Ahold Sales Manager

ABOUT MPG

Market Performance Group (MPG) is a leading end-to-end, strategy & services omnichannel commerce agency focused on creating the best PATH FORWARD — from market strategy to in-market reality — for today’s fastest-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers. Over the years, we’ve built a strong reputation as a trusted partner and valuable resource to a broad range of companies, from Fortune 500 to Private Equity, in categories that include health & wellness, food & beverage, home and hardlines. We revel in the opportunity to guide our clients on their path forward, building and activating strategies that ensure success. Everything we do is driven by our unrelenting commitment to leverage our deep operational experience, unparalleled omnichannel expertise, and industry relationships to drive performance in today’s dynamic omnichannel marketplace.

At MPG, we value our people and their contributions; they are critical to building the MPG Brand. Our leadership team has significant experience driving topline revenue and bottom-line profit, having held senior operating roles at leading CPG manufacturers and retailers. Our highly regarded, seasoned team of 400+ strategy and commercialization professionals brings strong operational experience and a collaborative approach. All team members are singularly focused on providing clients with pragmatic, real-world market approaches, built on the strong consumer, category and marketplace insights needed to create sustainable, profitable brand growth.

Position Overview

The successful Ahold Sales Manager 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.

Key Responsibilities

• 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

Skills & 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.
• Strong and diverse experience managing large and complex calling on Ahold retailers for a CPG broker or manufacturer, or experience working for one of Ahold's retail divisions.
• 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.

Why You'll Succeed

• You drive results through disciplined, data-backed execution. You leverage POS, syndicated data (IRI/Nielsen), and trade investment insights to deliver accurate forecasts, fact-based recommendations, and measurable improvements in sales, distribution, and market penetration.
• You build trusted, proactive relationships across clients, customers, and internal teams. You communicate clearly and in real time, align customer objectives with client goals, and thrive in a matrixed environment by collaborating effectively with cross-functional partners.
• You think strategically while executing flawlessly. You set and achieve short- and long-term objectives, manage budgets and MBOs with precision, and keep multiple priorities moving forward through strong project management and organizational skills.
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Compensation

The expected base salary range for this position is $125,000 - $150,000 annually, depending on experience, skills, and qualifications. In addition to base salary, this position may be eligible for performance-based bonuses and other compensation programs.

Benefits

MPG offers a generous package of health benefits, including medical, dental, vision, STD/LTD, paid maternity/paternity leave and life insurance. Our compensation program provides market industry base salary, bonuses, and 401K. In addition to paid holidays, we reward an employee’s extra efforts through unlimited paid time off.

Diversity and Inclusion

MPG provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws. This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation and training.

We are committed to ensuring that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEI&B) are at the foundation of our culture. Through DEI&B, we embrace the beauty in all of the unique qualities of our employees, communities and clients. MPG’s DEI&B efforts empower us to collectively reach our full potential by fueling innovation, connection, and growth. We recognize the value of having a diverse and engaged team. We are an organization driven by PEOPLE. Our commitment to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging was born from our core values. 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. As our journey continues to evolve, we have made intentional commitments to further champion DEI&B. The foundation of our pledge starts with our promise to each other, our clients, and the community.