Key Account Manager, Wakefern

Danone North America has an amazing opportunity, based near Edison NJ for a Hybrid Retail/Traditional Key Account Manager Role. This role will lead retail execution at Danone for given customer/region. Educate, train, and motivate the 3rd party (Acosta) retail team to flawlessly execute all company/customer plans at the store level. Act as the main point of contact for Wakefern Ownership groups to drive incremental business opportunities. Additionally, carry the bag on all Danone Grocery Businesses.

Key Responsibilities:

Build and execute the customer plan to grow the business

• Coordinate selling process for the given customer for customer/channel/category to deliver profitable growth on a $7MM business

• Gain a deep understanding of customer needs and priorities (e.g., their KPIs, business/category goals, etc.)

• Develop sales/account plans to meet customer objectives while operating within Danone NA corporate initiatives and guidelines (e.g., customized SKUs, operational targets, etc.)

• Look for opportunities to gain distribution on new products and improve product exposure (shelf positioning, advertising, and promotions) – including monitoring what competitors are doing

• Negotiate with customer headquarters/category buyers on pricing, new items, and promotions

• Collaborate with customer and internal teams on joint business plans

• Leverage internal resources (category management, customer planning, shopper marketing, etc.) to drive success at customer

Execute retail plans at store level

• Maintain an ongoing communication stream with the Wakefern Retail & Sales team to drive KPI metrics that lead to an overall ROI

• Communicate knowledge, insights, and strategies to brokers

• Create & leverage store specific sales report through scan data to identify market opportunities across Danone’s portfolio

• Leverage sales data to drive incremental cases to store to support upcoming promotions.

• Create and utilize open stock cases & Mods to sell at owner group and store level through 3rd party broker. Create post promo analysis and share with store & groups to show effectiveness

• Distribution Drive: Heavy focus on new item speed to shelf, closing core voids, and seasonality.

• Work in the field: Conduct routine work withs throughout the market with retail broker to ensure best in class retail execution is taking place. Provide recaps to Acosta Management.

- Work with the third party leadership to drive strategic vision set by Danone leadership and customer teams - ensure that entire broker team receives clear, consistent messaging

• Partner with 3rd party resources to determine optimal coverage model (drive time, time in store, etc.)

• Coordinate with Retail Training and Development analyst to train 3rd party resources in expected conduct and core company processes (time management, building rapport with store personnel, identifying opportunities, etc.)

• Support customer sales team in identifying retail execution issues and escalate appropriately (within broker and internally)

Own Relationships with Key Wakefern Owner Groups

• Build relationships with Key Wakefern Ownership Groups

• Meet with on a frequent basis to share upcoming programs & gain in-store support for key initiatives

• Be the “first call” for owner groups with regard to opportunities

• Heavy Linkage to Wakefern CBU to share real time findings regarding store opportunities

• 4 year business degree

• 2-3 years minimum with CPG company is sales or customer service

• Prior experience with retail execution and broker management preferred

• Demonstrated ability to achieve breakthrough results through the course of work

• 30-40% time spent at retail

• 10% Travel Time

At Danone, we believe that every time we eat or drink, we vote for the world we want. As a leading food and beverage company, we make healthy, sustainably-produced foods and beverages that nourish people’s lives. Some of our brands include Dannon, Activia, Horizon Organic, International Delight, Silk, Oikos, So Delicious Dairy Free, Stok, Two Good, Vega, and Wallaby Organic. And as one of the largest Certified B Corporation® in the world, we are committed to redefining success in business to ensure that through our brands we create real benefits for people, our communities, and the planet. With headquarters in Broomfield, CO and White Plains, NY, Danone North America has more than 6,000 employees across the U.S. and Canada, and more than a dozen manufacturing facilities across North America. Our employees enjoy competitive pay and industry-leading benefits including flexible time off (no yearly cap) and up to 26 weeks gender-neutral paid parental leave, and share a common mission and culture committed to both business results and social purpose. When you join Danone North America, you become part of a global team that is inspiring a healthier world through food. Please join us in nourishing lives & inspiring a healthier world through food! Learn more @ www.danonenorthamerica.com

Danone North America doesn’t just welcome what makes you unique, we value it. We’re proud to be an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All hires to our team are based on qualifications, merit and business needs. We recruit, employ, train and promote regardless of race, color, religion, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, veteran status, genetic characteristic or any other protected status. Faithful to our values of openness and humanism, all of our employees share in the commitment to engage one another with dignity and respect.

http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/eeopost.pdf https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/pdf/OFCCP_EEO_Supplement_Final_JRF_QA_508c.pdf

The base compensation range for this position is $72,000-85,000. Danone North America additionally offers a performance-based bonus and has a strong benefits package including Medical, Dental, Vision, Prescription Drug Coverage, 401k Plan, Wellness Program, Life Insurance, Tuition Reimbursement, Flexible Time Off, and Paid Parental Bonding Leave, among other benefit plan options.

Danone requires that corporate employees be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 prior to entering the workplace. Please note that employees will be considered fully vaccinated two weeks after their second dose in a 2-dose vaccine series (Pfizer or Moderna), or two weeks after a single-dose vaccine (Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccine). The Company will consider requests for reasonable accommodations for documented medical reasons and for sincerely held religious beliefs in accordance with applicable law. Please do not include proof of vaccine status or any indication of a possible request for an accommodation when submitting your application materials. If applicable, the Company will follow up with you directly to request proof of vaccination and to discuss any potential accommodations. Danone can change company protocols at any time depending on local, state, and federal regulations.