Regional Sales Manager - Central or Natural Channel

Simple Mills • Chicago, IL

2d • $95,000 - $125,000

About The Position

Simple Mills is hiring two Regional Sales Managers to drive sales growth, expand distribution, strengthen customer partnerships, and lead broker relationships. One opportunity focuses on the Natural and Independent channel, serving natural and specialty retailers; the other manages retail accounts across the Central Region of the United States. Candidates may indicate interest in either or both opportunities.

These quota-carrying individual-contributor roles own key customer relationships and develop and execute sales plans. Responsibilities include using sales and category data to identify growth opportunities, managing trade investments, collaborating with brokers and internal teams, and delivering customer and company objectives. The Central Region role prioritizes candidates located within that region. Remote work may be considered from a designated U.S. location, with regular travel to the Chicago office required when needed.

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, broker partners, 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 create compelling sales presentations.
• Experience presenting recommendations and sales opportunities to internal stakeholders and external customers.
• Strong organizational skills and ability to manage 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, and to 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.

Nice To Haves

• For the Natural Channel opportunity: experience with natural, specialty, or independent retailers.
• For the Natural Channel opportunity: experience with natural retail organizations or networks such as NCG and INFRA.
• For the Natural Channel opportunity: knowledge of the natural products industry and its retailer, broker, and distributor landscape.
• For the Natural Channel opportunity: 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.
• For the Central Region opportunity: experience developing and executing territory or regional sales plans.
• For the Central Region opportunity: demonstrated success growing retail accounts and securing new distribution.
• For the Central Region opportunity: knowledge of the Central retail landscape and experience managing broker relationships across a multi-state territory.

Responsibilities

• Develop and execute annual sales plans to meet revenue, volume, distribution, and profitability objectives.
• Plan, forecast, and analyze business performance; identify opportunities and risks and track progress against sales goals and KPIs.
• Develop actionable plans for assigned customers, channels, or territories and regularly evaluate results.
• Lead, train, and develop broker partners; set expectations, provide reporting and selling tools, and ensure accountability for customer 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 retail customers and serve as a trusted partner by understanding their priorities and presenting relevant solutions.
• 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-specific opportunities to develop sales stories and recommendations.
• Develop and manage customer-specific trade spending and shopper marketing plans to increase sales velocity and promotional effectiveness.
• Use trade management tools, including Confido, to manage investments, evaluate performance, and maximize return on investment.
• Align promotions with retailer timelines and complete 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, competition, and market changes; translate findings into actionable recommendations.
• Collaborate with Marketing, Category Management, Revenue Growth Management, Demand Planning, Supply Chain, Finance, and other teams to align strategies and execute priorities.
• Communicate customer and market developments internally and help teams anticipate needs, resolve challenges, and pursue 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

• Competitive compensation, with a salary range of $95,000–$125,000.
• Eligibility for an annual bonus.
• Health, financial, and wellness programs.
• Time-off approach intended to support rest and well-being.
• Lifestyle perks and product innovation shipments.
• Professional development through hands-on training, learning platforms, and career growth opportunities.
• Mentorship and supportive leadership.

What This Job Offers

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