ABOUT MPG

Market Performance Group, LLC (MPG) is an innovative consulting and sales management services company that specializes in helping manufacturers and retailers define a better path forward to accelerate growth and profitability. We are an experience-based team that revels in the opportunity to collaborate with our clients - from large multinational firms to small, entrepreneurial startups - to achieve stronger marketplace performance. The MPG leadership team brings over 20 years of experience, having held significant roles at major consumer packaged goods and retailing organizations. This background and bias for action, combined with diverse management and project experiences, positions MPG as a valuable resource for a wide variety of client initiatives.

JOB OVERVIEW

The successful Sales Manager for Meijer, UNFI Conventional and HyVee is tasked with working closely with high priority regional customers on behalf of MPG. The successful candidate will be accountable for consistent improvement of sales, distribution, and market penetration with strict adherence to achievement of all goals within assigned budgets. The ideal candidate will be located in the Grand Rapids, MI or surrounding area.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

LEAD THE DEVELOPMENT AND EXECUTION OF STRATEGIES AND TACTICS TO DELIVER SALES, PROFIT AND CLIENT OBJECTIVES WITH KEY REGIONAL CUSTOMERS

• Establish robust short-term and long-term objectives for key customers, as well as strategies to ensure delivery of goals. Ensure that customer objectives are closely aligned with client goals
• Achieve all assigned and mutually agreed upon client and customer objectives within assigned trade investment budgets
• Establish and achieve specific MBOs that are closely aligned with the company and client objectives
• Develop a proactive communication protocol and discipline with all stakeholders to include clients, customers and company management. Ensure that all relevant information, positive or not, be conveyed in real time supported by relevant facts and, where appropriate, recommendations and options for alternative actions
• Consistently provide accurate sales forecasts and trade investment projections. Ensure that all are actualized at least monthly in the company’s sales and trade management platform (BesTrax)
• Leverage all relevant data including customer POS, syndicated data (IRi), factory shipments and other industry sources to create and deliver fact-based customer and client specific proposals and recommendations
• Work effectively and productively within the MPG team to include support resources, peers and management to achieve client intimacy and the achievement of company goals
  

REQUIRED SKILLS AND CAPABILITIES

• Highly preferred – experience working with Meijer, UNFI Conventional (SuperValu) or Hy-Vee
• Highly preferred – previous merchant experience

• Ability to think critically about the client, partner goals
• Ability to effectively understand client’s analytical needs
• Effective and efficient project management skills with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and keep projects moving and on time
• Strong communication and presentation skills that will allow for success in a virtual team environment
• Ability to manage successfully in the matrix environment, able to build positive working interfaces across dotted line reporting relationships
• Robust knowledge of consumer products industry and category, brand, and retail strategies
• Ability to live into the Better Together Values

PREFERRED EXPERIENCE AND EDUCATION

• 4 year degree preferred
• Strong and diverse experience managing large and complex retailers in the NE and or Midwest markets. (must have)
• Experience working for both a manufacturer and a broker as well as a background in trade marketing or brand marketing (these in some combinations are a highly desired / nice to have)
• Strong analytical skills: ability to extract the key insights and call to action from various data sources (must have)
• Exceptionally strong oral and written communication skills (must have)
• Elevated level of computer literacy in Microsoft products, Nielsen/IRi data, etc. (must have)
• Dedicated team player – willingness to do what is necessary to achieve team success (must have)
• Effective and efficient project management skills with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, & keep projects moving
• Knowledge of consumer products industry & category, brand, & retail strategies
• Ability to listen, understand, & resolve competing priorities
  

VACCINATION STATUS

MPG does not require candidates to be vaccinated when hired. However, if the client the role is being hired to support requires all candidates to be vaccinated, MPG will require those candidates working with that client to be vaccinated.

BENEFITS:

We offer a generous package of health benefits, medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, paid maternity/paternity leave and life insurance. Our compensation program provides market industry base salary, bonuses, 401K match. You will receive a generous amount of paid time off, through vacation, sick time, personal days, service and holiday time.

DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION:

MPG is an organization driven by PEOPLE, and we know that with diversity comes results. Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging was born from our core values. It is our mission to foster a culture that celebrates inclusion and diversity in the workplace. We believe that by leveraging the unique perspectives and experiences of our employees, MPG can unlock more comprehensive, innovative, and long-standing results for both our client and retailer partners.

To ensure that our services and culture incorporate everyone’s unique experiences and perspectives, MPG will never discriminate on the basis of race, religion, national origin, gender identity, sexual orientation, age, marital, veteran, or disability status.