Territory Route Manager

Vestis Uniforms and Workplace Supplies | Canadian Linen & Uniform Service | Québec Linge Service D’Uniformes•Springfield, IL

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About The Position

The Territory Route Manager is responsible for an assigned service territory and directly supervises Route Sales Representatives (RSRs). The role is accountable for territory safety and business results, including customer retention and satisfaction, business growth, loss and ruin, piece budget, employee retention, accounts receivable collection, customer renewals, direct sales, route sales, and credits. The manager builds a strong safety and sales culture, coaches and develops RSRs, oversees territory customer-service programs, and resolves service issues. The position includes regular customer visits, renewal negotiations, recruitment and hiring, training, collections coordination, merchandise control, and accident investigation and reporting. Approximately 60% of the time is spent traveling with service professionals, observing routes, and visiting customers. The role reports to a Service Manager, Senior Territory Manager, or General Manager, depending on the management structure. The position is based in the Springfield, Illinois area. Work is split between driving in the service territory and working in a company office, with possible exposure to loading docks, production and warehouse areas, vehicle loading and unloading, and vehicle maintenance environments.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent.
Two years of service and route-based industry experience, with a proven track record of growing customer accounts.
Significant customer-interface and service experience.
Demonstrated ability to work effectively with a variety of organizational functions.
Strong interpersonal, analytical, communication, and customer-service skills.
Considerable negotiation skills.
Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of Microsoft Office software.
Considerable management, human-relations, and communication skills.
DOT certification.
Valid driver's license.
Automobile insurance for a personal vehicle.
Successful completion of criminal-background, motor-vehicle-record, and drug-screen checks.
Ability to frequently lift and maneuver up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds, and to load and unload product from a truck without assistance.
Ability to walk, climb stairs, and push or pull carts during customer visits.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor's degree in a related field or equivalent experience.
Exposure to sales.
Previous profit-and-loss accountability and/or contract-managed service experience.
Production planning, maintenance, or warehouse operations experience.
Willingness to relocate for advancement opportunities.

Responsibilities

Promote and sustain a safety culture.
Evaluate, coach, and develop Route Sales Representatives in the territory.
Create a sales culture that encourages team selling through Together-In-Growth (TIG) and Shared Lead programs.
Assist with new account installations as directed by the Service Manager and/or General Manager.
Manage the territory's day-to-day customer-service programs.
Visit required customers each quarter to review growth and service opportunities.
Ensure Route Sales Representatives respond to and resolve service requests promptly.
Set clear customer-service expectations and lead by example.
Spend approximately 60% of work time traveling with service professionals, conducting route observations, and visiting customer locations.
Follow up proactively on at-risk accounts and resolve service concerns promptly.
Negotiate and secure renewal agreements with existing customers while protecting pricing and profitability.
Recruit, select, and hire Route Sales employees.
Meet in person with each Route Sales Representative weekly to review trends and performance, provide coaching, and identify improvement opportunities.
Deliver and participate in training to meet customer-retention and service goals.
Contact Route Sales Representatives remotely each day to address pending items and situations.
Attend meetings and complete administrative work to improve customer satisfaction.
Coordinate accounts-receivable collections.
Protect and manage merchandise-control processes.
Investigate and report accidents or incidents within 24 hours of notification.