Director of Sales - Midwest

Join to apply for the Director of Sales - Midwest role at Emery Jensen Distribution

Midwest – Ideal candidate will reside in/around the Chicagoland area.

Emery Jensen Distribution is a subsidiary of Ace Hardware Corporation that sells and distributes hardline products to independent Pro, Lumber, Paint, Hardware and E‑retailer customer segments.

As an Emery Jensen Distribution Sales Director you are responsible for the performance and development of all sales team members in the assigned geography/market. The Sales Director will have direct responsibility for achieving all revenue and operating expense budgets and will have shared responsibility for meeting profitability budgets. This sales leader will build world‑class sales teams, coach effectively, execute the sales management process, and ensure the Emery Jensen value proposition is positioned to resonate and convert business.

Key responsibilities include:

• Responsible for revenue goals and achieving sales growth targets through a group of field sales Territory Managers.
• Manage an operating expense budget, meet expense management targets, and ensure expense growth is slower than sales growth annually.

• Provide guidance and direction through the sales team with respect to pricing and profitability.
• Build and maintain a highly talented team of Territory Managers that drive consistent performance every month and year. Oversee and be ultimately accountable for the talent and development of the Territory Managers in the region.
• Hold Territory Managers accountable to achieving sales plans, building a strong base of customers, and ensuring profitable sales growth annually.
• Build strategic plans and align them to the EJD annual strategic plan, executing, checking and adjusting to ensure the team maximizes results.
• Understand your markets including the competitive landscape, customers’ channels and economic conditions, and adjust the strategic plan accordingly.

• Bachelor’s degree required; advanced business degree preferred.
• Minimum of 7 years of related work experience.
• The ability to build a world‑class sales organization through attracting the right talent.
• Track record of leading teams to exceed goal performance.
• Effective coaching and development of teams.
• Strong wholesale distribution background.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, both written and verbal.
• Strong presentation skills and executive presence.
• Excellent leadership skills to motivate, inspire, provide confidence and build trust.
• Strong strategic orientation, planning and financial acumen.
• Fact‑based and solution‑based problem‑solving and management style.
• Road warrior.

$140,000 - $165,000

We live our values – W.E.L.I.G.H.T (Winning, Excellence, Love, Integrity, Gratitude, Humility, Teamwork). Gratitude, humility, love – values that guide us in serving employees and customers.

• Incentive opportunities based on role/grade level (rapid company growth over the past 3 years resulted in incentives +106.6% of target opportunity).
• Generous 401(k) retirement savings plan with fully vested matching contribution in the first year and annual discretionary contribution; over the past 3 years, contributions averaged 7.3% of total eligible compensation.
• Comprehensive health coverage (medical, dental, vision, disability up to 26 weeks short‑term, long‑term) and life insurance benefits for you and your dependents.
• 21 days of vacation immediately available (prorated in the first year) and up to 6 paid holidays depending on month of hire.
• Annual Ace Cares Week, 20 hours off work per year to volunteer; opportunities to support Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals, Ace Helpful Fund through the Ace Foundation.
• On‑site classes, facilitator‑led courses, tuition assistance program, and performance management beyond the typical annual review.
• Frequent campus events like Employee Appreciation Week, vendor demos, cookouts, and merchandise sales.
• Mobile spas, auto maintenance, car wash, detailing, dry cleaning, dentists, eye doctors, flu shots, recycling and more!
• Employee discounts on products (top brands like Weber, Traeger, Yeti, Craftsman,…