About this role
*The Opportunity:*
We are hiring a Sales Manager to own new CPG brand-partner acquisition and lead the field and merchandising execution that keeps those brands winning on shelf. This is a builder role for a hands-on hunter who can also lead people: you will personally prospect, pitch, and close new brand partners, then stand up and manage the contractor and merchandising team that delivers reliable in-store results across the territory. You will be a primary point of contact for our brand-partner vendors and the person who defines and holds the KPIs that prove our field execution is best-in-class.
This role reports directly to the General Manager while we accelerate brand acquisition, giving you visibility and influence over the company's growth trajectory from day one.
*Key Responsibilities:*
*Outbound Sales & Brand-Partner Acquisition*
* Build and work a pipeline of new CPG brand partners across bakery, frozen, and specialty food categories that fit DNW's Western Canada and adjacent retail channels. * Run the full outbound cycle * Support the near-term goal of replacing recently departed clients and adding new brand relationships, then scaling the partner roster in line with the company's multi-year growth plan. * Represent DNW's value proposition credibly to founders and national-account teams
*Vendor & Brand-Partner Relationship Management*
* Serve as the key point of contact for brand-partner vendors through onboarding and into an ongoing commercial relationship. * Coordinate Launchpad onboarding ? compliance, pallet configuration, forecasting, and go-live ? in partnership with operations and the platform team. * Drive retention and account growth: expand SKUs, categories, and channels within existing partners, and identify Brainiac subscription upsell opportunities. * Act as the escalation point for partner issues, ensuring fast, professional resolution.
*Contractor & Merchandising Team Leadership*
* Manage and coach the field and merchandising network across Western Canada footprint. * Establish consistent merchandising standards, in-store activation playbooks, and reset/demo processes that protect on-shelf availability and presentation.
*KPIs, Reporting & Performance*
* Define, implement, and own the KPI framework for both sales (pipeline, new signings, revenue ramp, retention) and field execution (on-shelf availability, compliance, void reduction, demo completion). * Report performance to the GM on a regular cadence, with clear read-throughs on what is working and where to intervene. * Use velocity and compliance data to prioritize territory coverage and coach the field team toward measurable outcomes.
*Travel*
This role is Calgary-based, with regular travel across Western Canada ? approximately 20 to 30% of time ? to meet prospective and existing brand partners, visit retail accounts, and support and audit the field and merchandising team in market. A valid driver's license and the ability to travel within AB, BC, SK, and MB are required.
What You Bring
*Required*
* 3-5+ years in CPG, food, or consumer-goods sales, with a demonstrated track record of closing new business. * Direct experience selling into or working with grocery, club , convenience, or foodservice retail channels. * Proven people leadership ? managing contractors, field reps, or merchandising teams, ideally across a multi-city territory. * Comfort building process from the ground up: you can define KPIs, structure a team, and create playbooks where none exist yet. * Strong commercial and negotiation skills, and the credibility to be a founder's or buyer's primary point of contact. * Valid driver's license and willingness to travel across Western Canada.
*Preferred*
* Experience with distribution, 3PL, or broker/agency models and commission-based commercial structures. * Familiarity with retail compliance, EDI, pallet/case configuration, and demo/merchandising execution. * Comfort using data platforms or CRMs to manage pipeline and f