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Job Description
Contract Sales Manager 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars Holmdel, NJ 07733 Contract Market Performance Group 4 reviews Contract
CONTRACT SALES MANAGER ABOUT MPG
Market Performance Group (MPG) is a leading end-to-end, strategy & services omnichannel commerce agency focused on creating the best
PATH FORWARD
— from market strategy to in-market reality — for today's fastest-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers. Over the years, we've built a strong reputation as a trusted partner and valuable resource to a broad range of companies, from Fortune 500 to Private Equity, in categories that include health & wellness, food & beverage, home and hardlines. We revel in the opportunity to guide our clients on their path forward, building and activating strategies that ensure success. Everything we do is driven by our unrelenting commitment to leverage our deep operational experience, unparalleled omnichannel expertise, and industry relationships to drive performance in today's dynamic omnichannel marketplace. At MPG, we value our people and their contributions; they are critical to building the MPG Brand. Our leadership team has significant experience driving topline revenue and bottom-line profit, having held senior operating roles at leading CPG manufacturers and retailers. Our highly regarded, seasoned team of 400+ strategy and commercialization professionals brings strong operational experience and a collaborative approach. All team members are singularly focused on providing clients with pragmatic, real-world market approaches, built on the strong consumer, category and marketplace insights needed to create sustainable, profitable brand growth. Position Overview This is a part-time, 1099 independent contractor opportunity supporting fast-growing CPG brands in the Natural Channel. In this role, you would leverage your existing industry experience and relationships to help drive new distribution, build buyer partnerships, and support commercial growth strategies. This opportunity is well-suited for someone who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, enjoys building relationships from the ground up, and is comfortable operating independently while delivering against agreed-upon business objectives. Success in this role may include opening new distribution, developing compelling buyer programs, and creating measurable momentum for the brands you support. While this is currently structured as a part-time independent contractor opportunity, there may be potential for the scope to evolve over time based on business needs, performance, and mutual interest. Key Responsibilities Establish robust short-term and long-term objectives for key customers, as well as strategies to ensure delivery of goals. Ensure that customer objectives are closely aligned with client goals Achieve all assigned and mutually agreed upon client and customer objectives within assigned trade investment budgets Establish and achieve specific MBOs that are closely aligned with the company and client objectives Develop a proactive communication protocol and discipline with all stakeholders to include clients, customers and company management. Ensure that all relevant information, positive or not, be conveyed in real time supported by relevant facts and, where appropriate, recommendations and options for alternative actions Consistently provide accurate sales forecasts and trade investment projections. Ensure that all are actualized at least monthly in the company's sales and trade management platform Leverage all relevant data including customer POS, syndicated data (IRi, SPINS, Nielsen), factory shipments and other industry sources to create and deliver fact-based customer and client specific proposals and recommendations Work effectively and productively within the MPG team to include support resources, peers and management to achieve client intimacy and the achievement of company goals Required Experience and Education Ability to think critically about the client, partner goals Ability to effectively understand client's analytical needs Effective and efficient project management skills with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and keep projects moving and on time Strong communication and presentation skills that will allow for success in a virtual team environment Robust knowledge of consumer products industry and category, brand, and retail strategies Demonstrated experience in the Natural Channel (e.g., Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, regional co-ops) — a must have; deep understanding of the unique dynamics, buyer relationships, and selling strategies required to succeed in this channel (must have) Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic, and unstructured environment; comfortable managing multiple competing priorities simultaneously and pivoting quickly as business needs evolve (must have) Experience working for both a manufacturer and a broker as well as a background in trade marketing or brand marketing (these in some combinations are a highly desired / nice to have) Strong analytical skills: ability to extract the key insights and call to action from various data sources (must have) Exceptionally strong oral and written communication skills (must have) Elevated level of computer literacy in Microsoft products, Nielsen/IRi/SPINS data, etc. (must have) Dedicated team player - willingness to do what is necessary to achieve team success (must have) Effective and efficient project management skills with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, & keep projects moving Knowledge of consumer products industry & category, brand, & retail strategies
