Area Manager

Mission Linen • Salinas, CA

4d

About The Position

Mission Linen Supply is hiring an Area Manager to lead a team of Route Sales & Service Representatives (RSSRs) who deliver and service linen, uniform, and facility products. The Area Manager is responsible for customer satisfaction and helping the depot and district achieve operational goals. The role is comparable to a District Manager position at other route-based companies and offers a career path toward General Manager and Branch Manager roles.

The Area Manager is assigned to a specific market area and directly supervises six to twelve RSSRs. The role manages their daily activities, including route check-in, coverage, and restructuring; coaches the team on customer service and sales; and manages account renewals and retention. The manager also helps develop sales strategies and shape market definitions, product lines, merchandise quality, advertising, and pricing. The position reports to a General Manager, District Manager, or Branch Manager.

Mission Linen Supply is a family-owned, privately held provider of linen, uniform, and facility services across five western states. Founded in 1930 and headquartered in Santa Barbara, California, the company describes its industry as essential and recession-resistant, with ongoing opportunities for advancement. Base salary is $75,000–$85,000, depending on education, experience, other qualifications, and assignment location. Additional incentive opportunities include sales contests, product-specific bonuses, top-performer recognition, quarterly sales incentives, and annual performance incentives. The company also offers medical, dental, and vision insurance, a retirement savings program, and paid sick, holiday, and vacation time.

Requirements

• Transportation, route operations, delivery, or logistics management experience.
• Direct leadership or supervisory experience managing a team.
• Proven account management skills, including customer service delivery, upselling and cross-selling, account renewals, and contract terms.
• Strong business acumen and comfort owning plant- or district-level performance goals.
• Excellent customer service skills and the ability to provide effective leadership.
• Excellent work ethic and a high level of organization.
• Computer literacy.
• Valid driver’s license with a clean driving record.
• Ability to pass a physical agility test and lift up to 50 lbs.

Responsibilities

• Manage RSSRs’ daily activities, including route check-in, route coverage, and route restructuring.
• Lead and coach RSSRs on customer service standards, ensuring service issues are resolved quickly and correctly the first time.
• Direct and train RSSRs on upselling and cross-selling additional products and service lines to existing accounts.
• Manage account renewals and contract terms, proactively renewing agreements and protecting revenue on accounts at risk of cancellation.
• Assist in developing sales strategies and shaping market area definition, product lines, merchandise quality, advertising, and pricing.
• Drive achievement of plant goals, including forecasted volume, account retention, and contract management.
• Administer recruitment and training for RSSRs, including orientation, product familiarity, company policies, goals, objectives, and ongoing coaching on retention, planning, sales technique, and professionalism.
• Pursue market potential, follow up, and close sales with selected customers in coordination with the General Manager, Sales Representatives, and RSSRs.
• Maximize new business, deepen penetration of existing accounts, and own account retention across the assigned market.
• Recruit, train, coach, and hold RSSRs accountable to daily and weekly service and sales goals.

Benefits

• Medical insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Retirement savings program
• Paid sick time
• Paid holidays
• Paid vacation
• Company-wide sales contests with recurring payout opportunities based on branch and individual performance
• Product-specific performance bonuses for targeted categories such as Retail Services and First Aid
• Annual top-performer recognition incentive
• Quarterly sales incentive based on route-team sales performance
• Annual performance incentive tied to overall company and plant performance

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Manager
• Education Level: No Education Listed