What are the responsibilities and job description for the Chain Sales Team Lead position at Alliance Beverage Distributing?
PRIMARY FUNCTIONS:
While spending 80% of the time in the trade, will plan, direct, and coordinate the activities of designated Sales Representatives to ensure that established goals and objectives are accomplished in accordance with prescribed standards, priorities, time limitations and supplier requests. Advises, makes recommendations, trains, and assists in the formulation of goals and objectives.
This position is for the Muskegon, Grand Haven, Holland, Hudsonville, and Jenison areas.
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Supervise assigned sales reps and merchandisers on a weekly basis.
- Motivate sales force.
- Execute monthly brand-building sales goals.
- This means prioritizing & designating specific goals to individuals on your team.
- Direct each team member to use the “Walk Around” discipline as the way to insure correct, complete orders are entered, and the correct inventory levels maintained.
- Keep accurate business unit/ individual route records
- Conduct Sales/Authorization calls on selected chain accounts.
- Deliver regular sales performance evaluations
- Recap, maintain and report activities to Sales Manager.
- Train sales staff to insure proper account pre-planning so that brand-building sales goals are achieved and all company policies and procedures are properly followed.
- Insure proper coverage of sales routes during vacations and sickness.
- Develop, maintain, and instruct sales reps on proper merchandising standards set forth by corporation and suppliers.
- Keep sales reps updated on all new P.O.S.
- Insure that merchandising standards and goals are met.
- Develop and implement resets and proper shelf management.
- Insure Dot-rotation system is followed by all sales reps.
- Keep managers informed on route changes, customer changes, competitive activity, problems or opportunities.
- Work with supplier reps to achieve goals and pass along to sales reps.
- Evaluate territory Sales, Quality Assurance Budgets, Key Account Performance and Market Plan Execution.
- Attend scheduled meetings with your general sales manager
- Conduct weekly meetings with sales team.
- Service customers needs, and solve any problems that might arise.
- Evaluate sales routes for effectiveness and make needed changes to maximize our sales potentials.
QUALIFICATIONS:
- Ability to train, lead, supervise and motivate.
- Ability to deal with problems involving several concrete variables in standardized situations.
- Ability to conduct meetings
- Ability to apply commonsense understanding to carry out instructions furnished in written, oral, or diagram form.
- Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.
- Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or employees of organization.
- Must be computer-literate in Microsoft Office applications.
- Have attained a four year college or university program certificate; or four to six years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
PHYSICAL DEMANDS:
Have the ability to stand on a hard surface for up to 4 hours at a time. Bend to lift product including cases and kegs, weighing up to 165 lb. each, using both hands. Be able to see product and discern dissimilar colors, and numbers. Must be able to effectively communicate with customers, subordinates, management and co-workers. Be able to listen to instruction both face to face, and over the phone. Ability to stand, walk and move in & out of a vehicle throughout the day
JOB STATION:
Work is performed both at Alliance Beverage, within a cubical work station, in a vehicle and at customers locations.
About Alliance Beverage:
Chicago native Larry Gary settled in Hastings, MI, where he owned and operated a bowling alley. In 1963, Larry and his wife, Joan, decided a change was in order; they moved to the Grand Rapids area, where Larry founded Kent Beverage.
Detroit native Tim Sullivan, along with his brother Mike, founded Sullivan Brothers Construction on the east side of the state. However, after seeing his friends thrive in the beer distribution business, Tim decided to make a change, purchasing Grand Rapids' B&B Beer in 1977.
Both companies grew and flourished, passing from one generation to the next, each strengthening its roots in Michigan. Eventually, over a shared pint, the Gary and Sullivan families envisioned a stronger future together. On May 13, 2013, Kent Beverage and B&B Beer merged, forming Alliance Beverage—a company committed to being the “Preferred Distributor” for everyone it interacts with.
From day one, Alliance has prioritized recruiting top talent and upholding the highest standards of integrity, teamwork, and respect, aiming to enrich the lives of associates, customers, suppliers, and the community. By offering a diverse range of quality products and a supportive, accountable environment, we continually seek to create positive and lasting relationships.
Today, Alliance Beverage is a team of over 550, proudly serving more than 6,000 customers across Western Michigan. With three distribution centers and six sales offices, our team members are not just employees—they’re neighbors who are actively involved in the communities they serve.
