Key Account Manager I (Confectionary & Convenience Channel)

Advantage Solutions • Fargo, ND

4d

About The Position

This position serves as a key HQ Sales partner dedicated to supporting a single manufacturer within the confectionary and convenience channel. The role works cross-functionally with internal teams—including Category Management, Customer Marketing, Retail Operations, Financial Services, and Customer Service—to drive distribution, enhance retail execution, and increase sales volume across assigned markets. The incumbent is dedicated exclusively to one client and is responsible for supporting that client’s strategic goals by calling on close to 20 retail accounts, leading collaborative customer engagement, maintaining proactive communication, and delivering effective implementation programs. Success in this role requires an entrepreneurial spirit, strong time-management capabilities, and exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple priorities and opportunities simultaneously. In addition to HQ responsibilities, this position requires regular in-market store visits to assess execution, identify growth opportunities, and strengthen retailer relationships. The associate will also conduct HQ customer presentations and complete essential administrative responsibilities such as sales forecasting, planogram development, reporting, and documentation to support client initiatives. This role ensures all client initiatives are executed seamlessly at both the customer and retail levels while building and maintaining strong relationships to maximize sales growth and strengthen brand presence across the marketplace they own.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, Marketing, Sales, or a related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.
• Minimum of 2–4 years of experience in consumer-packaged goods (CPG), retail, sales, or account management; confectionary or convenience channel experience a plus.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple retail accounts and maintain strong customer relationships.
• Proven record of driving sales results, growing distribution, or supporting successful retail programs.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret data, forecasts, and sales reports.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook).
• Ability to travel regularly within the market to conduct store visits, meetings, and customer presentations.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation.
• Strong sales presentation and development skills
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Working knowledge of syndicated data
• Intermediate or advanced computer skills
• Strong written communication and verbal communication skills
• Conflict management skills
• Demonstrated ability to provide cross-functional leadership
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced work environment
• Flexible and adaptable, able to change and alter according to changes in projects or business environment
• Ability to complete multiple duties with accuracy shifting from one to another with frequent interruptions and competing deadlines

Nice To Haves

• confectionary or convenience channel experience a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary HQ Sales representative for a dedicated confectionary/convenience channel manufacturer.
• Call on 10+ retail accounts to support distribution expansion, product placement, and promotional execution.
• Conduct regular in-market store visits to assess planogram compliance, identify execution gaps, and uncover new sales opportunities.
• Lead and deliver professional HQ presentations to key customer stakeholders.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams—including Category Management, Customer Marketing, Retail Operations, Financial Services, and Customer Service—to support client initiatives.
• Manage administrative responsibilities including sales forecasts, reporting, planogram development, and program tracking.
• Maintain strong communication with both the client and retailer partners to ensure alignment on initiatives and execution.
• Identify and propose growth opportunities that support the client's strategic objectives.
• Monitor competitive activity, trends, and opportunities within the confectionary and convenience space.
• Ensure seamless implementation of all client programs at customer and retail levels.
• Drive our clients’ business at assigned customer. Increase distribution, grow sales dollars/units/share/other KPI’s, while staying within budget guidelines
• Responsible for ensuring retail/merchandising execution and basic eCommerce execution
• Achieves targeted income and expense budgets by implementing promotional and marketing strategies
• Analyzes trends and results to identify growth opportunities and makes recommendations to clients and customers
• Monitors and drives growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines on assigned client
• Meets budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill-back funds for assigned client
• Meets expectation for managing period ending fund balance performance with no overspends vs. trade budget.
• Meets or exceeds Client’s goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume
• Launches strategies to pursue new opportunities
• Implements retailer headquarter calls and penetrate key positions at the retailer to:
• Achieve sales goals by managing and maximizing manufacturer marketing and promotional funds while staying within financial guidelines
• Ensure that all retail pricing and indirect order guides within the division is updated by regularly correcting discrepancies
• Secure Client approved schematics for all Clients’ brands by providing direction and communication to our schematic, reset, and retail department
• Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKU’s
• Collaborate with category management team to develop retailer presentations by using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysis
• Manage accounts to achieve the targeted ACV on Innovation
• Builds and maintains effective client and retailer relationships in order to ensure customer access and client perspective that we are connected and engaged with key stakeholders
• Demonstrates sales accomplishments and areas of opportunity by developing sales presentations for Customers and Clients
• Implements Customer HQ Calls and demonstrates an ability to penetrate key positions at the retailer
• Offers strategic input pursuant to annual business plans, problem solving, ongoing customer management. Finds the intersection of retailer and client objectives and drive win/win scenarios
• Provides timely and fluid communication on Client goals, programs, price changes, and priorities to include all necessary people and information
• Manages difficult situations, issues and conflicts to get to an effective outcome

What This Job Offers

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