Hybrid Customer Manager

at Acosta

• Job title: Customer Manager
• Job type: Full Time
• Experience level: Junior
• Salary: Not specified
• Degree requirement: Bachelor's Degree
• Location requirements: Hybrid, Eden Prairie, United States

About the role

• Customer Manager responsible for managing principals’ business and driving sales growth in retail accounts at Acosta. Developing strategic business plans and engaging clients to enhance results.

Responsibilities

• Achieve Sales Goals: Deliver principals’ objectives, including volume and sales fundamentals such as merchandising, assortment, pricing, and shelving goals at the assigned customers, all at the lowest cost.
• Strategic Planning: Develop a comprehensive Customer Business Plan that aligns with the principals’ business priorities and drives long-term success.
• Client Engagement: Personally call on all decision-makers at the customer to present and sell business plans, programs, and concepts that enhance business results.
• Cost Management: Achieve results at the lowest possible selling cost while maximizing company revenue through brokerage, commissions, bonuses, contest earnings, and more. Oversee all manufacturers’ expenditures at the customer.
• In-Store Presence: Ensure a competitively superior in-store presence in the assigned stores by calling on headquarters, supervisors, and other customer operations personnel for both direct and indirect customers.
• Trade Marketing: Manage manufacturers’ trade marketing funds, process direct shipments via the Sales Support Coordinator, and leverage data to sell concepts to the customer.
• Budget Adherence: Operate within the designated budget, ensuring efficient use of resources.
• Proactive Communication: Maintain open lines of communication with key principals to ensure alignment and collaboration.
• Retail Initiatives: Collaborate with Retail Sales Managers on major retail initiatives, including new product introductions, selling drives, and contests.
• Market Knowledge: Utilize your knowledge of the customer, market, and principal to involve marketing, technology, and administrative resources in achieving objectives.
• Timely Information Sharing: Provide timely information on selling priorities to Retail Sales Managers, supervisors, and shared resources in marketing, technology, and administration.
• Team Collaboration: Share information and customer/principal insights with team members to build organizational capacity and drive collective success.
• Technology Utilization: Utilize computer systems and technology to achieve the objectives of the Customer Business Plan and continuously develop and maintain skill levels to support the use of Acosta communication systems.
• Feedback and Improvement: Provide feedback to the Team Leader and/or General Manager on ways to build organizational capacity and improve business operations.
• Special Projects: Complete special projects as requested, contributing to the overall success of the team.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent in the relevant industry.
• At least six months of experience in retail (CPG), marketing, space management, or resets. Preferred: Sales administration or finance experience.
• Proficient in Microsoft PowerPoint, Excel, Word, Outlook, and web-based applications.
• Excellent presentation skills.
• Ability to manage multiple projects.

Benefits

• flexible scheduling options
• reasonable accommodations for applicants with disabilities