Wholesale Accounts Sales Lead

Wholesale Accounts Sales Lead

Be the face of Outpost for our accounts in the community!

Ensure the highest level of service possible to Outpost's internal and external customers. To manage all aspects of Outpost's wholesale accounts, including but not limited to solicitation of new clients, managing client's orders and driving Outpost's vehicles to transport fresh foods, products, and materials to service customer accounts to grow sales and limit losses. Supervises Wholesale accounts delivery staff.

Work Environment: Ability to work in an environment with moderate to loud noises including, but not limited to equipment, machinery, computers, paging, telephones, and human voices. Regular work near moving mechanical parts (i.e., vehicle lift, dock, power equipment). Regular work in wet, humid conditions and cold/hot climates. Job related travel within Southeast Wisconsin. Occasional weekend work shifts required.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Customer Service
  • Treat people fairly, consistently, and with respect.
  • Ensure efficient, informative, and friendly service according to established customer service vision and standards.
• Responsibilities Leadership
  • Model supportive and participatory leadership qualities, promote team building and motivate staff to achieve their stated objectives.
  • Treat staff and managers with consistency and fairness, in a style appropriate to a cooperative work environment.
  • Ensure that communications are clear, direct, and respectful.
  • Ensure the integrity of Outpost's stated values in decision-making and interactions with others.
  • Use the interest-based problem-solving method to resolve issues.
  • Ensure professional and friendly service from staff.
  • Act as a model to all employees following both the union contract and employee handbook.
• Wholesale Accounts
  • Oversee service to wholesale accounts. Work with Operations Manager and Logistics Supervisor to coordinate delivery times/schedule.
  • Service vendor accounts and work with drivers to maintain displays (place orders, rotate product, fill and merchandise kiosks or displays).
  • Build and maintain business partnerships with wholesale accounts and customers and commit to meeting their expectations and requirements.
  • Focus on account retention and seek opportunities to improve the account by being the primary responder to all customer issues and opportunities.
  • Establish and maintain effective and respectful relationships with customers and ensure all department staff provide outstanding customer service to the accounts and their customers.
  • Identify opportunities to solicit new business and increase business revenue through selling new items to current customers and obtaining new accounts.
  • Develop sell sheets and other materials required to approach potential clients.
  • Work with DFS to provide input into wholesale menu options based on current trends and in response to wholesale account requests.
  • Coordinate with the Operations Manager to research potential wholesale venues and options including accounts that aren't reliant on Central Kitchen product; Offer proposals where feasible.
  • Ensure new accounts are set up with required billing information, providing the information to the Director of Food Service (DFS) and Finance Director.
  • Develop SOPs for wholesale operations in collaboration with the Operations Manager.
  • Conduct regular audits to ensure the SOPs for wholesale accounts are met.
  • Develop and maintain plan-o-grams for each of the wholesale accounts.
  • Set price points for wholesale products based on established target margins.
  • Meet or exceed budgeted sales projections on quarterly basis.
• Personnel
  • Develop and uphold performance standards for all department staff.
  • Schedule staff according to weekly labor budget and quarterly cost of labor. Arrange for coverage of vacant shifts and fill in as needed.
  • Hire qualified staff within established policies.
  • Ensure training for all department staff. Successfully complete training checklists with new department staff.
  • Motivate and provide staff with the tools and materials required to ensure high quality and efficient job performance.
  • Provide timely, thorough, and thoughtful performance evaluations to department staff.
  • Determine corrective counseling measures and/or disciplinary action as needed for all department staff, according to established personnel policies.
  • Ensure that department meetings are conducted to maintain effective communication with staff.
  • Perform duties included on wholesale driver job descriptions.
• Budgeting and Planning
  • Meet the established goals for margin, labor, sales and inventory.
  • Maintain systems to monitor costs and margins of wholesale products.
  • Maintain documentation of wholesale sales and losses.
  • Work in collaboration with Operations Manager to develop annual operating budget, projections, capital budget, and equipment needs.
• Logistics Department/Vehicle Responsibilities Deliveries and Vehicle Maintenance
  • Prepare and load vehicle for deliveries. Secure cargo for transit.
  • Drive vehicle to destination. Unload vehicle and check in with accounts.
  • Complete deliveries on schedule.
  • Follow all traffic laws and drive in a courteous and professional manner.
  • Maintain vehicle logs.
  • Report all damage and broken equipment upon onset of condition.
  • Maintain vehicle in a clean, neat and sanitary condition, wash as needed.
  • Inspect and maintain vehicle equipment and supplies such as tires, lights, brakes, gas, oil and water.
• Other
  • Assist with product ordering and other related paperwork/invoicing.
  • Merchandise and stock product on-site at accounts.
  • Maintain back stock inventories, itemize and detail all out of date products returned from accounts.
  • Assist with light maintenance of Wholesale equipment at Outpost's wholesale locations.
  • Adjust to changing conditions to facilitate the delivery of products to customers.
  • Maintain communication with Operations Manager or Logistics Supervisor when off-site, as needed.
• All Staff Duties
  • Abiding by all Co-op policies and procedures as outlined in the Employee Handbook and other company documents.
  • Keeping vehicle/office orderly and clean.
  • Maintaining a positive attitude.
  • Performing all other duties as assigned by Operations Manager.

Knowledge, Skills, Abilities:

• Outstanding customer service skills
• Must have a valid driver's license and clean driving record
• Experience with stocking, ordering, and receiving in a retail setting
• Experience with Excel basic level and Foodtrak a plus
• Previous retail/ grocery or food products merchandising experience a plus
• Previous sales and supervisory experience preferred
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment and motivate others to do the same
• Ability to work well independently and with others
• Attention to detail and good organizational skills
• Ability to handle multiple demands, work under time pressures, and meet deadlines
• Ability to follow through on systems and procedures
• Demonstrate objectivity, neutrality, and calmness under pressure
• Regular, predictable attendance
• Effective communication skills in English
• Ability to read and comprehend instructions
• Demonstrated ability to follow through on commitments
• Ability to be flexible and to adapt to changing conditions quickly
• Ability to operate material handling equipment (i.e. pallet jacks, manual and electrical loading dock lifts, vehicle rail gates, forklifts, etc.)

Essential Physical Requirements:

• Ability to use feet and hands to operate machinery and company vehicle(s)
• Specific vision ability: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and adjust focus
• Ability to stand, walk, bend, sit, reach, push, pull
• Using hands or fingers to handle or feel
• Ability to lift up to 80 lbs and team lift up to and over 1