Account Manager, Foodservice Distribution

Huhtamaki•De Soto, KS

4d•Hybrid

About The Position

Huhtamaki is a key global provider of sustainable packaging solutions, aiming to make all packaging recyclable, reusable, or compostable. They focus on ensuring the hygiene and safety of food and drink. This role is responsible for creating profitable sales growth through existing and new foodservice distributors and operators within the California and Nevada market. The position involves visiting clients, assessing needs, suggesting products, improving brand awareness, implementing sales plans, responding to inquiries, negotiating sales, and concluding orders. It requires external interfacing with purchasing, sales, marketing, and management at distributors and operators, as well as internal collaboration with various departments to support business growth and service. The role also involves targeting, approaching, and closing business with key operators to drive incremental sales.

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, curiosity, intelligence, and work ethic.
Undergraduate Degree in Business or Analytical Field, or similar work experience in one of these disciplines.

Responsibilities

Create profitable sales growth through existing and new foodservice distributors and operators within the defined market (California and Nevada).
Visit clients, assess client needs, suggest appropriate Huhtamaki products, and improve brand awareness within their markets.
Ensure effective implementation of sales plans.
Respond to inquiries, negotiate sales, and conclude sales orders.
Externally interface with purchasing, sales, marketing, and management at operators and/or distributors to gain product categories and protect existing business.
Process pricing, deductions, and promotional activity with the distributors to ensure proper business processes are followed for profitable returns.
Externally target, approach, and close business with key operators (restaurants, school districts, colleges & universities, stadiums, etc.) to drive incremental sales.
Internally, work 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 get the needed support to profitably grow and service the business in the Region.
Own customer relationships to drive growth and develop new customer targets (i.e. pipeline).
Utilize telephone, email/written correspondence, market visits, trade shows, and attendance/participation in other professional organizations.
Create and execute account strategy for each customer ensuring alignment of the Huhtamaki organization.
Create and negotiate contract customer proposals.
Maintain specific account budget, marketing needs, and overall health of the accounts.
Deliver annual sales and contribution margin target.
Participate in the commercialization process for new items or item/packaging/graphic changes.
Learn and use sales tools and processes (i.e. CRM, account management, negotiation, pipeline management, margin management, etc.).
Act as customer liaison to Huhtamaki Corporate (marketing, manufacturing, graphics, customer service, forecasting, and pricing/deductions).