Market Development Manager - Remote (Chicagoland)

Under the direction of the Regional Sales Manager, the incumbent is responsible for collaborating with a group of independent direct store delivery distributors to advance good2grow sales within the assigned territory. This individual uses their existing experience in the food/beverage/DSD sales sectors to own and drive business performance within the Regional Sales team. This role will also be responsible for developing local chain within the independent and small format channels. Candidates must reside in Chicagoland to be considered for this role. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Leads distributors in the assigned region to own and drive annual business performance objectives through the use of Systematic Distributor Management in the following functions Participates in distributor training, sales meeting presentations, ride alongs, etc. Provides clear and concise follow up notes after ride alongs and store visits Uses VIP Karma app to track, audit, follow up, and execute store visits Communicates with key influencers within the distributor organization on major opportunities at the retail level to include but not limited to: Promotional execution, distribution opportunities, GAP reporting, and the overall execution of good2grow gold standard store level objectives Develops larger chains, local chains, and the independent market. Penetrates new accounts using targeted void reports as provided by manager or Distributor Increases good2grow store presence through kids’ eye level shelving and multiple points of interruption throughout the store through presentations to in store management Grows the number of good2grow SKUs available in the market through closing voids on authorized SKUs or presentations to in store management on new items Completes all administrative duties required on Friday office days in a timely manner. Communicates recaps, follows up with distributors, and sends weekly communication Creates weekly recaps and sends to immediate manager Participates and sometimes presents on monthly MDM calls Submits expenses and completes other basic administrative functions related to the position, such as Distributor POS inventory/needs, making updates to scorecard initiatives, weekly planner updates, etc. Desired Experience Bachelor’s degree required or equivalent experience. 3-5 years of sales (Consumer packaged goods industry preferred), merchandising, direct store delivery, or supplier sales experience Ability to work in a dynamic environment. Efficient in Microsoft Office Ability to travel 80% of the time, regionally by car. Key Skills Required Proactivity and sense of urgency will be imperative to success Attention to details and dedication to getting things right Maintain high level of organization, commitment to follow through, enthusiasm and motivation Ability to influence – communicate clearly, concise, and compelling to gain alignment and drive action across varying audiences Characteristics Needed to Be Successful We are looking for an energetic catalyst to make big things happen. You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room or wear your heart on your sleeve. But you do have to love coming into the office every day, traveling and you must have an authentic passion for building businesses. You always have a point of view, and you (mostly) back it up with credible information/data. You have to be a resourceful self-starter. If you wait to be told to do something before you do it, this probably isn’t the place for you. We need someone who is adaptable. The pace of change in our business is rapid. We create plans, but we’re always ready to shift as needed to accomplish our goals. You must be able to establish and retain trust across the organization. It’s a small company – there will be several critical relationships that can mean the difference between success and failure. The ideal candidate will be team oriented with a strong attention to detail, have a competitive spirit with strong analytical thinking. This person will also be hardworking, ambitious, and confident. About Us good2grow® is a children’s beverage and snack company based in Atlanta, Georgia. Our mission is to use fun to help kids consume healthier products. And our commitment to this mission has made us a high-growth innovative beverage company, with a large, diverse, and ever-growing set of retail partners. We create better-for-you drinks that give both parents and kids a smile by combining great taste with tons of fun. We partner with some of the biggest names in entertainment including Disney, Universal Studios, Nickelodeon, Hasbro and so many more to top our products with 100s of all of their favorite characters. Our line of products includes snacks, juices, flavored waters, and milks, so there’s something to make everybody smile. Why join us? good2grow® offers a competitive benefits package, including Medical, Dental, Vision, 401(k) with company match, Health Savings Account, Flexible Spending Account, Short and Long Term Disability (along with salary continuation), a robust Parental Leave Policy, Life Insurance, 12 Paid Holidays, plus a generous Paid Time Off package. Through our community involvement and employee engagement initiatives, you will see that we value our employees’ experience and the community around us. At good2grow®, you will be consistently challenged, and your opportunities will only be limited by your ambition! Our Culture Not only are our products fun, so is our organization! We are visionaries with a growth mindset, built on trust, integrity, and collaboration. Our culture is unmatched, described by our employees as transparent, flexible, inclusive, and team oriented. Other words we’ve heard used to describe us are empowering, nurturing, relaxed, and high performing. Our goal is for every employee to feel empowered, valued, and part of the good2grow family. Our organization is dedicated to leveraging technology to make our work more efficient and to keep our remote workforce connected. We place value on not only maintaining work-life balance, but also enhancing it by encouraging a culture that understands the importance of each individual’s unique circumstances. We are an industrious organization with a penchant for fun!