Sales Manager

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About The Advertising & Innovative Marketing (AIM) Ad Group

The AIM Ad Group serves ~1300 of AWG’s member stores as the strategic conduit between AWG teams and vendor partners, driving collaborative planning and execution of growth‑focused promotions and omnichannel marketing programs. Grounded in strong Category Management strategies, AIM develops and delivers impactful marketing initiatives designed to enhance sales, strengthen vendor partnerships, and elevate the shopper experience across AWG’s diverse retail network.

Our mission is to provide our member‑ retailers the most competitive cost of goods, tools, and support to thrive in the communities in which they serve.

Based in AWG’s Kansas City Support Center, the AIM Ad Planning Manager is responsible for driving value and delivering competitive advertising programs for AWG and our Advertising & Innovative Marketing (AIM) member retailers. This role collaborates with vendors and internal AWG teams to secure the most competitive product costs, promotional investments, TPRs, and EDLC opportunities that will be featured in AWG’s weekly print and digital advertising.

A core responsibility of this position is to lead the selection and planning of items included in the base weekly ad for all divisions, ensuring strategic alignment, category balance, vendor support, and strong value for AWG’s members. This leader oversees and coordinates the end to end ad planning process, working closely with Category Management, Merchandising, Marketing, and division teams.

The AIM Ad Planning Manager will also facilitate internal ad program support, planning workflows, vendor coordination, and execution tasks. This individual must be a strong communicator who can lead vendor negotiations, present confidently to groups, and represent AWG professionally in high level meetings. Travel may be required for industry events, AWG food shows, division visits, and vendor partner meetings.

• Lead and oversee the weekly base ad planning process for all divisions, selecting core items that drive value, margin, and member competitiveness.
• Negotiate with vendors to secure promotional funding, TPRs, EDLCs, and ad specific discounts to support print and digital advertising.
• Ensure ad mixes align with category strategies, seasonal needs, consumer trends, and member expectations.
• Partner with internal teams to ensure timely item setup, price accuracy, and execution readiness.

• Build strong relationships with vendor partners to support long term promotional planning.
• Drive collaborative conversations to secure competitive trade support for ad programs.
• Represent AIM in top to top vendor meetings focused on ad planning, investment growth, and strategic alignment.

• Establish clear sales goals, workflow expectations, and performance measures.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous improvement.
• May be responsible for leading/managing teammates within the AIM department either directly or indirectly.

• Work closely with Category Management, Procurement, Merchandising, Retail Marketing, and division teams to ensure ad plans are executable and aligned with business needs.
• Serve as a key point of contact for divisions regarding weekly ad content, operational execution, and performance insights.
• Provide analysis on item performance, vendor funding trends, and member needs.

• Attend and represent AWG at industry conferences, AWG food shows, and division meetings.
• Deliver presentations to internal teams, member retailers, and external vendor partners.
• Communicate AIM strategies and promotional opportunities with professional presence and confidence.

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, Merchandising, Sales, or related field—or equivalent experience.
• 3+ years of experience in ad planning, category management, vendor relations, promotions, or CPG/retail/wholesale merchandising.
• Demonstrated success negotiating with CPG manufacturers or retail/wholesale partners.
• Stron…