Key Account Manager II

Advantage Solutions • San Diego, CA

8d • Onsite

About The Position

The Key Account Manager II (KAM II) is a salesperson responsible for meeting sales quotas and expense budgets for assigned clients by managing sales programs, promotional spending, distribution levels, shelf placement, and strategic planning initiatives. The clients are defined as the manufacturers, vendors, or brands who have contracted Advantage as their sales force, and the customers are defined as retailers, wholesalers, or distributors to whom Advantage sells its clients’ brands. This role involves collaborating with clients to develop strategic plans to accomplish business goals and working with retailer associates on Headquarter calls to implement programs. The KAM II will own the relationship with clients, make decisions regarding the spending of clients’ trade funds to drive increased sales, and sign, implement, and execute contracts at customers on behalf of clients. This position also works closely with internal Advantage Solutions associates to increase sales volume within a market and may be dedicated to servicing one or multiple clients’ goals, while also encompassing customer relations and implementation. Clients can include Pioneering clients (manufacturers without current distribution), Regional clients (manufacturers with regional or customer-specific services), or Tier 3 clients (manufacturers with minimal volume).

Requirements

• Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience.
• 4-6 years of experience.
• A solid track record of managing or working closely with key retailers, including department heads, category managers, buyers, and other retail stakeholders.
• Proven experience managing high-value accounts, developing long-term relationships, and delivering on customer objectives (e.g., sales growth, promotional execution).
• 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 the clients’ business at assigned customers, increasing distribution, growing sales dollars/units/share/other KPIs, while staying within spend limits. This includes ensuring retail/merchandising execution and basic eCommerce execution.
• Achieve targeted income and expense budgets by implementing promotional and marketing strategies.
• Analyze trends and results to identify growth opportunities and make recommendations to clients and customers.
• Monitor and drive growth through efficient management of promotional spending within guidelines on assigned clients.
• Meet budgetary goals by maintaining strict control and accounting of accrual and bill-back funds for assigned clients.
• Meet expectations for managing period ending fund balance performance with no overspends versus trade budget.
• Meet or exceed Client’s goals for sales, distribution, share, pricing, shelving, and promotional volume.
• Launch strategies to pursue new opportunities.
• Implement retailer headquarter calls and penetrate key positions at the retailer to achieve sales goals by managing and maximizing manufacturer marketing and promotional funds within financial guidelines.
• Ensure that all retail pricing and indirect order guides within the division are updated by regularly correcting discrepancies.
• Secure Client-approved schematics for all Clients’ brands by providing direction and communication to the schematic, reset, and retail department.
• Ensure incremental sales through distribution of new products and maintenance of existing SKUs.
• Collaborate with the category management team to develop retailer presentations using database rationale such as SKU optimization, efficient promotion causal data, and lift analysis.
• Manage accounts to achieve the targeted ACV on Innovation.
• Build and maintain effective client and retailer relationships to ensure customer access and client perspective that Advantage is connected and engaged with key stakeholders.
• Demonstrate sales accomplishments and areas of opportunity by developing sales presentations for Customers and Clients.
• Implement Customer HQ Calls and demonstrate an ability to penetrate key positions at the retailer.
• Offer strategic input pursuant to annual business plans, problem-solving, and ongoing customer management, finding the intersection of retailer and client objectives to drive win/win scenarios.
• Provide timely and fluid communication on Client goals, programs, price changes, and priorities to include all necessary people and information.
• Manage difficult situations, issues, and conflicts to achieve an effective outcome.

What This Job Offers

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