**Director, Customer Sales - FSOP at blithequark**
Are you a seasoned sales professional with a passion for building strong relationships and driving business growth? Do you thrive in a fast-paced, dynamic environment where no two days are ever the same? If so, we may have the perfect opportunity for you!
At blithequark, we're on a mission to become the number one sports drink, and we're looking for a talented Director, Customer Sales - FSOP to join our team. As a key member of our sales organization, you'll play a critical role in delivering our annual performance goals and KPIs for our national customers. If you're a strategic thinker with a proven track record of success in the beverage industry, we want to hear from you!
**About blithequark**
blithequark is a fast-paced, dynamic environment where brand builders work together to achieve our goal of becoming the number one sports drink. We're a company that values teamwork, entrepreneurship, and innovation, and we're committed to creating a culture that's inclusive, empowering, and agile. With the resources and insight of one of the world's most iconic companies, The Coca-Cola Company, we're able to offer our employees the opportunity to go above and beyond expectations, multi-task, meet deadlines, and have fun accomplishing goals.
**Responsibilities**
As a Director, Customer Sales - FSOP at blithequark, you'll be responsible for:
* Strategic partner responsible for the acquisition and management of all FSOP national customers on behalf of blithequark to aligning with organizational priorities
* Provide direction to blithequark Sr. Management on customer priorities and additional business opportunities
* Represent blithequark as a business partner to customers with the objective of negotiating new annual and multiyear contracts to support business objectives
* Create a comprehensive annual growth target plan for each customer following channel pricing guidance
* Work closely with and influence NAOU strategic customer plans to maximize mutual goals, results, and execution
* Lead the blithequark commercial planning process with NAOU account teams to increase brand image and brand activity to support both long-term and short-term objectives
* Ensures concise and timely communication, provide appropriate tools and execution tracking to blithequark Bottlers and field team to ensure flawless execution of key initiatives.
* Collaborative partner and engage key Bottler personnel to drive specific customer performance and execution to support overall business priorities.
* Facilitate customer support team meetings and reviews to identify any root issues and provide solutions to ensure all scenarios are resolved
* Responsible for communication and support across each customer's business division and segments
* Develop and leverage top-level relationships at major accounts
* Provide channel, brand, and category insights/expertise to their respective customers, Bottlers, and NAOU account teams
* Ensure flawless execution of customer programs and initiatives via clear and concise communication
* Customer outlet visits with Bottlers, NAOU, and customers quarterly for strategic high-value customers, to gain insight into opportunities and challenges
* Collaborate and influence blithequark & NAOU cross-functional resources to create value for the customer, based on their feedback
* Lead sales organization for assigned territory leveraging expertise to analyze and identify opportunities and establish goals to deliver on target
* Provide timely updates of sales, challenges, and opportunities to internal leadership and field execution
* Calculate, review, and report on various budgets both for customer and T&E expense reporting
**Requirements**
* BA/BS degree required
* 7+ years direct sales experience in the beverage industry and hold a track record of successfully selling into multiple retail channels required
* Minimum 5 years' experience calling on key customers like Compass, Sodexo, or Aramark required
* Must be self-motivated and highly organized with a strong desire to produce results with an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed
* Must be able to quickly assess the needs of the business, develop an action plan, and manage the required change. The ability to effectively intermingle with a wide variety of business professionals is essential
* Must have a passion for building brands, new products, and long-term growth
* Reliable, hard-working, and proactive team player with a can-do attitude
* Creative thinker who can work independently
* Solid computer skills in Outlook, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word. Strong understanding and analytical skills in understanding of Nielsen/IRI syndicated data
* Position requires substantial travel (35% by car and plane), including both local and neighboring geographic territories
* Must hold and maintain a valid driver's license and be able to drive long distances
* Motor Vehicle Records must satisfy Company standards per Driving Policy
**Skills**
* Business
* Customer Relationships
* Innovation
* Key Accounts
* Marketing
* Marketing Strategies
* National Accounts
* Organization
* People Management
* Price Management
* Prioritization
* Sales
* Sales Account Management
* Sales Operations
* Strategic Objectives
* Strategic Selling
* Teamwork
**Compensation and Benefits**
* Pay Range: $158,000 - $187,000
* Base pay offered may vary depending on geography, job-related knowledge, skills, and experience
* A full range of medical, financial, and/or other benefits, dependent on the position, is offered
* Annual Incentive Reference Value Percentage: 30
* Annual Incentive reference value is a market-based competitive value for your role. It falls in the middle of the range for your role, indicating performance at target
**Our Purpose and Growth Culture**
We're taking deliberate action to nurture an inclusive culture that's grounded in our company purpose, to refresh the world and make a difference. We act with a growth mindset, take an expansive approach to what's possible, and believe in continuous learning to improve our business and ourselves. We focus on four key behaviors – curious, empowered, inclusive, and agile – and value how we work as much as what we achieve. We believe that our culture is one of the reasons our company continues to thrive after 130+ years.
**Equal Opportunity Employer**
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of race, color, sex, age, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity and/or expression, status as a veteran, and basis of disability or any other federal, state, or local protected class.
**How to Apply**
If you're a motivated and results-driven sales professional with a passion for building strong relationships and driving business growth, we want to hear from you! Apply now to join our team as a Director, Customer Sales - FSOP at blithequark.
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