Corporate Sales Manager in Newport, Kentucky at Empire Marketing Strategies, Inc.

About Us:

Empire Marketing Strategies has been a leader in delivering exceptional in-store execution for over 40 years, enhancing the customer experience in grocery retail. Operating in all 18 Kroger divisions across the U.S., we partner with some of the world's top brands to optimize their presence in over 2,500 store locations. Our team thrives on tackling diverse challenges in the fast-paced retail industry. We value dedication, talent, and a passion for excellence.

Why Join Us?

• We offer competitive time off packages including 9 paid holidays.
• Earn a competitive salary plus 80% employer-covered benefits.
• Our Educational Assistance Program empowers associates to enhance their business-related skills through continued learning and development.
• A dynamic work environment where you’ll make a real impact.
• Full-Time Associates are eligible for medical, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, disability coverage, a retirement program, mental health support, paid time off, and 9 paid holidays annually.
• Part-Time Associates are eligible for our retirement program and access to mental health support resources.

Job Summary: The primary responsibility of the Corporate Sales Manager is to develop and execute channel strategies, manage client relationships, and provide expert consultation to divisions and leadership. This role exercises discretion in interpreting data, negotiating compliance terms, and implementing promotional strategies that significantly impact business operations. The Corporate Sales Manager partners with leadership to plan and optimize business objectives through strategic analysis and client engagement.

Core Functions:

Customer Liaison

• Interacts with all local management and operation levels of customers to drive mutual business growth

• Manage the business relationship with the Category Manager and interface with the Category Director and others at Kroger

• Establish and maintain strong relationships with clients and internal stakeholders

• Create and implement promotional strategies, analyze trends and results to achieve client goals

• Communication and follow-up with the client, customer, internal agency, and all third-party vendors

• Meet and/or exceed client and customer goals for sales, distribution, pricing, shelving/display and promotions

• Partners with VP to ensure client contract compliance as well as supporting term and renewal negotiations

Reports and Analytics

• Develop and launch strategies utilizing a broad range of data metrics, tools, and analytics to identify opportunities and deliver insights to customers and clients

• Evaluate and provide analysis and score carding to leaders for existing clients

• Collaborates with the internal analytics team and clients to create insight driven presentations with actionable tactics and strategies

Division/Retail Support

• Contribute to the development and execution of sales strategies in the Empire divisions

• Provide expert level advice and support to divisions to ensure alignment with company objectives and strategies to pursue customer opportunities

• Facilitate communication, opportunities, challenges, and workflow with Empire divisions and customers

• Understand and support Empire division client routing and time/ workload management challenges and goals

• Provide best in class level of support in tool and process development and implementation

Other Duties

• Attend Category Reviews with clients, and assist in the preparation of presentation

• Timely communication requirements through various channels including email and telephone

• Attend and participate in all scheduled company meetings

• Other duties as required

Education and Experience:

• College degree or equivalent experience required

• Current Driver’s License and clean Motor Vehicle Report required

• 4+ years of CPG /retail/food service industry related experience preferred

Required Skills/Abilities:

• Strong problem-solving and analytical skills are required. Must have strong time management and organizational skills

• Ability to tackle complex situations, evaluate alternative courses of action, and provide fact-based solutions/recommendations

• Experience analyzing data used to make effective sales presentations

• Ability to write clear and concise correspondence

• Ability to accurately exchange information

• Excellent interpersonal, organizational, presentation, negotiation, and sales skills

• Infuse passion, creativity and enthusiasm with a positive winning attitude and a big friendly smile!

• Ability to collaborate effectively with large cross-functional teams

• Role model and demonstrate the company’s core values of respect, honesty, integrity, diversity, inclusion and safety of others

• Ability to be able to operate autonomously, with strong personal drive for results

• Ability to effectively present information in one on one or group situations

• Ability to read and comprehend simple to sometimes complex instructions, correspondence, and memos

• Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists

• Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form

• Ability to add, subtract, multiply, and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals

Physical Requirements:

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer

• Regular use of hands to finger, handle, or feel objects, tools, or controls and reach with hands and arms

• Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and ability to see objects, information on computer screens, and/or view written information, from distances of 20-40 feet

Tools and Equipment:

• Regular operation of a personal motor vehicle to and from work sites

• Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, and web-browsers

Work Environment:

• Duties are typically performed in an office

• Also required to be in outside facilities, including but not limited to, customer warehouses, kitchens, and manufacturer-client facilities, all of which require more safety precautions than a normal office environment

• Noise levels – typically moderate