Hershey's Territory Sales Lead (Far NW Suburbs Chicago)

The Hershey • Chicago, IL

69d • $50,000

About The Position

The Territory Sales Lead (TSL) ensures flawless execution of store level sales and promotion plans with customer retailers in assigned territory. The territory consists of high-volume food chain grocers and mass merchandiser customers. The TSL masters retail execution plans by driving incremental sales, implementing, and maintaining best-in-class promotional and merchandising strategies, and ensuring 100% distribution on authorized Hershey items across all classes of trade. A successful TSL will be driven, entrepreneurial, influential, and planful.

Requirements

• 2-year Associate/Community College degree required OR 3 years of previous sales experience.
• Bachelor's degree strongly preferred.
• Must have a valid US state issued driver's license.
• Must reside or be willing to commute within territory boundaries.
• Must be able to drive to make multiple sales calls on a daily basis.
• Must be able to lift 10-60 lbs. on a regular basis with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Must be able to bend, kneel, stoop down and demonstrate manual dexterity on a frequent basis with or without reasonable accommodations.
• Occasionally climb ladders.
• Occasionally use equipment such as crushing balers, handheld electric trucks.
• Must be able to use tablet and other wireless technology; some roles will require an intermediate level of computer skills with the Microsoft Office products.
• Must have daily access to wireless internet.
• Must have flexibility and adaptability to changes in territory coverage.
• Occasional weekend work may be required during peak seasons and select territories may require occasional overnight stays.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain consultative business relationships with customer Key Decision Makers (KDMs) at all levels.
• Partner and collaborate with KDMs to develop and execute action plans to increase sales.
• Cultivate a network of influential contacts at all levels of customers to achieve sales objectives.
• Leverage strategic relationships with KDMs to influence and negotiate customers' assistance in the merchandising of Hershey products.
• Obtain and analyze relevant store, product, and market data and leverage trends and analytics to build the business.
• Utilize and complete pre-call planning methods and other company tools.
• Review and make recommendations to modify routes that maximize business efficiencies for all sales calls within territory.
• Effectively solve problems by analyzing information, utilizing consumer trends and customer insights to guide decision making and influence others to act.
• Engage in forward selling via consultative sales techniques using provided data sources, technology, processes and procedures.
• Maximize sales and display opportunities by conducting store walk-throughs and gaining commitment by KDMs on successful outcomes.
• Tailor strategies to influence KDMs to order additional products to increase incremental sales and to obtain best in class quality of merchandising locations.
• Achieve all merchandising objectives executing customer specific promotional plans to the sales floor using forward selling.
• Complete and submit reports of daily and weekly activities, expenses, competitive activity, account changes, promotions and all administrative functions within assigned territory using company approved methods and technology.

Benefits

• Health care
• Vision
• Dental
• Retirement
• Vacation
• Sick leave

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Industry: Food Manufacturing
• Education Level: Associate degree
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees