Bring your strategic sales expertise to elevate our thriving natural channel business to the next level!

Chocolove

Chocolove’s mission is to make and sell the best tasting chocolate in a way that makes customers and everyone involved, happy. Chocolove was started by Timothy Moley in 1995 with the goal of creating the freshest, best-tasting, European-style premium chocolate made with natural ingredients. From the beginning, the Chocolove brand has been unique – colorful, distinct and designed to reflect the thank you letter Moley received that inspired the creation of the brand. Chocolove has been a recognized leader in chocolate quality, sustainability and flavor innovation for more than 25 years, and today offers chocolate bars, mini bars, cups, bites, boxes, specialty holiday chocolates and small-batch handmade chocolates in more than 60 flavors.

What You Will Do

The Sales Director - Natural Channel USA will be responsible for growing our business with all customers in the Natural Channel by leading our broker partners and by building personal customer relationships, developing sales strategy, executing with excellence, and facilitating cross-functional collaboration internally. This includes selling distribution into new accounts, expanding distribution in existing accounts, building and executing go-to-market strategies and plans to efficiently and sustainably drive profitable growth.

Responsibilities:

Develop and execute strategic plans for the Natural Channel USA. Work with VP Sales to build an annual sales plan and execute; provide ongoing updates with VP Sales and internal team
Lead, train, and build a strong relationship with assigned brokers and retail execution partners
Build strong relationships and become a strategic partner with key retailers
Pull data (SPINS, IRI/Cicana, Nielsen, etc.) to create customer presentations/sell stories
Prepare and meet with broker partners and customers for regular business reviews
Ensure execution of new product launches, promotions, and secondary placements
Employ consumer focused fact-based selling and strategic decision-making
Grow assigned business with keen understanding and proactive management of channel implications in the marketplace
Work with broker partner and Chocolove’s internal team to understand and manage distribution, voids, in-stock levels, pricing/promotion, and display compliance
Collaborate with sales and marketing teams to identify trends and opportunities for brand development within assigned retailers
Understand and share the competitive dynamics in your area of responsibility—discover where we can learn from leaders and find opportunities for growth
Work closely with internal team to deliver incredible customer service and facilitate communication with assigned key retailers
Actively participate in industry trade shows and customer meetings/reviews

Who You Are

You are a self-starter and strong collaborator, have great organization and communication skills, and can work independently. You’re hungry to grow the Chocolove brand and thrive in an entrepreneurial and fast-paced environment. We need the right partner who is excited by the chance to build strong relationships internally and externally with customers, analyze sales data, build strong sales stories, create strategic plans, and execute with agility to drive sales growth and ROI.

Qualifications:

Bachelor’s degree in related field preferred
3-5 years’ experience managing top retailers in grocery, bonus if experience is within chocolate, confections, candy, etc.
5 years’ experience in grocery/CPG (Natural Channel experience preferred but not required)
3+ years’ experience managing brokers
Proven successful track record in sales management
Must be an analytical thinker and data-driven; strong data analysis skills and experience working with relevant data
Must be proficient in and comfortable with pulling data from SPINS, Nielsen, IRI/Circana to create presentation decks, (bonus if you have experience with Numerator, Bedrock, MODUS)
Proficient in MS Office, especially Excel
Excellent communication skills with external customers, peers, supervisors, and internal supporting departments
Have a history or willing to work with trade management and demand planning software
Must be able to thrive in an ambiguous environment, work independently, and be resourceful
Ability to travel for trade shows, sales calls, and meetings - approximately 30% of time
Experience in a start-up environment ideal, but not required

Benefits

• Annual salary range of $125-175k plus bonus potential
• After 60 days of employment, Full-time employees are eligible for medical, dental, and vision insurance, short & long term disability insurance
• Paid time off, paid holidays
• 401(k) program, and other great benefits

This job description is not intended to detail every aspect of the job or list every task to be performed. It is provided as a general overview of the responsibilities and skills an employee should possess to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

Chocolove is committed to an environment that values and supports all individuals. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, or nationality.

Director of Sales, Natural Channel USA