AIM Sr. Sales Manager

Associated Wholesale Grocers•Kansas City, KS

16d•Hybrid

About The Position

The AIM Ad Group serves ~1300 of AWG’s member stores as the strategic conduit between AWG teams and vendor partners, driving collaborative planning and execution of growth‑focused promotions and omnichannel marketing programs. Grounded in strong Category Management strategies, AIM develops and delivers impactful marketing initiatives designed to enhance sales, strengthen vendor partnerships, and elevate the shopper experience across AWG’s diverse retail network. Our mission is to provide our member‑retailers the most competitive cost of goods, tools, and support to thrive in the communities in which they serve. The AIM Sr. Sales Manager is responsible for driving profitable sales growth for AWG and our Advertising & Innovative Marketing (AIM) member‑retailers. This role leverages AWG’s scale to negotiate product costs, promotions, and merchandising programs with vendor partners, while working closely with AWG’s division teams to activate and support In‑House Ad Group stores In addition to sales and vendor negotiation responsibilities, the AIM Sr. Sales Manager will lead and manage a team of professionals who support the various processes, programs, and day‑to‑day operations of the AIM organization. This leader ensures team alignment with AIM strategies, optimizes workflow execution, and fosters strong collaboration across AWG divisions, vendor partners, and internal stakeholders. The position requires travel to industry conferences, AWG food shows, division visits, and vendor partner meetings. The successful candidate will be an effective communicator capable of presenting to groups of varying sizes and confidently representing AWG in top‑to‑top vendor meetings. Professional presence, strategic thinking, and the ability to build strong relationships are essential to advancing AIM’s goals and objectives.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Sales, or related field—or equivalent experience.
5+ years of experience in sales, account management, vendor relations, category management, or similar functions in CPG, retail, or wholesale.
Demonstrated experience negotiating with CPG manufacturers or retail/wholesale partners.
3+ years of experience managing or leading a team.
Strong presentation skills, with the ability to communicate effectively to diverse audiences.
Ability to travel regularly (estimated 20–35%).

Nice To Haves

Experience in wholesale grocery, retail grocery, or cooperative business environments.
Knowledge of omnichannel marketing programs and merchandising strategies.
Familiarity with syndicated data, category management tools, and promotional planning systems.

Responsibilities

Negotiate product costs, promotional agreements, and merchandising programs with vendor partners to maximize value for AWG and AIM members.
Develop and execute sales strategies that support category growth and align with AIM’s business objectives.
Foster strong vendor relationships that support long term collaborative planning.
Lead, coach, and develop a team responsible for AIM processes, including promotions, analytics, planning, and execution tasks.
Establish clear goals, performance measures, and workflow expectations for the team.
Encourage collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement across all AIM functional areas.
Work closely with AWG divisions to support activation of In House Ad Group stores.
Partner with internal departments—including Category Management, Marketing, Procurement, and Merchandising—to ensure seamless program execution.
Provide insights into market trends, member needs, and vendor performance.
Represent AWG and AIM at industry conferences, AWG food shows, and division meetings.
Deliver professional presentations to internal groups, member retailers, and external vendor partners.
Lead top to top discussions with national and regional vendors to advance AIM’s goals and expand strategic opportunities.