Customer Manager (Natural Channel)

About the Role

Join Acosta as a Customer Manager for the Natural Channel, responsible for managing principals' business within designated customer accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Achieve Sales Goals: Deliver principals’ objectives, including volume and sales fundamentals such as merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving goals at the assigned customers, all at the lowest cost.
• Strategic Planning: Develop a comprehensive Customer Business Plan that aligns with the principals’ business priorities.
• Client Engagement: Call on all decision-makers at the customer to present and sell business plans, programs, and concepts.
• Cost Management: Achieve results at the lowest possible selling cost while maximizing company revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, and contest earnings. Oversee all manufacturers’ expenditures at the customer.
• In-Store Presence: Ensure a competitively superior in-store presence in assigned stores by calling on headquarters, supervisors, and other customer operations personnel for both direct and indirect customers.
• Trade Marketing: Manage manufacturers’ trade marketing funds, process direct shipments via the Sales Support Coordinator, and leverage data to sell concepts to the customer.
• Budget Adherence: Operate within the designated budget.
• Proactive Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with key principals.
• Retail Initiatives: Collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives, including new product introductions, selling drives, and contests.
• Market Knowledge: Utilize knowledge of the customer, market, and principal to involve marketing, technology, and administrative resources in achieving objectives.
• Timely Information Sharing: Provide timely information on selling priorities to Retail Sales Managers, supervisors, and shared resources.
• Team Collaboration: Share information and customer/principal insights with team members.
• Technology Utilization: Utilize computer systems and technology to achieve the objectives of the Customer Business Plan and maintain skill levels for Acosta communication systems.
• Feedback and Improvement: Provide feedback to the Team Leader and/or General Manager on ways to build organizational capacity and improve business operations.
• Special Projects: Complete special projects as requested.

Qualifications

• Education: Bachelor of Arts Degree or equivalent work experience.
• Experience: A minimum of six+ months of relevant experience in retail (CPG industry), marketing, space management, and/or resets. Sales administration or finance experience is preferred.
• Technical Skills: Expertise in Microsoft software (PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and Outlook), along with thorough knowledge of web-based applications. Excellent presentation and communication skills are a must.
• Project Management: Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with strong organizational skills.