Hershey's Territory Sales Lead (Chicago South District)

Title Territory Sales Lead (Chicago South District) Job Location Chicago South District – Must be willing to relocate anywhere within the Chicago South District. Summary The Territory Sales Lead (TSL) ensures flawless execution of store level sales and promotion plans with customer retailers in assigned territory. The territory consists of high-volume food chain grocers and mass merchandiser customers. The TSL masters retail execution plans by driving incremental sales, implementing, and maintaining best‑in‑class promotional and merchandising strategies, and ensuring 100% distribution on authorized Hershey items across all classes of trade. A successful TSL will be driven, entrepreneurial, influential, and planful. Responsibilities Build and maintain consultative business relationships with customer Key Decision Makers (KDMs) at all levels. Partner and collaborate with KDMs to develop and execute action plans to increase sales. Cultivate a network of influential contacts at all levels of customers to achieve sales objectives. Leverage strategic relationships with KDMs to influence and negotiate customers' assistance in the merchandising of Hershey products. Obtain and analyze relevant store, product, and market data and leverage trends and analytics to build the business. Utilize and complete pre‑call planning methods and other company tools. Review and make recommendations to modify routes that maximize business efficiencies for all sales calls within territory. Effectively solve problems by analyzing information, utilizing consumer trends and customer insights to guide decision making and influence others to act. Engage in forward selling via consultative sales techniques using provided data sources, technology, processes and procedures. Maximize sales and display opportunities by conducting store walk‑throughs and gaining commitment by KDMs on successful outcomes. Tailor strategies to influence KDMs to order additional products to increase incremental sales and to obtain best‑in‑class quality of merchandising locations. Achieve all merchandising objectives executing customer‑specific promotional plans to the sales floor using forward selling. Partnership at store level is critical for TSLs to effectively build, maintain and execute product on the sales floor, in addition to merchandising and maintaining permanent secondary displays and other display vehicles. Complete and submit reports of daily and weekly activities, expenses, competitive activity, account changes, promotions and all administrative functions within assigned territory using company approved methods and technology. Qualifications Education and Experience: GED or HS Diploma 2‑year Associate/Community College degree required OR 3 years of previous sales experience. Bachelor's degree strongly preferred. Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities: Valid US state‑issued driver's license. Residency or willingness to commute within territory boundaries. Ability to drive for multiple sales calls on a daily basis. Ability to lift 10‑60 lbs. regularly. Ability to bend, kneel, stoop down and demonstrate manual dexterity frequently. Occasional ladder climbing, use of equipment such as crushing balers, handheld electric trucks. Proficient use of tablet and other wireless technology; intermediate level of computer skills with Microsoft Office products. Daily access to wireless internet. Flexibility and adaptability to changes in territory coverage. Occasional weekend work may be required during peak seasons and some territories may require occasional overnight stays. Benefits Employees can expect to be paid a starting base salary of $54,000. Additional compensation may include overtime and incentives. Other benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, vacation, and sick leave. Equal Opportunity Employer The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer. The policy of The Hershey Company is to extend opportunities to qualified applicants and employees on an equal basis regardless of an individual's race, color, gender, age, national origin, religion, citizenship status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, transgender status, physical or mental disability, protected veteran status, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other categories protected by applicable federal, state or local laws. The Hershey Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer - Minority/Female/Disabled/Protected Veterans. You may request a reasonable accommodation if you are unable or limited in your ability to use or access our online application process as a result of a disability. To request an accommodation via phone, please call View phone number on click.appcast.io and leave a voicemail with your contact information. You may also email a request for accommodation to View email address on click.appcast.io. Please be sure to include "Accommodation Needed" in the subject line. This will ensure that your email is routed to the appropriate contact who will handle your request. #J-18808-Ljbffr The Hershey Company