District Sales Manager

District Sales Manager

The District Sales Manager (DSM) provides leadership, strategic planning and monitors all sales activities of Territory Managers (TMs) for assigned districts to ensure the team achieves maximum profitability and growth in line with the Company's vision and goals. The DSM establishes and jointly builds strategic plans with Regional Sales Vice President to increase sales revenues from current clients and new client acquisitions.

Responsibilities

• Establish sales objectives by forecasting and developing annual sales quotas for districts and territories.
• Work closely with TMs (territory managers) to project expected sales volume and profit for existing and new properties.
• Ensure that plans are followed by TMs (territory managers) to ensure all goals are met.
• Assign and/or reassign accounts as necessary.
• Spearhead the recruitment, motivation, development of TMs (territory managers) for the assigned district and instill a culture of accountability, performance-based management, teamwork, and other best practices to achieve the goals of the organization.
• Monitor, evaluate and provide feedback to TMs (territory managers) on progress towards goals.
• Coach and develop TMs (territory managers) in balancing the delivery of high productivity, quality and customer service.
• Participate in staff selection, performance and compensation evaluations, corrective action and terminations, as necessary.
• Promote continuous training and development of associates.
• Lead and facilitate change management in support of organizational goals.
• Consult with Human Resources Department as appropriate.
• Work directly with the TMs (territory managers) and customers in the field by assisting on sales calls while providing constructive feedback to further develop the skill sets of each TMs (territory managers).
• Oversee training and educational programs for TMs (territory managers).
• Participate in major client presentations and discussions to ensure best in class customer service.
• Work with all operating divisions that support the sales organization to create and ensure a collaborative work environment.
• Increase sales through account penetration by analyzing current sales and volume, planning sales calls and following up.
• Utilize product knowledge, ROI and analytical research tools (i.e., Phocas, GForce, and Salesforce.com) and sales training resources to effectively target new prospects and opportunities.
• Maintain, build, and expand customer relationships.
• Regularly interact and communicate with various internal departments to provide vital information that may be necessary for servicing the customer. This may include advance notification to Merchandising changes, increased or decreased product movement, new business, changes in proprietary product or other related information.
• Provide advance notification to Operations about new customers or any other changes that may affect customer orders or delivery.
• Continuously monitor assigned accounts and take corrective action, as needed, to maintain and improve overall customer satisfaction.
• Immediately notify the management team if an existing account is in jeopardy of discontinuing service or issues remain unresolved regardless of attempts to correct the situation.
• Work with accounts receivable to ensure customers pay invoices within agreed-upon terms.

Qualifications

Education

• High School education required.
• Bachelor's degree in a related field (e.g. business administration) or equivalent relevant industry experience.

Experience

• 2 or more years' experience successfully growing profitable sales in the foodservice industry.
• 5+ years' foodservice sales experience in the foodservice industry preferred.

Professional Skills

• Excellent communication (verbal and written), interpersonal and professional interactive skills are necessary to perform at a high degree of proficiency.
• Ability to communicate clearly through email and telephone.
• Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from clients, management and associates.
• Capable of working with others proactively and constructively.
• Strong leadership skills, including the ability to mentor and develop individuals and teams.
• Able to engage and lead team discussions and meetings.
• Understand team dynamics and works well within a team structure.
• Collaborative management style.
• Delegates responsibilities effectively.
• Recognizes and acknowledges the value others bring to the organization.
• Exhibits a high level of trust and accountability.
• Excellent listening, presentation, negotiation, and closing skills.
• Strong understanding of financial concepts, including pricing and forecasting.
• Respond promptly to customer needs.
• Solicit customer feedback to improve service.
• Respond promptly to requests for service and assistance as needed.
• Ability to prioritize and manage multiple priorities/deadlines.
• Uses time effectively.
• Identifies and resolves problems promptly.
• Gathers and analyzes information skillfully.
• Develops alternative solutions.
• Displays willingness to make decisions.
• Exhibits sound and accurate judgment.
• Makes timely decisions.
• Tactfully approaches others.
• Reacts well under pressure.
• Accepts responsibility for your actions.
• Follows through on commitments.
• Goal-oriented and driven self-starter who can work independently within a team environment and strives to the best.
• Computer literacy includes maintaining a customer database, internet navigation and use of MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, and Outlook).
• Familiarity with Phocas, Gforce, Box, Salesforce.com and PeopleSoft a plus.

Physical Demands

• Regularly required to sit, stand, walk and use hands and fingers to operate a computer keyboard, mouse, and telephone to talk and hear.
• Frequently required to sit and reach with hands and arms.
• Must occasionally lift and/or move up to 20 pounds.

Work Environment

• Depending on the assigned territory, the district sales manager may work in a normal office environment or work from a remote home-based office.
• The noise level in the work environment is usually moderate.
• This management position demands travel to and from Territory Managers, customers and prospects in the assigned region as needed.
• There is overnight travel required as deemed necessary and specifically pertains to company events, district meetings, training sessions, vendor fairs, and client appointments.
• May be required to utilize personal vehicles for business travel that may result in long periods of sitting.
• Must maintain a valid driver's license with a driving record that meets company minimum standards for travel throughout the assigned district to service customers and call upon prospects.
• If working remote, you must have required software to ensure timely communications and have a dedicated workspace free of any distractions and participate in customer or conference calls in a business-friendly environment.
• This position may require evening and weekend work depending on customer needs.