Business Manager

Acosta•Phoenix, AZ

11d

About The Position

The Business Manager is responsible for managing assigned customer business within a defined marketing area. The role drives key business objectives by increasing sales and market share for represented brands while earning a profit for manufacturers and Acosta. It involves building and maintaining strong relationships with principals and customers, communicating business priorities across internal teams, and supporting sales programs and initiatives. The Business Manager reports to a General Manager or Team Leader and contributes to Acosta presentations for prospective principals. The position also requires maintaining account and competitive information, managing promotional plans and fund balances in client systems, and supporting financial oversight and ongoing skill development.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
Proven track record in sales; preferably with a food broker or national company.
Strong interpersonal, organizational, presentation, negotiation, and sales skills.
Ability to analyze sales and marketing information to make effective sales presentations.
Proficiency in a variety of software packages used to support the sales function.
Willingness to travel; minimal local travel of less than 5%.

Responsibilities

Achieve principals’ volume, share, and sales fundamental goals—including merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving—at the lowest possible cost while maximizing company revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, and contest earnings.
Communicate principals’ priorities to Retail Sales Managers, Sales Technology Managers (IT), Marketing Managers, Business Managers, and the retail selling organization to support in-store presence and business objectives.
Report to the General Manager or Team Leader and manage or participate in developing, designing, and presenting Acosta introductions to new principals.
Develop and maintain relationships with principals and customers, and proactively communicate with key principals.
Coordinate ongoing communication between General Managers and key principals, and collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives, including new product introductions, selling drives, and contests.
Coordinate principals’ market visits and key account calls, applying customer, market, and principal knowledge to sell specific programs and initiatives.
Use insights from senior leadership and Senior Business Managers to develop conceptual sales presentations that deliver principals’ objectives.
Provide feedback to principals and the General Manager on the effectiveness of strategies, selling programs, and initiatives, and suggest ways to build organizational capacity and improve the business.
Maintain current account distribution information, review market pricing reports for accuracy and competitive activity, and collect and report competitive activity.
Manage a personal skill development plan and share customer and manufacturer information with team members.
Follow client procedures and policies; develop expertise in client proprietary systems to manage promotional plans and fund balances; monitor financial management matters such as deductions and take corrective action as needed.
Perform other duties as assigned to support the overall success of the business.