Regional Sales Manager - Central or Natural Channel

Simple Mills • Chicago, IL

2d

About The Position

Simple Mills is hiring two quota-carrying, individual-contributor Regional Sales Managers to drive sales growth, expand distribution, strengthen customer partnerships, and lead broker relationships. One position focuses on the Natural and Independent channel, supporting natural and specialty retailers. The other manages retail accounts across the Central Region of the United States. Candidates may indicate interest in either opportunity or both. The Central Region role prioritizes candidates located within that region. Both positions report to a sales leader: the Natural Channel role reports to the Director of Sales – Natural Channel, and the Central Region role reports to the Senior Manager of Regional Sales.

The Regional Sales Manager works with broker partners and retail customers to grow revenue, acquire customers, expand distribution, and deliver strong in-store execution. The role owns key customer relationships, develops and executes sales plans, uses data and category insights to identify growth opportunities, manages trade investments, and collaborates with internal teams to meet customer and company objectives. It may also represent Simple Mills at retailer meetings, trade shows, customer events, festivals, demonstrations, and other industry opportunities.

Simple Mills describes its work as purpose-driven, focused on transforming how food is made and enjoyed. It emphasizes an inclusive, collaborative workplace, responsible sourcing, ethical practices, mentorship, and professional development. The role offers a salary range of $95,000–$125,000 and eligibility for an annual bonus. Remote work may be considered for qualified candidates at a designated U.S. residence, with regular travel to the Chicago office and sufficient internet access for video conferencing. The work model is role-dependent and may be remote, hybrid, or in-office.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or an equivalent combination of education and relevant professional experience.
• Approximately 3–5 years of demonstrated sales experience, preferably in consumer packaged goods, natural products, food and beverage, or a related industry.
• Experience managing key retail accounts, regional customers, natural and specialty retailers, or a comparable customer portfolio.
• Ability to work strategically and tactically in a high-energy, fast-paced environment.
• Experience developing and executing sales plans, forecasts, customer strategies, and business-growth initiatives.
• Experience leading, managing, or closely partnering with external broker networks.
• Ability to build strong relationships with retail customers, brokers, and internal cross-functional teams.
• Working knowledge of syndicated data platforms such as Nielsen, IRI, or SPINS.
• Ability to use consumer, customer, category, and sales data to develop sales presentations.
• Experience presenting recommendations and sales opportunities to internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Strong organization and ability to manage multiple competing priorities.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills and ability to build trust at multiple levels.
• Ability to work independently, show initiative, solve problems, and maintain attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Willingness and ability to travel according to assigned customers, region, and business needs, including travel to the Simple Mills Chicago office when necessary.
• Passion for natural food and healthy eating and a desire to change how people think about ingredient labels.
• For the Natural Channel opportunity: experience with natural, specialty, or independent retailers; experience with organizations or networks such as NCG and INFRA; knowledge of the natural products industry and its retailer, broker, and distributor landscape; and experience building distribution and driving velocity in natural and specialty retail.
• For the Central Region opportunity: experience managing regional retail accounts in the Central United States; developing and executing territory or regional sales plans; growing existing retail accounts and securing new distribution; and knowledge of the Central retail landscape and broker relationships across a multi-state territory.

Nice To Haves

• Experience working with NCG and INFRA is especially valuable for the Natural Channel opportunity.
• Relevant experience in either the Natural Channel or Central Region opportunity is beneficial; candidates are not expected to have experience in both.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute annual sales plans to achieve revenue, volume, distribution, and profitability objectives.
• Use strategic planning, forecasting, and business analysis to identify opportunities, anticipate risks, and meet sales goals and key performance indicators.
• Develop customer-, channel-, or territory-specific plans and evaluate progress against business objectives.
• Lead, train, and develop broker partners; set expectations, provide reporting and selling tools, and drive accountability for sales results and retail execution.
• Partner with brokers on new item launches, shelving, merchandising, pricing, promotional execution, and retailer-specific objectives.
• Build and maintain strategic relationships with key retail customers, understand their priorities, and propose solutions that support mutual growth.
• Present new and existing products to retail decision-makers, secure new distribution, expand assortment, and grow existing business.
• Use sales and syndicated data, category insights, and customer opportunities to create sales stories and recommendations.
• Develop and manage customer-specific trade spending and shopper marketing plans to improve sales velocity and promotional effectiveness.
• Use trade management tools, including Confido, to manage investments and assess return on investment; align promotions with retailer timelines and conduct post-promotional analyses.
• Drive execution of product launches, shelf placement, merchandising, pricing, promotional compliance, and in-store visibility.
• Monitor sales performance, distribution, velocity, category trends, competitive activity, and market changes; turn findings into actionable recommendations.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Category Management, Revenue Growth Management, Demand Planning, Supply Chain, Finance, and other internal teams on sales strategy, customer needs, forecasts, and commercial priorities.
• Communicate customer and market developments internally, including challenges and growth opportunities.
• Represent Simple Mills at retailer meetings, trade shows, customer events, festivals, demonstrations, and other relevant industry opportunities.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

• Annual bonus opportunity.
• Health, financial, and wellness programs.
• Time-off approach designed to provide time to rest and recharge.
• Lifestyle perks and product shipments.
• Professional development through hands-on training, learning platforms, and career growth opportunities.
• Competitive compensation; salary range of $95,000–$125,000.

What This Job Offers

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