Director of Sales, Grocery

At Link Snacks , we show up hungry, roll up our sleeves, plaid or otherwise, and dive straight into the hard work. We don’t hide from challenges; we hunt them down. We push harder, move faster, and take the kinds of big swings that built this business in the North Woods of Wisconsin four decades ago.

We’re everyday people who deliver extraordinary results. Innovation, creativity, and urgency aren’t buzzwords, they’re expectations. And just like the real protein snacks we make across our global house of brands: Jack Link’s® , Lorissa’s™ Organic Snacks , Golden Island® , BiFi® , Peperami® and KOOEE!® to name a few, there’s nothing artificial about us. What you see is exactly what you get: humble, gritty, passionate people who show up every day ready to not just be a participate in the meat snack industry that the Link Family created, but to move faster, innovate harder and keep raising the bar so high, the rest of the world needs a ladder just to see it.

Dominating this space across the world takes a team. A team that runs together, succeeds together, and celebrates together. A team that’s full of relentless energy and spirit that can only be fueled by one thing: a fist full of our delicious meat snacks.

Real Meat Protein. Real People. Real Results. THAT is Link Snacks.

In this role, you will own developing key growth strategies, cultivating relationships with customers, and executing sales, program and innovation that will drive growth to meet the goals of Link Snacks business plan. Additionally, you will report to the VP of Sales, Grocery and lead a team who manages the grocery/food channel for a designated territory and are responsible for delivering assigned customer Revenue, Trade Fund, Selling Expense and Profit goals.

Responsibilities

Execute the strategy of the Grocery Channel to deliver on AOP goals.; Develop and execute the 1 – 3 year strategic plan to grow our sales, market share, and overall leadership position in the category.; Lead, develop and grow a team of salespeople.; Build and maintain strong, long-lasting customer relationships.; Manage team’s trade spending to drive profitable business, including use of trade promotion management system.; Review sales progress, strategies and business opportunities and develop plans to correct any business shortfall.; Collaborate with internal functions to develop customer specific programs and customer specific items to build the business.; Understand and utilize category data to review business performance, identify business trends and opportunities.; Understand and utilize P&L to drive financial performance, including managing A/R and Deductions.; Accountable for the development and accuracy of sales forecast by customer and product to drive production planning.; Provide business updates to senior leadership on sales results and opportunities.; Understand and report back on competitive landscape and activity.; Perform other duties as assigned.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree in business related field preferred.; 5+ years of experience in CPG sales with customers, including broker management.; Exceptional leadership skills.; Strong ability to multitask.; Entrepreneurial thinking and understand how to use data to sell.; Outstanding organizational, presentation, and follow-up skills.; Excellent verbal and written communication.; Ability to work well on their own, and also collaborate with cross-functional internal and external teams.; Travel 50-75%.; Prior experience in HQ Selling, Sales Planning, Sales Strategy, Broker management preferred.; Prior experience leading a sales team focusing on the grocery channel.; Prior experience calling on large grocery and or mass chain accounts.