Sales Leader – Detroit Area

Salary : based on experience

• Are you looking for an opportunity to optimize your sales experience to grow a region?
• Can you build and mentor a team of sales professionals?
• Do you have an interest in working for an organization with an excellent reputation in its industry and the community?

Founded in 1963 in Middletown, OH, family-owned Akers Packaging specialized in creating custom packaging and shipping solutions, wooden pallets, and folding cardboard cartons. With customers in the automotive, food and appliance industries, and many others, Akers focused on customer service and speed, providing same- or next-day fulfillment long before Just-in-Time Delivery was a term.

Today, Akers Packaging has 600+ employees across 12 locations in the Midwest and has continued to focus on customer service and relationships over the last 60 years. Equally important to them is developing their people and encouraging them to take ownership of their job, do the right thing for the company, and continue to focus on customer service, both within Akers and with their customers.

Reporting to the General Manager, the Sales Leader will have oversight of a team of 8-10 sales representatives. The Sales Leader will also sell to clients and prospects while simultaneously coaching the team. The Sales Leader will plan and implement sales and marketing activities to meet company targets for retention, growth, and profitability. The Sales Leader will be responsible for building and growing a high performing sales group to deliver on the corporate sales goals and strategy.

This position also delivers on all day-to-day commitments to their Customers, Company, and People, while reinforcing a culture where team members:

• The answer is yes. Be a solutions provider.
• Help first as a reliable team member.
• Take ownership.
• Do the right thing.

• In alignment with corporate-wide business objectives, set market sales strategies and goals.
• Direct and coordinate promotion of products manufactured, or services performed to develop new markets, increase share of market, and retain and grow competitive position in the industry.
• Analyze market to determine customer needs, price schedules, and discount rates.
• Meet with key new and existing clients and assist sales representatives with maintaining relationships and negotiating and closing deals. Deliver sales presentations in coordination with sales representatives.
• Plan and implement sales and customer retention and development strategies.
• Direct sales forecasting activities and set performance goals accordingly.
• Direct product simplification and standardization to eliminate unprofitable items from sales line.
• Prepare periodic sales report showing sales volume, potential sales, and areas of proposed client base expansion.
• Recruit, manage, train, and motivate your sales team.
• Coach sales team on sales tactics, attend customer meetings with them as appropriate.
• Provide insight to sales team regarding proposal and pricing models.
• Responsible for sales team performance evaluations.
• Promote the organization in industry, manufacturing, or trade associations.
• Monitor and evaluate the activities and products of competition.

• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent experience
• 7+ years of experience in technical sales in the corrugated packaging industry is strongly preferred
• 3+ years of experience managing a team
• Demonstrated track record of success selling within B2B environment
• Proficient knowledge of pricing theory, margin management
• Excellent analytical skills
• Experience with ERP and CRM systems

For candidates outside the region, relocation assistance will be provided.