Director, Retail Sales- Walmart (Northwest Arkansas)

Sunstar Americas, Inc. • ,

12h • $150,000 - $170,000 • Remote

About The Position

Sunstar Americas, Inc., a member of the Sunstar Group, is focused on improving health through better oral health. The company, headquartered in Schaumburg, Illinois, values its people and fosters a collaborative, innovative, and agile culture. They are seeking a Director of Sales – Walmart to lead one of their largest and most strategically important customer relationships. This role involves end-to-end ownership of the Walmart business, including developing and executing strategies for sustainable, profitable growth. The Director will be Sunstar’s primary commercial leader for Walmart, building strong customer relationships and translating company priorities into compelling customer strategies. Additionally, this individual will be responsible for developing opportunities to establish and grow business with Sam’s Club. Success requires a strategic, proactive leader who takes ownership, anticipates opportunities and risks, uses data for recommendations, and drives cross-functional execution.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; MBA or advanced business degree preferred.
• 10+ years of progressive CPG sales, customer development or related commercial experience, with significant experience managing large, complex national retail customers.
• Direct Walmart experience strongly preferred, with demonstrated knowledge of Walmart’s merchandising, replenishment, supply chain and customer planning processes.
• Demonstrated success developing and executing customer strategies that deliver measurable sales, distribution and profit growth.
• Strong understanding of retail fundamentals, including assortment, distribution, pricing, promotion, merchandising, inventory, replenishment and category management.
• Strong financial acumen with demonstrated ability to manage revenue, profitability, trade investment and ROI.
• Advanced analytical capabilities with experience utilizing POS, syndicated and customer data to develop insights, recommendations and selling strategies.
• Proven ability to lead complex initiatives and influence cross-functional teams and external stakeholders without direct authority.
• Strong executive presence with excellent negotiation, presentation, written and verbal communication skills.
• Demonstrated ownership, strategic thinking, bias for action and ability to independently identify problems, develop recommendations and drive execution.
• Ability to travel as required.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with Walmart Retail Link/Luminate, Circana/IRI and/or NielsenIQ preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the Walmart business end-to-end, including customer strategy, annual planning, sales and profitability delivery, forecasting, assortment, distribution, retail execution and overall account performance.
• Develop and execute short- and long-term customer strategies that deliver profitable growth, increased distribution, improved assortment productivity and market share growth.
• Serve as Sunstar’s primary commercial leader with Walmart, building trusted relationships across merchandising, replenishment, supply chain, eCommerce and other key customer functions.
• Lead annual planning, line reviews, business reviews, innovation presentations, negotiations and other key customer meetings.
• Develop compelling, insight-based selling strategies that leverage shopper, consumer, category and financial insights to influence customer decisions and advance Sunstar’s business objectives.
• Lead the successful sell-in and execution of innovation, new item launches, modular changes, promotions and other key customer initiatives.
• Maintain a strong command of business performance, utilizing Walmart systems and data, syndicated data, POS, inventory, distribution and other relevant sources to identify trends, opportunities and risks and translate them into clear actions.
• Own the commercial forecast for Walmart, partnering closely with Demand Planning, Supply Chain and Operations to ensure forecasts reflect customer plans, POS trends, inventory, distribution, promotions and innovation.
• Proactively monitor inventory, replenishment and in-stock performance and lead appropriate actions to address issues that could affect sales, execution or the customer relationship.
• Deliver revenue, gross margin and profitability objectives while managing trade investment with strong financial discipline and evaluating investments based on ROI and strategic value.
• Act as the internal business leader for Walmart, partnering across Marketing, Customer Marketing, Category Management, Finance, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Operations and other functions to align priorities and drive execution.
• Proactively identify business risks and opportunities, bringing forward clear recommendations and proposed solutions and driving actions through completion.
• Develop and execute a strategic approach to establishing Sunstar’s business with Sam’s Club, identifying the right portfolio, value proposition and selling opportunities to gain entry and build a sustainable business.

Benefits

• Excellent, comprehensive insurance coverage that includes Medical, Vision, and Dental benefits.
• Opportunities for career growth and advancement
• Employee discount on Sunstar products
• 401K retirement plan with employer match (Pretax and Roth options)
• 401K profit sharing contribution based on company performance.
• Paid holidays and generous paid time off.
• Pet, Legal and Identity Theft Insurance Plans
• Corporate Perks Discount Program (Auto, Retail, Electronics, Entertainment, Computers, Personal Vacations, Cell Phones, Movie Tickets, Eating Out and Much More)
• Recognition and Rewards Programs

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Director