Market Development Leader - Memphis, TN

At Utz, we are driven by a passion to excite and delight consumers with bold, flavorful snack foods made from high quality ingredients. With more than a century of family heritage, our growing portfolio of iconic brands includes Utz, Zapp's, Boulder Canyon, and On the Border.

Under the direction of the Sales Operations Director, the Market Development Leader I partners with Independent Operators (IOs) and Master Distributors to achieve maximum sales profitability and market penetration using selling strategies and proactive communications. The MDL I informs IOs and distributors of the company's initiatives for sales, service, merchandising standards, and product distribution, while respecting the independent nature of these partners.

• Communicate the company's sales, service, and merchandising strategies to IOs and distributors to maintain professional relations and advance market share gains.
• Ensure that the obligations and rights of both the company IOs and distributors are preserved.
• Prepare weekly volume and inventory reports and KPI scorecards.
• Provide a weekly Sales/IO Work‑with planner to the Sales Operations Director.
• Spend time on DC loading docks with IOs to hear their concerns.
• Facilitate ways to improve results of IOs and distributors by providing information on suggestions to grow market share: executing promotional ads, following store‑level planograms, delivering successful new product introductions, securing additional space, obtaining new points of interruption, and building store‑level relationships.
• Assist other MDLs and the Sales Operations Director in planning regularly scheduled workshop meetings to encourage IOs and distributors to use all tools and mediums available to realize the full sales potential of their business.
• Reinforce with retail store managers and store decision makers that Utz supports IOs and distributors and values their relationships with the company.
• Conduct store visits in the assigned region to maintain open and proactive business relationships with customer management teams and store decision makers, offering company display concepts, seasonal planning tactics, product promotions or introductions, and reinforcing that the IOs and distributors, not the company, invoice products to their stores.
• Use the Store Summary form to identify successes and opportunities to grow DSD sales and to address IOs when they do not meet minimum service standards per the contractual obligation owed to Utz.
• Ensure that required product resets are successful.
• Run an open route occasionally when the company has bought a route back from an IO or distributor; operate a motor vehicle, including a route box truck, safely.
• Provide route ride‑along service at the request of the independent distributor, offering route optimization and skill‑sharing opportunities.
• Act as a key liaison between independent operators and the company settlement department to resolve IO issues regarding settlement statements.
• Work proactively in a cross‑functional team with diverse groups of people.
• Work with management and associates to ensure food safety programs are followed.
• Report food, office, or operational safety problems to a supervisor or manager to initiate action.
• Adhere to all policies, guidelines, and procedures, such as Good Manufacturing Practices (GMPs), OSHA standards, FDA standards, and work and safety rules at all times.
• Perform other duties as assigned that support the overall outcome of the company's objectives.

• High School Diploma required. Bachelor’s degree in business preferred.

• Minimum of 5 years of experience in sales operations, preferably in snacks, grocery, or beverage industry. DSD experience preferred.

• Knowledge and understanding of Independent Distribution models, including familiarity with Independent Operator/Distributor agreements and the obligations and rights of both the company and the independent distributor.
• Ability to multi‑task and prioritize responsibilities while remaining flexible to meet daily objectives.
• Capability to build trust and rapport through persuasion and respect.
• Ethical…