Account Manager, NYC Metro Region

About Bear Maple:

In 2020, in the heart of the pandemic, Bear Maple Farms founder and CEO Brian Bethke and his family were sheltered-in-place in the Catskill Mountains of upstate New York. On their daily outings, he and his daughter discovered maple trees and ginseng growing in the wild. A serial entrepreneur and lifelong learner, Brian embarked on a journey of discovery and a deep dive into the voluminous research documenting the functionality of ginseng and maple water. He combined the two in a beverage and Bear Maple Farms (BMF) was born. The BMF team set out to be the first to bring hydroponically grown ginseng to the beverage market in adaptogenic, sparkling tonics. Bear Maple Farms’ mission is to craft innovative, functional beverages that help nourish the body and mind while fostering a sustainable future for the planet. Its functional sparkling ginseng beverages are crafted with high-quality ginseng, naturally sweetened with maple water, and are caffeine free and low in calories. Bear Maple is 1% for the Planet certified, and the company donates 1% of its annual sales directly to vetted environmental partners.

Job Description:

The Field Account Manager will drive sales and brand presence of Bear Maple Farms sparkling tonic across various retail channels in Southern California focusing on the counties of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego. This role involves managing relationships with accounts & local distributors, identifying new business opportunities, and executing sales strategies to achieve company growth objectives. The ideal candidate will have a strong understanding of the local market, excellent communication skills, and a passion for selling emerging food and beverage brands.

Key Responsibilities:

• Account Management
• Build and maintain strong relationships with existing accounts, including distribution partners,  grocery stores, food service providers, bars, delis, restaurants, gyms, office spaces, and boutiques.
• Regularly visit accounts, ensure product availability, and provide merchandising, and secondary display for optimized shelf placement and increased brand visibility.
• Execute promotions either assigned or tailored to each account to drive product sales
• Initiate repeat orders at the account level
• New Business Development
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities within the assigned territory targeting distributors and accounts.
• Cold-call potential clients and conduct product presentations with live samples to introduce Bear Maple Farms.
• Initiate new orders or close agreements with new distribution and accounts. 
• Execute Sales Strategy
• Collaborate with the Head of Sales to develop and implement regional sales strategies.
• Monitor and track sales performance against KPIs and provide regular reports to management.
• Gather market intelligence and provide feedback on customer preferences, competitive activities, and market trends.
• Product Education
• Educate retail staff and customers about the benefits and unique qualities of Bear Maple Farms Sparkling Tonic.
• Identify and execute opportunities for product tastings, demos, and training sessions.
• Support set up and execution of activation events and tradeshows for Bear Maple Farms.
• Customer Support
• Demos & Events
• Be the main point of contact, and project lead, for demos and events in the assigned region. This includes finding demo/event opportunities, planning, and being the ‘day of’ lead and face of the brand at the demo/event. 
• Preplanning efforts also include prompt and proactive communication to both the Head of Sales and Operations Lead on physical asset and product sample requirements. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements:

• Experience: 
• Minimum of 3-5 years of experience in field sales, merchandising, account management and supporting local demos & events supporting growing food & beverage brands. 
• Skills:
• Strong communication and interpersonal skills
• Strong negotiation and closing skills
• Ability to build long-term partnerships with retailers and distributors
• Ability to work independently and manage time effectively
• Proficient in Google Suite, CRM software
• Knowledge:
• In-depth understanding of the Southern California retail and distribution landscape. Specifically across, the grocery, food service, office and hospitality sectors.
• Other:
• Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation
• Ability to lift 50 lbs, etc.
• Flexibility to travel via car, walking, and public transportation
• Ability to attend evening and weekend events 

• Adaptability: 
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and work in a fast-paced environment.
• Other duties as assigned.