Sales Development Associate - Distribution | 2027 Cohort

Bunzl Career • St. Louis, MO

4d • Onsite

About The Position

Bunzl Distribution’s Sales Development Associate (SDA) Program is a 12-month, cohort-based training program in St. Louis, Missouri, designed for 2027 graduates and recent bachelor’s degree graduates. Associates receive hands-on training, mentorship, and experience across the business, including its products, customers, distribution operations, and sales processes. The program develops professional selling skills and provides opportunities to work with experienced sales professionals and business leaders. Its goal is to prepare associates to transition into a Sales Representative role in a sales territory after completing the program. Post-program assignments may be anywhere in the United States, and the role requires travel, including overnight stays at least 2–3 nights per week.

Bunzl distributes disposable and essential supplies such as paper products, packaging, food service disposables, janitorial and sanitation products, safety supplies, and personal protective equipment. Depending on the assigned territory, associates may support customers in grocery, food processing, industrial manufacturing, hospitality, restaurant, entertainment, and distribution markets. The program starts in July 2027. Compensation includes a competitive salary and a relocation/living stipend during training. Applications are accepted until the cohort is filled.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required; expected graduation between December 2026 and May 2027, or recent graduate with a bachelor’s degree.
• Strong interest in building a long-term career in sales.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated leadership through internships, student organizations, athletics, work experience, or community involvement.
• Self-motivated, competitive, and driven to achieve goals.
• Strong organizational, problem-solving, and time-management skills.
• Ability to work independently and thrive in a team environment.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Excel, and Word.
• Willingness to relocate to St. Louis, Missouri, for the training program and to a sales territory anywhere in the United States after successful completion.
• Ability to travel, with overnight stays at least 2–3 nights per week.

Nice To Haves

• A degree in Business, Marketing, Professional Selling, Communications, or a related field is ideal.

Responsibilities

• Participate in all phases of the Sales Development Associate Program.
• Learn Bunzl’s products, customers, distribution operations, and sales processes.
• Develop consultative selling, prospecting, relationship management, and account growth skills.
• Work alongside experienced sales professionals and business leaders to gain hands-on experience.
• Build strong customer relationships through exceptional service and responsiveness.
• Identify opportunities to increase sales and profitability within assigned accounts.
• Present products, promote new solutions, and support customer business growth.
• Collaborate with customer service, operations, purchasing, and sales leadership.
• Attend sales meetings, customer visits, training sessions, and professional development activities.
• Complete all program requirements and training milestones.
• Prepare to transition into a field sales territory after graduating from the program.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision benefits effective the first day of the month after 30 days.
• Paid time off, including vacation, sick, holidays, and personal time.
• 401(k) with a generous company match.
• Competitive salary and a relocation/living stipend during the training period.
• Employee development programs.

What This Job Offers

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