Experienced Customer Account Manager – Strategic Business Development and Customer Relationship Management for blithequark

Introduction to blithequark

At blithequark, we are a leading independent bottler dedicated to delivering exceptional customer experiences through our diverse portfolio of beverages. As a family-owned business, we pride ourselves on our commitment to excellence, integrity, and community involvement. With a strong presence in the market, we are seeking a highly skilled and motivated Customer Account Manager to join our team in Orlando, FL. This exciting opportunity will allow you to work closely with our esteemed customer, blithequark, and develop strategic business plans that drive growth and profitability.

About the Role

As a Customer Account Manager at blithequark, you will be responsible for identifying and maximizing opportunities with our customers. Your primary objective will be to develop and successfully sell customer business plans and promotional plans that align with and support the customer's and blithequark's business objectives and strategies. You will work closely with internal stakeholders, including sales, marketing, and finance teams, to develop programming that accelerates incremental business and exceeds program objectives.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop a customized yearly business plan addressing the critical needs of the customer while delivering blithequark's budgeted profit and volume
• Collaborate with customers and/or channels to develop a yearly price/package plan that generates desired results for both the customer/channel and blithequark
• Conduct post-promotional analysis to measure the success levels of promotions and make necessary changes to the price/package plan
• Sell-in and implement local, regional, or national marketing strategies
• Act as a subject matter expert on assigned customers and/or channels, communicating weekly with frontline sales management to discuss promotional plans, display commitments, and establish goals against assigned metrics
• Work with Category Management to gain key market and customer insights and turn insights into specific actions that positively influence the customer's buying patterns
• Negotiate contracts for new business and renegotiate contracts for existing business
• Manage customer/channel forecasts to ensure alignment with business trends while mitigating the risk of product supply issues

Essential Qualifications

To be successful in this role, you will need:

• A Bachelor's degree in a relevant field
• 5+ years of experience in the consumer goods industry, with a focus on customer account management
• Previous experience managing multiple key accounts and developing successful annual business plans and price/package plans for retail customers
• Experience working with Nielsen and other syndicated data
• Strong knowledge of the consumer goods and beverage industry, with a customer-focused approach
• Excellent communication, negotiation, and analytical skills
• Ability to thrive in a fast-paced, ever-changing environment
• Bilingual skills are preferred

Preferred Qualifications

In addition to the essential qualifications, the following skills and experiences are highly desirable:

• Previous experience within category management
• Strong negotiation, collaboration, and analytical skills
• Food Service on Premise (FSOP), Direct Store Delivery (DSD), and/or Beverage category experience
• Experience influencing effective negotiation and selling with retailers

Career Growth and Development

At blithequark, we are committed to the growth and development of our employees. As a Customer Account Manager, you will have access to a range of training and development opportunities, including:

• Comprehensive onboarding program
• Ongoing sales and account management training
• Leadership development programs
• Opportunities for career advancement and progression

Work Environment and Company Culture

At blithequark, we pride ourselves on our positive and inclusive work environment. Our company culture is built on the values of integrity, respect, and excellence, and we are committed to creating a workplace where our employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to succeed.

Compensation and Benefits

As a Customer Account Manager at blithequark, you will be eligible for a range of competitive compensation and benefits, including:

• Salary and bonus structure
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance
• 401(k) program with company match
• Supplemental life insurance
• Three weeks of vacation pay and 11 company-paid holidays
• Tuition reimbursement and employee assistance programs

Conclusion

If you are a motivated and results-driven sales professional looking for a new challenge, we encourage you to apply for the Customer Account Manager role at blithequark. With its strong company culture, competitive compensation and benefits, and opportunities for career growth and development, this is an exciting opportunity to join a leading independent bottler and take your career to the next level. Apply now to become a part of our dynamic team and contribute to the success of blithequark!