Territory Route Manager

About the role

The Territory Manager is responsible for an assigned service territory, overseeing route representatives. Key responsibilities include promoting safety, coaching and developing employees, managing customer relationships, and ensuring service quality.

Responsibilities

• Promote and sustain a safety culture
• Evaluate, coach, and develop Route Sales Representatives (RSRs)
• Create a sales culture fostering team selling
• Aid in new account installations
• Manage day-to-day activities of customer service programs
• Visit all required customers quarterly
• Respond to and resolve service requests promptly
• Negotiate and secure renewal agreements
• Recruit, select, and hire Route Sales employees
• Review trends, performance, and coach RSRs weekly
• Address pending issues and resolve service concerns
• Follow up on accounts in jeopardy
• Complete in-person meetings with RSRs
• Participate in training to meet customer retention and service goals
• Communicate daily with RSRs via remote means
• Manage merchandise control processes
• Investigate and report on accidents or incidents

Requirements

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

Skills/Knowledge/Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to interface with various organizational functions
• Strong interpersonal, analytical, communication, and customer service skills
• Considerable negotiation skills
• Computer proficiency, including MS Office software
• Exposure to sales function preferred
• Management, human relations, and communication skills

Working Environment/Safety Requirements

• Majority of time spent driving a vehicle or company step-van to call on customers and supervise employees
• Exposed to weather conditions (heat, wind, cold, rain, snow, etc.)
• May involve walking, climbing stairs, pushing/pulling carts
• Exposure to vehicles for loading/unloading, and vehicle maintenance

Experience/Qualifications

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

Knowledge/Skills/Abilities

• Demonstrated ability to interface with a variety of organizational functions
• 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
• Management, human relations, and communication skills