National Accounts Manager, Publix

Heartland FPG•Carmel, IN

3d•Remote

About The Position

Heartland Food Products Group is seeking a National Account Manager (NAM) to lead our business with Publix, one of Heartland’s most strategic retail partners. This role is ideal for a proven CPG sales leader with direct experience calling on this account, established relationships with merchandising teams, and a passion for building brands through strong retailer collaboration. This position is remote, ideally based in Tampa, FL.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required; MBA a plus
7+ years of CPG sales or customer leadership experience
Direct experience calling on Publix required
Established relationships with Publix merchandising teams
Strong understanding of grocery retail, trade management, and category management
Proven track record of delivering profitable growth
Prior people management experience or demonstrated readiness to lead

Nice To Haves

Experience managing branded food or beverage portfolios
Strong analytical and financial acumen
Comfort working in a fast-paced, growth-oriented, matrixed organization

Responsibilities

Serve as the primary sales lead and relationship owner for Publix and Southeast Grocers
Build and deepen partnerships with merchandising teams to drive mutual growth
Represent Heartland’s brand portfolio with confidence, credibility, and a growth mindset
Develop and execute annual Joint Business Plans aligned to Heartland’s growth, profitability, and brand-building priorities
Lead assortment, pricing, merchandising, and promotional strategies that expand distribution and household penetration
Champion innovation and new item launches, ensuring strong customer alignment and flawless execution
Own volume, trade spend, and profitability targets for Publix and Southeast Grocers
Lead promotional planning, display strategy, and in-store/online execution in partnership with merchandising teams
Provide accurate forecasting and demand inputs to support high service levels and efficient inventory management
Use syndicated data (Circana/IRI, Nielsen) and customer insights to identify category opportunities and support fact-based selling
Partner with customer merchandising teams to improve shelf placement, promotional ROI, and execution quality
Translate data into clear, compelling stories that support brand and category growth
Act as the voice of Publix internally, aligning marketing, R&D, supply chain, finance, and operations
Partner closely with marketing and category management to deliver customer-relevant brand strategies