Retail Sales & Execution Specialist - College & University (Chicago)

Retail Sales & Execution Specialist - College & University (Chicago)

The Retail Sales & Execution Specialist College & University role is a field sales role responsible for bringing College & University customer strategies to life through exceptional on-campus execution. This role within assigned College & University accounts, supports relationships with campus operators by identifying opportunities to improve product availability and visibility, supporting new item launches, and delivering impactful promotional and sampling programs. The Specialist works closely with Key Account Managers and cross-functional partners to ensure Chobani and La Colombe products are consistently available, visible, and well executed across campus. This role combines sales execution, relationship building, customer support, merchandising, campus activation, and business development. This role ensures all One Chobani items are highly available, properly merchandised, supported with the right POS, and executed consistently across all permanent and promotional locations.

Responsibilities:

• Long-Term Sales Drivers: Support Key Account Managers in executing customer strategies and business plans across assigned College & University accounts. Serve as a day-to-day field contact for assigned campus locations and operator partners. Ensure Chobani products are available, properly merchandised, and represented across approved campus locations. Conduct regular campus visits and audits to identify execution gaps, out-of-stocks, competitive activity, and growth opportunities. Identify opportunities to expand Chobani's presence through retail outlets, cooler placements, menu penetration in within residential dining, and other campus channels included but not limited to athletics, dietician collaboration, and student life. Communicate execution barriers, inventory concerns, customer feedback, and business opportunities to the Key Account Manager and relevant internal partners. Maintain ownership and accountability for execution standards across assigned campuses or territories.
• Short-Term Sales Drivers: Plan and execute on-campus sampling, promotions, events, and student engagement programs. Support national, regional, and local promotional initiatives across assigned campuses. Secure and execute incremental points of distribution and promotional placements where opportunities exist. Coordinate campus activations with internal teams, campus partners, agencies, distributors, and other partners. Ensure sampling materials, POS, product, equipment, and event needs are coordinated and available. Serve as a Chobani brand ambassador with students, campus personnel, and partner organizations. Gather student and customer feedback to identify insights and future growth opportunities. Track activation results and communicate learnings to the broader sales team.
• Market Execution & Service: Conduct account audits as assigned and document market conditions, execution gaps, competitive activity, and growth opportunities. Ensure all approved One Chobani SKUs are in stock and available across all authorized locations within the store. Place and manage orders with distribution partners, where applicable, to maintain optimal product availability. Ensure all point-of-sale (POS) materials are present, visible, and properly maintained. Execute daily and weekly account coverage to maintain permanent placements, PODs, and promotional displays. Act as the primary account-level contact, responding quickly to issues and facilitating timely resolution. Communicate execution barriers, inventory concerns, and business opportunities to the Sales Activator Manager and relevant field partners. Maintain full ownership and accountability for execution standards and in-store conditions across the assigned territory. Surface sales opportunities to CBU partners. Identify and communicate in-field quality issues. Deliver against the mission of making One Chobani the best-executed brand at retail.

Requirements:

• Bachelor's degree in a related field, or years of experience in combination with education
• Retail sales, field execution, DSD, merchandising, (grocery, beverage, dairy, or CPG) experience preferred
• Strong relationship-building and communication skills
• Comfort working independently in stores
• Ability to influence without authority
• Attention to detail
• Comfort using mobile field tools
• Ability to manage a structured route schedule
• Ability to lift and build displays in store (30+ lbs)
• Calendar Planning and Organization experience
• Winning mindset
• Periodic lifting, bending, reaching and kneeling
• Occasional weekend work
• Infrequent overnight travel
• Must have a personal vehicle and excellent driving record for use during work hours
• Independent Sales Experience
• Strong computer skills

About Us:

Chobani is a food maker with a mission of making high-quality and nutritious food accessible to more people, while elevating our communities and making the world a healthier place. In short: making good food for all. In support of this mission, Chobani is a purpose-driven, people-first, food-and-wellness-focused company, and has been since its founding in 2005 by Hamdi Ulukaya, an immigrant to the U.S. The Company manufactures yogurt, oat milk, and creamers Chobani yogurt is America's No.1 yogurt brand, made with natural ingredients without artificial preservatives. Following the 2023 acquisition of La Colombe, a leading coffee roaster with a shared commitment to quality, craftmanship and impact, the Company began selling cold-pressed espresso and lattes on tap at cafs nationwide, as well as Ready to Drink (RTD) coffee beverages at retail. In 2025, Chobani acquired Daily Harvest, a modern brand offering consumers nutritious, delicious and convenient ready-to-make meals. Chobani uses food as a force for good in the world putting humanity first in everything it does. The company's philanthropic efforts prioritize giving back to its communities and beyond. Chobani manufactures its products in New York, Idaho, Michigan and Australia, and its products are available throughout North America and distributed in Australia and other select markets.

Salary: $70,000, plus a 10% bonus, equity, and benefits.