National Account Manager - Food Service & Distributors

About the role

The National Account Manager (NAM) of Food Service & Distributors is responsible for creating value for Darigold's Farmers and Customers. Key responsibilities include executing Darigold's brand and business development plans, managing complex customer relationships, negotiating contracts, and facilitating new business RFPs.

Responsibilities

• Deliver volume, margin, share, objectives for assigned customers and channels, including US Foods, Sysco, AlpineDistributors, Dairy Fresh, Springbrook, Medosweet.
• Execute Darigold’s customer and business development plans, for core branded and private label products as outlined in the AOP, DSMP’s and Price and Trade Architecture.
• Drive product distribution.
• Deliver quality merchandising and efficient pricing and promotion management.
• Provide accurate sales and trade planning and forecasting.
• Facilitate effective customer service and order fulfillment.
• Ensure effective execution of invoice accuracy, deduction management, and enforcement of credit policies, terms and conditions.
• Execute Darigold’s brand to consumer plans, including driving new products distribution both in depth and breadth, leveraging brand and channel marketing programs and promotions to maximize new item velocities.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree required.
• 5+ years of Consumer Products Sales, National Account or Category Management experience required.
• 2+ years of Food Service experience preferred.
• Dairy, Refrigerated, and/or Private Label experience preferred.
• Must be willing/able to travel up to 25-50% of the time.

Qualifications

• Customer Savvy: Leading with clarity, to cultivate a relationship of mutual trust and respect to gain expert understanding of the customer’s structure, cultural ways of working, category expectations and business requirements, to create sustainably value and growth for the customer and Darigold.
• Execution Excellence: Planning thoroughly, collaborating, and delivering the results that Darigold and the retailer expect while having an adept ability to drive contingency planning.
• Negotiating Skills: Skillfully navigate tough situations with both internal and external groups; can settle differences and win concessions without damaging relationships and Darigold’s reputation and P&L; can manage strategic account relationships that elevate above transactional pricing and trade.
• Business Acumen: Owner mindset and a clear sense of accountability based on being knowledgeable and current on internal and external business conditions, trends and competitive activity.
• Functional Skills: Effective user of Microsoft Excel, PowerPoint, Word and can navigate company and third-party databases, customer portals and should possess strong written and verbal communication skills.
• Analytic Agility: Synthesize customer, consumer, category, competitive and company insights into executable winning customer plans and tactics that drive mutual wins for the retailer, Darigold and our end consumer.
• Organizational Agility: Knowledgeable about how the enterprise works and is effective at getting things done through formal processes and informal relationship building.
• Attention to Detail: Detailed focused and organized. Must be able to meet customer timelines and all complete customer contracts.
• Presents and Communicates Effectively: Develops and delivers multi-mode communications that convey clear understanding to multiple types of audiences and influences others to act.
• Problem Solving and Opportunity Searching: Anticipate obstacles and dig for answers to solve issues. Must have the drive to find new business opportunities in existing accounts and find new ways to drive the business forward.
• Leadership: Action oriented, focuses on driving results, acts with integrity and alignment when leading self and others, embraces the company vision of leading Dairy forward and facilitates productive and positive interactions with teammates that drives results.
• Stewardship: Demonstrates an enterprise value mindset that includes creating value for our farmers, employees and customers, acts as a responsible steward of Darigold’s assets including our reputation and advocates as a champion of dairy farming and the Northwest Dairy Association.
• Perseverance: Sets high standards and goals for self and others, demonstrates resourcefulness in the face of obstacles and challenges, maintains a solution-oriented mindset, realistic and possesses optimism when facing market volatility and dynamics.
• Co-Op Spirit: Puts the whole of our Co-Op before its parts.

Skills

• Microsoft Excel
• PowerPoint
• Word
• Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software
• Database navigation
• Customer portals
• Strong written and verbal communication skills

Benefits

• 401(k) with competitive employer matching
• Comprehensive medical, dental & vision benefits
• Employer-paid life & disability coverage
• Paid time off and paid holidays
• 8 weeks paid parental leave
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible hybrid working arrangement
• Compensation range: $127,747.49 - $191,621.23 (individual wage based on previous experience, knowledge and skills)