Sr Key Account Manager

Advantage Sales & Marketing dba Advantage Solutions•Carlisle, PA

About The Position

The Senior Key Account Manager (Sr. KAM) is responsible for achieving sales objectives, managing expense budgets, and driving business growth for assigned clients. The role oversees sales programs, promotional spending, distribution expansion, shelf placement, and strategic planning to maximize client performance. Clients are manufacturers, vendors, or brands that contract Advantage Solutions as their sales force; customers are the retailers, wholesalers, and distributors to whom client products are sold. The Sr. KAM partners with clients to develop and execute strategic business plans and collaborates with retailer stakeholders—including buyers, category managers, and replenishment managers—to implement programs and drive results. The position owns client relationships, manages client trade funds, and may negotiate, implement, and execute customer agreements on clients’ behalf. It works cross-functionally with internal teams to support sales growth and may serve one or multiple clients. Client types may include pioneering, regional, and Tier 3 manufacturers. Advantage Solutions is a North American sales and marketing agency providing outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of consumer packaged goods. It serves trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home improvement. The role is primarily performed in an office environment and is sedentary, typically requiring extended periods of sitting, telephone use, and computer data entry. It may require lifting up to 10 pounds. Travel is an essential function and may be up to 20%. The position has no direct reports, but may delegate work, provide guidance and direction, and mentor indirect team members.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
At least 8 years of relevant sales, account management, consumer packaged goods, or applicable-field experience.
Strong sales presentation, account development, and negotiation skills.
Excellent interpersonal and relationship-building skills.
Strong written and verbal communication skills.
Highly organized and detail-oriented, with the ability to thrive in a fast-paced environment.
Proven track record of building and maintaining successful customer and client relationships.
Working knowledge of syndicated data and market analytics.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills.
Proficiency in Microsoft Office and business applications, including Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access, and web browsers.
Ability to travel up to 20%; travel is an essential function of the position.
Ability to perform essential functions in an office environment, including extended sitting, telephone use, and computer data entry; may require lifting up to 10 pounds.

Nice To Haves

Field of study in Business or a related field.

Responsibilities

Drive client business growth within assigned customer accounts by increasing distribution, sales, unit volume, market share, and other key performance indicators while staying within budget.
Ensure retail merchandising execution and support eCommerce execution initiatives.
Achieve profit and loss objectives and manage the business for assigned clients.
Develop and execute marketing strategies; analyze business trends and results to meet revenue and expense goals.
Manage promotional spending to drive revenue growth, identify new business opportunities, and align resources to pursue them.
Meet or exceed client goals for sales, distribution, pricing, shelving, and promotional activity.
Identify and provide services that support customer and client business objectives.
Manage manufacturer marketing and promotional funds to achieve sales goals while maintaining financial compliance.
Secure client-approved schematics and planograms by coordinating with schematic, reset, and retail teams.
Conduct customer headquarters calls and build relationships with key retailer decisionmakers.
Organize business-unit resources to retain and grow client relationships.
Navigate internal organizational resources to support client and customer initiatives.
Facilitate communication about opportunities, challenges, and workflow among team members.
Attend and actively participate in client meetings, business reviews, and strategic planning sessions.
May delegate work, provide guidance and direction, and mentor indirect team members.