Director Sales - Kroger

The Director of Sales – Kroger is responsible for customer management and planning, field execution of strategic and operating plan initiatives, team leadership across the enterprise’s full scope of business orting to the Sr. VP, Sargento Sales, the role develops strategy and tactics for sustainable success, delivers sales and margin growth, deepens market and customer relationships, manages brokers, and plans and executes selling strategies to achieve annual goals.

The director leads a team of two sales and category management professionals and broker support, providing training, coaching, succession planning, and direction across all responsibilities.

• Comprehensive medical including fertility, adoption benefits, dental, and vision insurance
• Remote half-day Fridays
• Onsite health & wellness center
• Employer 401(k) contribution in the top 1% of the nation
• Relocation assistance
• Tuition assistance
• Access to employee store

• Achieve sustainable dollar, volume, profitability, share, P&L contribution, and related financial performance objectives for the account in support of the company’s total growth objectives.
• Develop, cultivate, and enhance strategic customer relationships through joint business planning and elevate connectivity with senior leaders through top‑to‑top meetings.
• Lead and coordinate efforts of cross‑functional departments to meet company objectives.
• Support corporate planning, analysis, and budgeting; develop a 1‑3‑year sales plan for the account.
• Develop and implement strategic merchandising plans and activities to achieve annual objectives and maintain Sargento’s merchandising standards of excellence; prepare and deliver account presentations using sales, marketing, syndicated, and account‑specific data.
• Oversee headquarter calls to identify new business opportunities and deepen existing customer relationships to support short‑ and long‑term corporate strategies.
• Develop and manage account promotional plans and conduct post‑promotional analysis to validate sales results and ROI.
• Maintain knowledge of market and industry trends, competitors, and channel strategies; apply price commodity management principles to execute initiatives.
• Build and maintain effective internal relationships necessary to achieve business objectives in line with Sargento’s culture.
• Continuously review market and account base to identify opportunities, threats, or new ways of doing business to meet customer needs and corporate objectives.
• Foster a collaborative and respectful work environment that encourages constructive debate.
• Travel overnight up to 25% of the time.

• Manage two direct reports and any future subordinates.
• Provide overall direction, coordination, evaluation, and performance of the team in accordance with organizational policies and applicable laws.
• Conduct interviewing, hiring, training, planning, assigning, and directing work; perform performance appraisals, reward and discipline employees, and resolve complaints and problems.
• Serve as the indirect leader of all cross‑functional team members in the Sargento Cincinnati sales office.

• Bachelor’s degree from a four‑year college or university.
• Master’s degree or MBA strongly preferred.
• 12+ years related consumer product sales experience preferred.
• National headquarters sales and broker management experience required.
• HQ Kroger experience strongly preferred.
• Previous supervisory experience required.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
• Advanced skills in syndicated data analysis, terminology, and reports.

With over 2,400 employees and net sales of nearly $1.8 billion, Sargento is a family‑owned company that has led the cheese industry for more than 70 years. It pioneered the first successful pre‑packaged sliced and shredded natural cheeses and continues to innovate in product design, packaging, and merchandising. Sargento is based in Plymouth, Wisconsin, where it manufactures and markets shredded, sliced, and snack natural cheese products, as well as ingredients and sauces.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Protected Veterans / Individuals with Disabilities

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