Account Manager Foodservice - Alberta & Prairies @ Arla Foods

Are you passionate about building strong customer partnerships, driving profitable growth, and making an impact in the Foodservice industry? This is your chance! Join Arla Foods Canada as our Account Manager, Foodservice (Alberta & Prairies). This exciting role offers the opportunity to be part of a dynamic, world-class dairy manufacturing company while helping grow some of the industry's most trusted cheese brands.

As our Account Manager, Foodservice, you will develop and manage key account activity plans and the total customer relationship across Alberta and the Prairies. Working with national and regional chains, distributors, and processors, you will deliver agreed volume, revenue, margin, and category development targets in alignment with the national foodservice sales strategy. Through effective territory planning, collaboration, and continuous improvement, you will identify new business opportunities and strengthen Arla's position within the Foodservice channel.

This role is on the road travelling in Alberta and the Prairies, with a home based office.

About the Role

Reporting to the Director, National Foodservice Sales, you will:

• Develop and execute key account activity plans and customer programs aligned with regional and national foodservice sales strategies to achieve agreed volume, revenue, margin, and category development targets
• Develop business with national and regional chains, distributors, and processors across the territory; negotiate and implement initiatives that increase distribution and market share, and pursue new business opportunities that meet Arla's minimum guidelines
• Build and manage customer relationships to understand business needs, deliver Arla's customer plans, and support customer satisfaction; plan territory coverage to maximize the efficiency of sales calls and deliveries
• Contribute to regional sales strategy development and annual and long-term customer and departmental business planning; deliver Sales Department KPIs established by the Sales Director
• Manage pricing, customer rebates and discounts, trade expenditures, collections, accounts receivable, and deductions within agreed levels
• Execute against company New Product Development (NPD) targets and identify creative opportunities to generate incremental volume
• Deliver the required forecast accuracy through Integrated Business Planning (IBP) to minimize wastage and maximize service levels
• Track customer sales performance against volume, revenue, and margin budgets, address variances, and communicate activity plans, timing, volume, pricing, and distribution targets to the Sales Director
• Monitor and communicate market developments, retail pricing, and competitive actions and threats to identify risks and growth opportunities
• Collaborate with the national Customer Business team to share local successes, transfer knowledge, and build account synergies; keep the Customer Service Manager and team informed of customer business updates
• Maintain organized files, current customer contacts, and processes for product removals and recalls; communicate all product quality issues, complete internal administration on time, manage team resources efficiently, and perform other duties as the role evolves

Who Are You?

You are a results-oriented sales professional who builds trusted customer partnerships and translates business strategies into effective customer plans. You demonstrate Arla's Our Character behaviours—Lead, Sense, and Create—by taking initiative and accountability, understanding customer needs, adapting to change, acting with integrity and respect, and collaborating to find creative improvements.

You bring

• A minimum of 3 years of sales experience in consumer packaged products and/or the Foodservice industry
• Experience managing customer pricing, profitability, forecasting and trade investments, with strong commercial acumen and the ability to analyze customer performance and develop strategic plans.
• Excellent communication, negotiation and relationship-building skills, with the ability to work independently and collaborate effectively across functions.
• A growth mindset, high level of accountability, and commitment to continuous learning and development
• Experience in category or sales promotion management, previous budgeting and target-setting experience, and prior kitchen or culinary training are assets
• A University or College degree in Business Administration, Commerce, or a related area
• A valid driver's license and active insurance coverage

What do we offer?

The compensation range for this role is $80,000-90,000 in determining the pay for the position, we take into consideration a wide range of factors that are utilized in making compensation decisions including, but not limited to, skill sets, experience and training, licensure and certifications, qualifications and education, and other business and organizational needs.

This posting is for a new vacancy. We use artificial intelligence (AI) tools to assist with aspects of our recruitment process. AI supports our process; however, all hiring decisions are made by people based on human review and judgment.

At Arla, we strive to unlock the highest potential in each other while working together to create the future of dairy. We push each other to keep our cooperative at the forefront of the dairy industry, so we can create Good Growth and bring health and inspiration to the world, naturally.

We do so much more than make some of the world’s favorite dairy products. We give babies the best start in life, make the family dinner unforgettable and mornings worth getting up for. Every single one of us plays an important role and together we build and help establish our position as one of the largest dairy companies in the world.

Application and contact

Interested and qualified candidates are invited to submit their resume. Arla foods is committed to providing equal opportunities for all applicants and employees regardless of race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic or national origin, citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, record of offences (for which a pardon has been granted), disability, marital or family status, or any other characteristic protected by law. If you require an accommodation in order to participate in the recruitment process, please contact us at the email address above to provide your contact information. While we appreciate all resume submissions, only those selected for an interview will be contacted.

While we appreciate all applications, only applicants that are legally authorized to work in Canada will be considered for this role.

Shape the Future of Dairy

Arla is a global leader in the dairy industry, committed to enabling good food choices that make life better, providing people with nourishment, while taking care at every step to ensure Arla is a choice they can feel good about. If you are looking to shape the future with an ambitious global cooperative that truly cares about your growth, where everyone feels valued and empowered, and collaboration is the core of culture, Arla is a choice you can feel good about.

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