National Account Manager

ABOUT L&R DISTRIBUTORS

L&R Distributors is a leading supplier and category management partner to retailers, specializing in delivering innovative programs and solutions across multiple categories, including Cosmetics, Hair Care, Personal Care, General Merchandise, and more. Unlike traditional CPG companies, which focus on selling and growing specific brands, L&R takes a category-centric approach. We partner with retailers to manage entire categories end-to-end, offering assortment recommendations, strategic programs, and operational excellence to drive mutual success.

JOB SUMMARY

We are seeking a motivated and results-driven National Account Manager (NAM) to lead and grow our business with Albertsons, one of the more complex retailers we partner with. Success in this role requires building effective relationships at the national level with Albertsons’ National Category Directors (NCDs) to develop mutually beneficial programs and strategies. Equally important is the ability to navigate Albertsons’ divisional structure, which involves managing relationships at the division level to ensure national programs are executed correctly and to surface opportunities and challenges raised from the store level.

In addition to the traditional selling and account management responsibilities, the NAM also plays a critical leadership role in end-to-end project management for the key categories they manage. This includes owning project timelines, leading regular cross-functional project calls, coordinating internal teams, proactively driving solutions to blocking points, and ensuring all assigned projects stay on track and deliver on their intended outcomes. This dimension of the role is essential to meeting Albertsons’ expectations for flawless execution, accelerating speed-to-market, and improving internal accountability.

This role demands strong collaboration, exceptional organizational and communication skills, and the ability to lead cross-functional teams toward clear outcomes while maintaining a customer-centric and results-oriented mindset.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

• Develop and maintain strong, collaborative relationships with Albertsons’ HQ and divisional NCDs, ASMs, and other key contacts.
• Serve as the primary point of contact for all account-related activities, ensuring alignment and mutual business growth.
• Develop and implement strategic account plans aligned with the customer’s goals and the company’s Annual Operating Plan (AOP).
• Identify and capitalize on opportunities to grow sales, distribution, and market share within Albertsons.
• Present and negotiate promotional programs, new product introductions, and category management initiatives.
• Coordinate the execution of retailer-specific programs, including merchandising, pricing, and in-store promotions.
• Collaborate with Albertsons and internal teams to optimize product assortment, space allocation, and overall category performance.
• Lead the end-to-end management of key projects within assigned categories, ensuring timelines, milestones, and deliverables are clearly defined and met.
• Facilitate regular cross-functional project calls to drive alignment, surface decisions, and remove obstacles that impact execution.
• Coordinate with internal partners to proactively address risks, resolve blocking points, and keep projects on track.
• Provide clear, timely updates to leadership and cross-functional teams, ensuring visibility into progress and next steps.
• Maintain accountability across contributors and reinforce strong project discipline to support consistent, on-time delivery of outcomes.
• Analyze sales data, category performance, and shopper insights to identify trends and drive data-driven decisions.
• Prepare and present comprehensive business reviews, forecasts, and performance updates to both internal and external stakeholders.
• Act as a liaison between Albertsons and internal functions, including Category Development, Supply Chain, and Field Merchandising teams.
• Collaborate with internal teams to ensure timely product availability, flawless execution, and resolution of any operational issues.
• Stay informed about Albertsons’ strategic priorities, category trends, and competitive activities.
• Leverage industry knowledge to propose innovative solutions and establish the company as a trusted category advisor.
• Partner with Field Merchandising teams to ensure effective execution at the store level, addressing opportunities for improvement.
• Communicate Albertsons’ goals and strategies to the Merchandising Team to ensure alignment.

QUALIFICATIONS

• Ability and willingness to work successfully in a team selling environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field.
• 5+ years of experience in sales, account management, or category management, preferably within the CPG or distribution industry.
• Proven experience managing relationships with Albertsons or other retailers.
• Strong analytical skills with the ability to interpret sales data and shopper insights.
• Excellent presentation, negotiation, and communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability leading cross-functional projects and driving outcomes in a fast-paced environment
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite and familiarity with syndicated data sources (e.g., Nielsen, Circana).
• Willingness to travel as required.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS (If applicable)

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field; MBA preferred

WORK SCHEDULE/HOURS

Monday through Friday 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM

TRAVEL

Up to 40% travel required

DISCLAIMER

• Management may, at its sole discretion, assign or reassign duties and responsibilities to this job at any time.