Territory Sales Manager, Pet Consumer Brands

Description

Our Pet Segment’s Independent, Farm & Equine (IFE) team is searching for a passionate, energetic and self-motivated Sales Territory Manager. Our sales territory managers are known for achieving regional sales goals on assigned retail accounts by conducting sales visits, facilitating the customer’s continuing education training, attending open houses and trade shows, and implementing the company’s promotional calendar. This territory manager role is a remote, home-office-based, field sales position and desirable candidates will reside in the Midwest with accounts spanning Indiana, Ohio, lower Michigan and northern Kentucky. 

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KEY RESPONSIBILITIES:  

• Achieve regional sales goals and key customer business plans for assigned territory.
• Conduct regular sales/service/training calls on assigned retail accounts in support of Central Independent Pet Brand Sales and distributor selling programs. Sales calls largely occur as face to face visits with authorized buyers or store managers. Telephone sales calls are also required from time to time.
• Provide customers’ retail staff with continuing education training for Central products.
• Utilize CRM related tools (territory planning tool) to keep upper management up to date on territory activities, market opportunities and challenges within respective accounts. Regularly report in-depth territory activities to IFE Regional Business Manager.
• Attend open houses, seminars and meetings as assigned by the IFE Regional Business Manager.
• Manage retail sales and promotional programs with all customers at the store level.
• Ensure careful adherence to promotional calendars and place new items at all identified retail accounts.
• Drive secondary displays and price at all identified key accounts.
• Increase distribution at key independent accounts.
• Carefully manage customer inventory control against territory sales objectives.
• Support the account management team’s creation of programs, promos, tools, sell sheets.
• Serve as a category consultant by sharing competitive and innovative market insights to the brand team.
• Exercise fiscally smart territory management: mindful of the cost of all samples and free goods, ensure T&E costs are in line with prescribed budgets, and timely comply with the expense management procedures (Navan & Motus).

  This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive and other job duties may be assigned from time to time.  

QUALIFICATIONS:  

• Ability to communicate effectively and develop good working relationships with customers; clear verbal communication and strong organizational skills; communicate effectively (in person and over the phone) and in writing
• Strong presentation skills required
• Strong proficiency in computer programs such as Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and PowerPoint
• Quality, accuracy, timeliness, reliability, and thoroughness of work performed; maintain the integrity of confidential customer and product information
• Strong business acumen: plan and organize work effectively; analyze problems; draw conclusions; propose solutions
• Self-starter; must be able to work with minimal supervision and work under pressure in a fast changing environment
• Must be able to project a customer service and friendly attitude; exercise good judgment when dealing with customers and employees; deal effectively and professionally with a wide variety of people and situations

MINIMUM EXPERIENCE & EDUCATION:

• 2-4 years of consumer packaged goods sales or retail sales experience required – background in pet specialty preferred
• Bachelor’s degree in business administration or other related discipline preferred (such as scientific disciplines for Equine, Pet Health, etc.)

WORK ENVIRONMENT:  

• 80% in-territory travel required including occasional overnight stays  
• Field travel conditions: frequent car travel; infrequent airline travel; hotel sleep accommodations, much work is performed in customer retail stores.
• Work will typically occur during regular customer business hours; some weekend work is required as needed.
• Home office conditions when not actively traveling in territory.
• Variation in work hours is necessary due to employee and customer schedules, special projects, deadlines and other business activities.
• Territory Managers may be required to lift up to 40 lbs of Central products, display or trade show equipment, trade show materials, etc. on an intermittent basis.

BENEFITS PACKAGE & EMPLOYEE PROGRAMS:  

• Comprehensive Medical, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• Free Life and Disability Insurance
• Health and Dependent Care Flexible Spending Accounts
• 401k with 3% company match and annual employer discretionary contribution
• Paid vacation, holidays and sick time
• Employee Assistance Program
• Access to thousands of free online courses
• Discounts on cell phones, movie tickets, gym memberships, and more!
• Education Assistance (both college degrees and professional certifications)
• Referral Program with cash bonus
• Access to on-demand pay
• Paid parental leave

Central Garden & Pet Company (NASDAQ: CENT) (NASDAQ: CENTA) understands that home is central to life and has proudly nurtured happy and healthy homes for over 40 years. With fiscal 2025 net sales of $3.1 billion, Central is on a mission to lead the future of the Pet and Garden industries. The Company’s innovative and trusted products are dedicated to helping lawns grow greener, gardens bloom bigger, pets live healthier and communities grow stronger. Central is home to a leading portfolio of more than 65 high-quality brands including Amdro®, Aqueon®, Cadet®, Farnam®, Ferry-Morse®, Four Paws®, Kaytee®, K&H®, Nylabone® and Pennington®, strong manufacturing and distribution capabilities and a passionate, entrepreneurial growth culture. Central is based in Walnut Creek, California and has 6,400 employees across North America and Europe. Visit to learn more.

We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other characteristic protected by law.