Area Sales Manager, Cleveland

Area Sales Manager, Cleveland

Cleveland, Ohio

At OLIPOP, we're on a mission to positively impact consumer health at scale. And we're doing it through something simple: soda. But not just any soda, a new kind of soda: one that's delicious, refreshing, and actually good for you.

This mission is deeply personal for our CEO, Co-Founder, and Formulator, Ben Goodwin. Like many of us, Ben grew up consuming the Standard American Diet: lots of soda and processed foods that prioritized convenience over nutrition. But at 14, he took his health into his own hands. After making significant changes to his nutrition and exercise, he lost 50 pounds and saw a transformation in his energy, mood, and emotional clarity.

Those changes sparked a deep curiosity about the connection between nutrition and health. Ben became a relentless student of the gut microbiome and the ways it supports overall wellness. The more he discovered, the more passionate he became about finding credible, science-backed ways to make consumer health accessible to everyone.

The mission was clear. The vehicle? Less so. After exploring the possibilities, Ben landed on an unexpected yet familiar choice: soda. It was something he loved as a kid, and he knew millions shared that same nostalgia. But this wouldn't be just any soda. With most Americans falling short on daily fiber, Ben set out to create a version with more fiber and less sugar, one that was perfectly balanced. The result? A deliciously refreshing soda with 6 to 9 grams of fiber and 2 to 5 grams of sugar, delivering science-backed benefits without sacrificing the classic taste people crave.

In 2018, the first OLIPOP cans hit the shelves, bringing Ben's vision to life with a functional soda that anyone could enjoy. And by reimagining soda, we're also reshaping culture. That means creating products that support health for all and building a business grounded in humanistic values: empathy, integrity, and a belief in better for everyone. From the ingredients we source to the culture we foster, we're committed to proving that business (and beverage!) can be a force for good, and that soda has the power to bring people together.

So join us, and let's write a new American soda story together. One we can all feel good about. One OLIPOP at a time.

OLIPOP is searching for an Area Sales Manager to join our team and represent us in the Cleveland territory. This position focuses on impact in the field built on the back of amazing relationships. Our fast-turning product is distributed through a range of different stores in the Midwest region from retailers like Target, Walmart, Whole Foods, Giant Eagle, regional and independent retailers.

In this role you'll have to prioritize your time to focus on the highest impact areas, while working with and inspiring our distributor partners and third-party sales resources in the region to deliver a whole greater than the sum of its parts. You'll be opening new doors, but you'll also be building on high velocities we are already seeing in the market. If you're looking for a fast paced environment, an opportunity for personal growth and responsibility, and enjoy having fun along the way, then this is a role you'll thrive in!

Responsibilities

• Deliver on monthly volume and distribution goals and achieve overall objectives in the market.
• Manage partnerships with distributors, food brokers, and retailers in the Cleveland market.
• Conduct weekly "route rides" with our DSD partners and food brokers, and pinpoint opportunities for underperforming accounts and routes.
• Monitor inventory and proper use of P.O.S. material. Follow through on all commitments made to distributor management, sales personnel, and the trade.
• Assist our other ASMs and Director in distributor management meetings by providing well documented reports on the levels of distribution, display, and sales by the distributor.
• Implement and execute incentive programs intended to guide distributor organizations in achieving sales objectives.
• Manage chain retailers: new item launches and retail programs.
• Gain additional placement within accounts, including secondary points of purchase and cooler placement.
• Collaborate with field-marketing teams to create comprehensive marketing plans to profitably increase market share.
• Assist stores in packing out and merchandising which will require lifting multiple cases of product.
• Occasional travel required to assist with other markets and retails, roughly once a quarter.

Start Time & Field Expectations: This role requires an early start, with work beginning between 7:008:00 AM local time. The Area Sales Manager will begin visiting assigned store locations at that time, with majority of the time spent at stores (or in the field) in their market.

Qualifications

• Deeply passionate about OLIPOP, and inspired by what we represent. Has the desire and hunger to make an impact.
• Obsession for understanding customer behavior. Lives, breathes and dreams about how to better reach & understand our consumers.
• Enthusiastic and comfortable working in an early stage company. Ability to think rapidly in a growing and changing environment.
• Ability to take initiative and work autonomously you can run with something from beginning to end.
• Works well with ambiguity and asks the right questions to get at the solution.
• Strong planning, organization and project management skills, along with excellent interpersonal, written/oral communication and presentation skills.
• Competence in Google Suite and Microsoft Suite. Experience with team collaboration tools such as Slack and Zoom preferred.
• Must be able to work flexible hours, including evenings and weekends.
• Clean driver's license, reliable transportation and proof of insurance.
• Bilingual is a plus!

Physical Requirements / Working Conditions: must be able to lift up to 40 pounds. Role Requires travel within market as well as occasional business travel

Reports To: Regional Sales Manager, Midwest

Compensation: $72,000-$80,000 base salary + bonus

How We Work

We may be fully remote, but we're anything but disconnected. OLIPOP has grown from a few passionate people around a table to a nationwide team, and we've done it without losing our collaborative spirit or sense of purpose.

Connection here is intentional. From cross-functional projects and IRL offsites to thoughtful Slack threads and spontaneous gifs, we make the effort to stay close, even across time zones. Sure, we move quickly, but we lead with trust, transparency, and a shared commitment to doing work that matters.

We value thoughtful debate. We give feedback with care and receive it with curiosity, knowing that real growth, both personal and collective, comes from listening as much as leading. Because at OLIPOP, it's not just about getting things done. It's about growing together, staying true to what matters, and building something with lasting impact.

What We Value

• Mission Connectivity : Everything we do ladders up to our shared goal: supporting human health. Whether launching a new flavor or conducting clinical research, the mission stays front and center.
• Indomitable Spirit : When things get messy, we get inventive. We stay curious, adapt quickly, and find the path forward, most likely with a dedicated Slack thread and a beautifully overbuilt deck.
• Lead at Every Level : Leadership isn't about titles, it's about ownership. We speak up, follow through, and lift each other up. If you've got ideas and initiative, you've got influence.
• Courageous Humility: We're confident in what we bring and curious about what we don't know (yet). We give feedback with care, take it with grace, and know that real growth takes both.

What We're Looking For

• Think big, move fast, and take thoughtful risks
• Thrive in a high-performance, feedback-rich environment
• Value real human connection and honest collaboration
• Are fired up by building something new, and making it better every day

Startup life at OLIPOP is equally fun and fast-paced. If you're energized by a dynamic environment, eager to grow, and excited to help shape something meaningful from the inside out, OLIPOP is a one-of-a-kind ride.

We are committed to providing reasonable