Key Account Manager I

Advantage Sales & Marketing dba Advantage Solutions•Rogers, AR

12d

About The Position

The Key Account Manager I supports the Omnichannel Digital Management group and plays a key role in aligning client objectives with Advantage Solutions’ strategic initiatives. This individual works closely with clients and internal teams to drive sales growth, strengthen customer relationships, and ensure seamless execution across digital and traditional channels. By serving as the primary liaison, the role balances client expectations with company goals while proactively identifying opportunities to expand distribution and increase market share. This position also works closely with internal Advantage Solutions associates such as Customer Managers and order entry, claims, category management, schematics and retail associates to increase sales volume within a market. This incumbent may be dedicated to servicing multiple clients’ goals, while also encompassing customer and client relations and implementation. Clients will consist of Pioneering clients (manufacturers that do not currently have distribution in the customers the associate is responsible for), Regional clients (manufacturers not represented through a National contract but rather retain the services on a regional, market, or customer specific basis) or Tier 3 clients (manufacturers with minimal volume, sku counts, and commission revenue) The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing (or related field) required
Strong communication and relationship-building skills
Ability to manage multiple priorities and clients simultaneously
Experience in sales, retail, or client services preferred
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

Responsibilities

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 clients
Meets budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill-back funds for assigned clients
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 departments
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