Associate Sales Director, Grocery

Eagle Foods, LLC•Buffalo Grove, IL

About The Position

The Associate Sales Director plays a critical role in growing Eagle’s business by managing a mix of strategic and tactical retail accounts. This role is hands-on, focused on building and executing customer plans, managing P&Ls, and improving performance across both national chains and independent retailers. The Associate Sales Director understands the unique needs of each customer, leads day-to-day tactical planning, and works closely with agency and broker partners to deliver at retail. Success in this role means helping Eagle expand its presence in key markets, supporting cross-functional efforts, and driving sustainable, profitable growth in a fast-paced, competitive environment.

Requirements

Strong selling, relationship-building, and leadership skills
Proficient in digital and eCommerce sales
Excellent communication, analytical, and presentation abilities
Skilled in syndicated data, consumer trends, and trade tools (TPM, forecasting software)
Bachelor’s Degree required (or equivalent experience)
5–8 years in sales or customer management
3+ years leading strategic customers; experience with wholesale distributors preferred
Broker management across large territories
Experience with dry grocery and salty snacks; branded and private label a plus
Proven ability to lead cross-functional teams and build senior-level trade relationships
Team-oriented with a results-driven mindset
Willing to travel 30–50%

Nice To Haves

Background in large CPG or private equity-backed companies preferred

Responsibilities

Manage a customer base with annual volume between $15–$40 million, with a mix of tactical and moderately strategic accounts.
Build and maintain relationships with key retail partners.
Identify and capitalize on opportunities for growth by developing tailored customer business plans aligned to company goals.
Lead annual planning and negotiations related to pricing, promotional activities, and retail programs to support account growth.
Work closely with broker and distributor partners to ensure consistent execution and alignment with business plans.
Focus on tactical account optimization while contributing to overall market share and brand visibility
Translate customer insights and performance data into clear, executable tactics to improve account-level performance.
Coordinate with internal teams, primarily within Sales, but also with Operations, Marketing, and Demand Planning as needed, for seamless delivery on customer programs.
Monitor in-market execution through agency and broker partners, ensuring program compliance and alignment with KPIs.
Take ownership of tactical planning activities, adapting quickly to shifting priorities and market dynamics to meet business needs.
Manage account-level P&L responsibilities, ensuring delivery of sales, margin, and trade spend targets.
Develop and track annual budgets and forecasts, working closely with finance and operations teams to ensure accuracy and accountability.
Analyze the impact and efficiency of trade promotions and customer programs to inform future investments and improve return on spend.
Support demand planning by providing timely, data-driven volume forecasts.
Lead development and execution of tactical-level plans, with a strong focus on near-term growth opportunities, customer-specific initiatives, and market responsiveness.
Align internal and external stakeholders around clearly defined execution plans, performance metrics, and deliverables.
Serve as the tactical lead for assigned accounts, making day-to-day decisions that drive business outcomes while escalating broader strategic needs when necessary.
Manage low to mid-level agency and broker resources, providing clear direction to ensure effective execution at the store and customer level.
Demonstrate strong judgment and practical problem-solving in fast-paced, changing environments.
Prioritize multiple projects effectively while maintaining high standards of accuracy, professionalism, and confidentiality.
Provide recommendations and feedback to leadership to support account performance, customer satisfaction, and long-term business goals.