Continuously identify opportunities for category and line reviews, crafting compelling sales narratives to secure new business and enhance existing distribution across all categories.

• Ensure that retail margins and promotional activities align with the established brand strategy for all products and categories, including optimal shelf positioning.

• Anticipate customer events as required.

• Cultivate strong relationships with key stakeholders and brokers through regular communication and meetings.

• Work closely with internal Brand and Customer Planning teams, as well as external broker partners, to identify significant opportunities within these major grocery accounts.

• Formulate and execute strategies and programs designed to drive profitable and incremental sales.

• Comprehend and communicate account strategies and objectives to the internal Hartz team.

• Participate in industry and customer events, trade shows, and company sales/marketing meetings.

• Manage administrative tasks effectively, including price change forms, deductions, and selling and planning schedules.

⛳️ Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree in a Business-related field with a minimum of 2 years of direct sales experience (or 5+ years of direct sales experience in lieu of a degree), specifically engaging with national grocery headquarter accounts and a proven track record of setting and achieving a growth agenda; Kroger experience is preferred, as well as experience in the pet care industry.

• Familiarity with Kroger systems and associated vendor applications and reports to generate and monitor metrics outlined by customer scorecards is preferred.

• Demonstrated experience with category management, fact-based selling approaches (including point of sale and syndicated data analysis), along with the ability to create, develop, and compellingly present this information from the ground up.

• Strong negotiation capabilities, with a proven record of closing business and expanding the current account portfolio.

• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.

• Willingness and ability to travel as required (25%).

🏝️ Benefits

• Remote Work Schedule: Enjoy the flexibility of working remotely from your home office.

• Competitive Compensation & Benefits: Benefit from a generous 401(k) match with immediate vesting.

• Generous Paid Time Off: Take advantage of up to 34 paid days off each year.

• Paid Leaves: Access parental leave, bereavement leave, and military leave.

• Comprehensive Health Coverage: Includes Medical, Dental, Vision, Healthcare FSA, Mental Health EAP, basic Life Insurance, and Disability Insurance.

• Tuition Reimbursement & Career Growth: Benefit from tuition reimbursement and various learning and development opportunities.