Manager, National Sales in Bentonville, Arkansas at Rise Baking Company, LLC

Job Purpose

Develop and manage the commercial relationship with Walmart and/or Sam’s Club, driving sales growth, expanding distribution, and delivering against joint business objectives. Serve as the primary internal and external point of contact for the account, aligning Rise Baking Company’s capabilities with retailer strategies to create mutual, sustainable value.

Essential Functions

• Serve as the primary point of contact for Walmart and/or Sam’s Club; own the end-to-end customer relationship, including buyer, category, and senior leadership engagement

• Develop and execute annual joint business plans (JBPs) that align Rise’s growth objectives with the retailer’s strategic priorities

• Achieve volume, revenue, and profit targets through strategic selling, promotional planning, and distribution expansion

• Lead all sales presentations, line reviews, and new item sell-in meetings; bring compelling, data-driven stories that position Rise for growth

• Analyze POS, syndicated data (IRI/Circana/Nielsen), and internal sales data to identify trends, opportunities, and competitive threats

• Collaborate with the Marketing team to develop customer-specific programming, promotional events, and omnichannel strategies aligned to retailer platforms (e.g., Walmart Scintilla, Sam’s Club Member Access Platform)

• Partner with Supply Chain and Demand Planning to ensure accurate forecasting, on-shelf availability, and in-stock performance

• Harness and employ AI effectively to manage sales and grow revenue

• Monitor and report on account performance on a regular cadence; provide insights and recommendations to internal leadership

• Stay current on retail landscape, category dynamics, and competitive activity within mass and club channels

• Partner with internal stakeholders to develop and present new ideas and programs, ensuring best-in-class service and speed to market

• Support food safety program, quality standards, and legality of manufactured products

• Perform other job-related duties as assigned

Qualifications (Education, Experience, Competencies)

• Bachelor’s degree in business, sales, marketing, or a related field

• 5+ years of progressive CPG sales experience, with direct Walmart and/or Sam’s Club account management strongly preferred

• Demonstrated success managing large, complex retail accounts with full P&L accountability

• Experience developing and presenting joint business plans and managing trade funds

• Deep knowledge of Scintilla, Madrid, and retail analytics platforms

• Proficiency with syndicated data tools (IRI/Circana, Nielsen)

• Strong analytical and financial acumen; ability to translate data into compelling, action-oriented narratives

• Experience with CRM or account planning tools

• Strong computer skills, including Microsoft Office (Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Outlook), Claude, ChatGPT

• Background in baked goods, food manufacturing, or related category desired

• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills; ability to influence and build relationships at all levels

• Proven ability to lead and influence cross-functionally across multiple departments

• Ability to work cross-functionally, convey complex issues, and maintain confidentiality

• Detail oriented with the ability to organize and prioritize, show flexibility, and multi-task to execute simultaneous projects and activities to meet objectives and deadlines

• Self-motivated, goal oriented, quality driven, and capable of working independently with minimal supervision

• Willingness to travel as required to meet with retail partners and attend internal business reviews