Regional Client Manager

Affinity Group•Chicago, IL

About The Position

The Affinity Group Region Client Manager is responsible for executing sales and marketing strategies regionally for assigned clients and serves as the primary regional contact for those clients’ sales managers. Using knowledge of clients’ plans and objectives, the manager coordinates local market leaders’ activities, supporting market-specific sales objectives and execution through trimester planning and follow-through. The role works with clients, regional management, local market leaders, sales teams, and sales enablement to advance sales plans, communicate strategies, monitor results, and respond to changing business conditions. Work may take place in an office, warehouse, or restaurant environment. The position involves flexible hours, including some weekends, and may require travel of up to 30% within the territory, including overnight stays.

Requirements

Experience working with foodservice distributors.
Ability to execute and follow through on a sales plan.
Positive, professional, and proactive attitude.
Strong communication skills.
Ability to build trust and credibility.
Business planning and organizational skills.
Ability to work well with teams and strong motivational skills.
Strong problem-solving and client-planning skills.
Ability to use the trimester planning process and CRM system.
Relevant analytical skills and proficiency with Power BI, Excel spreadsheets, or similar tools.
Valid driver’s license and access to a car.
Ability to perform the essential functions of the job, including standing for extended periods and walking, bending, stooping, or climbing.
Ability to lift and/or push up to 50 pounds; possible exposure to dust.

Nice To Haves

College or university education is preferred.

Responsibilities

Serve as the single point of contact across each assigned client’s region and build strong business relationships with key client personnel.
Work with regional market leaders to execute client-specific sales plans, including segment focus, innovation plans, and other initiatives to meet sales goals.
Communicate sales strategies and objectives to the respective sales teams.
Collaborate with sales enablement to ensure accurate CRM information, sales data, trimester plans, and local market goals across the region.
Connect client regional managers, internal market leads, and segment or culinary leads through regular check-ins.
Review monthly client sales reports with regional management and determine corrective actions as needed.
Participate in or provide input for distributor and food-related trade shows and internal sales meetings.
Monitor sales data, trends, and results with sales enablement, and communicate findings across the region as needed.
Adjust sales plans in response to changing business conditions and industry headwinds.
Help local market leaders provide the sales team with data, insights, trends, and industry updates.
Develop sales and marketing strategies for assigned clients’ regional and local markets.
Train regional sales teams and provide product knowledge.
Provide competitive insights to assigned clients for pricing and product considerations.
Provide local market intelligence on competitive pricing, availability, customer contracts, promotions, service challenges, and new product launches.