Director of Sales

Director of Sales

Lakeland, Florida

The Company


Our client is a leading national, employee-owned distributor serving the grocery and retail channel. Strong growth trajectory, a culture built on development and opportunity, and an ownership model where your work builds your equity.


The Opportunity


The Executive Director of Sales is a senior leadership seat with full responsibility for planning, directing, and executing sales, marketing, and merchandising programs to retail stores and other retailers that hit regional and company financial goals. You will own major customer relationships, build and lead sales teams, and be the face of the business with customers, vendors, and broker partners.


This is a role for a proven grocery channel sales leader who sells with facts and analytics, moves with urgency, and knows how to grow accounts profitably.


Key Responsibilities
• Develop and execute account-level plans and programs that maximize sales and profit growth through analytical, fact-based selling.
• Build creative promotional plans that increase sales and manage them through profitable execution.
• Lead and develop sales teams to drive sales, marketing, and merchandising programs that meet or exceed company objectives.
• Own ongoing sales plan development, assessment, and execution for assigned accounts, and grow the book by finding new business and following up consistently.
• Analyze and distribute category management information and initiatives.
• Manage budgets for assigned customers and monitor competitor activity, recommending paths forward to counter it.
• Represent the company at regional and national trade events, including public speaking and industry association participation.
• Collaborate cross-functionally to meet company objectives and ensure policies and procedures are followed across the assigned sales area.


What You Bring
• 12+ years of experience in the grocery retail channel with 8+ years of management experience.
• Bachelor's degree in Sales, Business, or a related field.
• Proven ability to build, lead, and motivate high-performing sales teams that deliver results, even under tough circumstances.
• Strong command of sales and financial reporting. Comfortable interpreting key financial indicators and complex, sometimes contradictory information to make better business decisions.
• Decisive in fast-changing situations. Exceptional at spotting and seizing opportunities and building contingency plans when obstacles hit.
• Excellent communication and presentation skills with the ability to tailor the message to customers, vendors, brokers, and internal teams.
• High integrity leader who holds self and others accountable and is willing to address difficult issues head on.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office including Excel, PowerPoint, and Power BI.
• Willingness to travel up to 75% and work flexible hours as needed, including some weekends.


Compensation and Benefits
• Benefits on Day 1: Health/Rx, dental, vision, FSA/HSA, supplemental life.
• 401(k), employee stock ownership (ESOP), STD/LTD.
• Paid time off, paid sick time, and holiday pay.


#JDP