Territory Manager

Vestis® provides uniforms, workplace supplies, and professional cleaning that help businesses simplify their workday and keep their teams safe, confident, and focused. Headquartered in Roswell, GA, Vestis® serves over 300,000 customer locations across North America with approximately 20,000 teammates.

About the role

The Territory Manager has responsibility for an assigned service territory with direct supervision of route representatives. Responsible for territory service safety and results, including customer retention, business growth, loss and ruin control, piece budget management, employee retention, accounts receivable collection, customer renewals, direct sales, customer satisfaction, route sales, and credits.

Responsibilities

• Promote and sustain a safety culture
• Effectively evaluate, coach, and develop Route Sales Representatives (RSRs) in your territory
• Report directly to a Service Manager, Sr. Territory Manager, or General Manager depending on organizational structure
• Create a pervasive sales culture that fosters team selling via Together-In-Growth (TIG) and Shared Lead programs
• Assist in new account installations as directed by Service Manager and/or General Manager
• Manage day-to-day activities of customer service program(s) for the territory
• Visit all required customers each quarter to review growth and service opportunities
• Ensure RSRs respond to and resolve all service requests timely
• Set clear expectations for customer service and lead by example
• Spend 60% of time traveling with service professionals, on route conducting observations, and visiting customer locations (required visits, TIG days, and day-to-day situation follow-up)
• Proactively follow up on accounts in jeopardy and resolve service concerns expeditiously
• Negotiate and secure renewal agreements with existing customers that protect pricing and profitability
• Recruit, select, and hire Route Sales employees
• Complete in-person meetings with each RSR once per week to review trends, performance, coach, and identify improvement opportunities
• Deliver and participate in training to ensure customer retention and service goals are met
• Maintain daily contact (via remote means) with RSRs to address pending items/situations for timely resolution
• Attend meetings and complete administrative work to improve customer satisfaction
• Coordinate collections for accounts receivable
• Protect and manage merchandise control processes
• Investigate and report on all accidents or incidents within 24 hours of notification

Skills

• Demonstrated ability to successfully interface with a variety of organizational functions to get the job done
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, communication, and customer service skills
• Considerable negotiation skills
• Computer proficiency, including working knowledge of MS Office software
• Exposure to sales function preferred
• Considerable skills in management, human relations, and communication

Working environment

• Majority of time driving your own vehicle or company step-van to call on customers and supervise employees in the assigned service territory
• Exposure to weather conditions (heat, wind, cold, rain, snow, etc.)
• Customer visitations may require walking, climbing stairs, pushing/pulling carts, and exposure to weather conditions
• Must be able to frequently lift and maneuver up to 50 pounds and occasionally up to 100 pounds, as well as load/unload product from a truck without assistance
• Time spent in company office environment with exposure at loading dock, production and warehouse areas, exposure to vehicles for loading/unloading, and exposure to vehicle maintenance

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent; Bachelor's degree in related field preferred or equivalent experience
• Two years of service and route-based industry experience, with proven track record for growing customer accounts
• Previous profit and loss accountability and/or contract-managed service experience preferred
• Significant customer interface and service experience
• Production planning, maintenance, or warehouse operations experience preferred

License requirements

• Must be DOT-certified
• Valid driver's license
• Automobile insurance on personal vehicle
• Successful completion of criminal background, motor vehicle record, and drug screen checks
• Open to relocation for advancement opportunities