Account Manager, Foodservice Distribution

Huhtamaki•De Soto, KS

5d•Hybrid

About The Position

Huhtamaki is a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions, aiming to make all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. This role is responsible for creating profitable sales growth through existing and new foodservice distributors and operators within the California and Nevada market. The Account Manager will visit clients, assess needs, suggest products, improve brand awareness, implement sales plans, respond to inquiries, negotiate sales, and close orders. This involves externally interfacing with purchasing, sales, marketing, and management at distributors and operators, as well as internally working with various departments like Product Management, Commercial Excellence, Customer Service, and support functions to grow and service the business profitably. The position requires owning customer relationships, developing new customer targets, utilizing various communication methods, creating and executing account strategies, negotiating contracts, managing account budgets and marketing needs, delivering sales targets, participating in new item commercialization, and learning sales tools and processes. The role also serves as a customer liaison to Huhtamaki Corporate departments.

Requirements

Committed to Huhtamaki’s values and upholding the highest ethical standards.
Located within the Market (California or Nevada).
In-depth knowledge of Foodservice Distribution industry, purchasing trends, go-to market strategies, and processes.
A minimum of 5 years of experience is required in Foodservice Distribution.
Excellent communication, listening, and presentation skills, both verbal and written.
Proficient with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint, comfortable with quantitative analysis.
Collaborative and influential without formal authority, comfortable with people of diverse backgrounds and skill sets, able to manage conflict and build commitment to goals.
Sense of urgency and ability to work independently, organizing and directing own work toward meeting objectives.
Strong track record of prior success, curiosity, coachability, intelligence, and work ethic.
Undergraduate Degree in Business or Analytical Field, or similar work experience in one of these disciplines.

Responsibilities

Creating profitable sales growth through existing and new foodservice distributors and operators within their defined market (California and Nevada).
Visiting clients, assessing client needs, suggesting appropriate Huhtamaki products, and improving brand awareness within their markets.
Ensuring effective implementation of sales plans.
Responding to inquiries, negotiating sales, and concluding sales orders.
Externally interfacing with purchasing, sales, marketing, and management at operators and/or distributors to gain product categories and protect existing business.
Processing pricing, deductions, and promotional activity with the distributors to ensure proper business processes are followed for profitable returns.
Targeting, approaching, and closing business with key operators (restaurants, school districts, colleges & universities, stadiums, etc.) to drive incremental sales.
Working closely with Management, Product Management, Commercial Excellence, Customer Service, and other support functions (pricing, deductions, marketing, accounts receivable, credit, graphics, quality control, and manufacturing) to profitably grow and service the business in the Region.
Owning customer relationships to drive growth and develop new customer targets (i.e. pipeline).
Utilizing telephone, email/written correspondence, market visits, trade shows, and attendance/participation in other professional organizations.
Creating and executing account strategy for each customer ensuring alignment of the Huhtamaki organization.
Creating and negotiating contract customer proposals.
Maintaining specific account budget, marketing needs, and overall health of the accounts.
Delivering annual sales and contribution margin target.
Participating in the commercialization process for new items or item/packaging/graphic changes.
Learning and using sales tools and processes (i.e. CRM, account management, negotiation, pipeline management, margin management, etc.).
Acting as a customer liaison to Huhtamaki Corporate (marketing, manufacturing, graphics, customer service, forecasting, and pricing/deductions).