Director Sales (East)

Director of Sales (East Region) - Kenny's Candy & Confections

40% to 60% travel is required (including overnight stays and weekends)

*REMOTE: Candidate in this role must be located in our East region which includes Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Kentucky, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Missouri, Alabama, Mississippi, and Louisiana. Candidate will be within 1 hour max of a major airport.*

• Base Pay: $60,000 to $75,000
• Bonus Payout: up to $15,000 in first year
• .0006% Split Commission on Branded, Bulk, & Private Label Sales up to $50,000
• Health, Dental, & Vision Plans
• 401k Match Option

Our Story

KLN Family Brands is a 3rd generation family-owned business that started in 1964 with its corporate headquarters located in Perham, MN, in the heart of MN lakes country. Together, our companies manufacture a diverse and expanding range of high-quality human and pet food products.

At KLN Family Brands, our vision is that “We are a proud people-first company. We are successful because of trust-based relationships and first-rate products for our families and friends. We better the world by caring for others. We challenge. We grow. We inspire.”

Some companies have to “fudge the story” a little. Some need the extra “spin” to shine a positive light on themselves. That’s not who we are at KLN Family Brands, and that’s not what we do. We tell the story of our brand – our people, the quality of our products, our spirit & moxie, our tradition, and the way we treat our community & beyond. We do it in a genuine way because we genuinely believe we’re a pretty amazing company.

We’re now adding a Director of Sales to assist us in expanding our reach and distribution in the Eastern Region of the United States! If you love sales, leading others, developing relationships with brokers & customers, and have been looking for a place that inspires you, then keep reading. You may have just stumbled upon the perfect role!

The Opportunity

We operate in an extremely dynamic and competitive space. In this environment, customers are incredibly discerning and want to know the whole story – the company’s culture, core beliefs and vision for the future. Our customers do their homework, and in today’s market, they want to know that they’ll be buying from a company with a purpose and a structure to provide the support that they need.

As a Director of Sales for Kenny's Candy & Confections, you’ll work closely with the Executive team and provide leadership, direction and general orchestration in planning, controlling and coordinating of all sales operations to achieve established profit and growth objectives. You’ll need to understand our customers and their expectations and they will need to understand ours. You’ll also need to have an intimate understanding of our industry and competitive landscape – who we are, whom we’re up against, and how we win.

General Duties & Responsibilities: 

• Executes corporate strategy with regard to brand and private label development to achieve annual business plan
• Hire, manage, and develop Territory and Business Development Managers. 
• Continually manages the existing broker distribution systems
• Sets SMART Goals for Business Development Managers & Broker Partners and monitors performance
• Provides direction/leadership to broker personnel and internal trade development team
• Demonstrates leadership and complete understanding of the annual planning process; focuses on both core distribution gains and key innovation
• Utilizes available tools to manage entire trade plan and provide accurate sales forecasts
• Comprehends and works with appropriate business tools to identify opportunities, build sales presentations and achieve sales targets
• Collects sales data, understands merchandising/category management, delivery requirements and investigates and resolves customer problems/complaints
• Works with Credit Department to resolve issues and meet requirements
• Researches market conditions for each customer to identify new opportunities
• Analyzes competitive pricing, promotions, marketing strategies and reports accurately
• Composes appropriate written sales correspondence for all levels
• Represents the company in a positive and professional manner
• Manages key customer relationships, both retail and wholesale and visits often to ensure consistent business development activity and broker progress
• Establishes weekly communication with all business development and territory managers
• Establishes monthly communication with all brokers and visits every customer
• Provides detailed updates to Kenny's Leadership as requested
• Attends all necessary trade and customer shows
• Submits expense reports within 30 days of expenditure

Leadership Responsibilities:

• Establishes performance standards, monitoring employee performance and focusing the Department’s attention to areas of opportunity to maximize performance
• Assists in the development of personnel through positive reinforcement and coaching techniques
  1. Responsibilities include hiring, planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and assuring problems are resolved; developing leadership in all people

Minimum Qualifications

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Education

A Bachelor’s degree in sales/marketing or business administration or proven demonstration of sales management performance

Experience & Skills Required

At least three to five years of recent, progressive sales management and development experience, which provides the following skills and abilities:

• Background in sales and sales management
• Has successfully managed a broker network and their reps
• Experience in building multiple brands
• Ability to build a profitable customer base
• Expertise in managing a channel of businesses
• Background in CPG
• Data driven - uses data to grow the business in selective markets
• CRM - experience with holding a team accountable for activity and performance
• Deduction management
• Fits the culture of Kenny's - Family oriented - Team player
• Problem analysis and problem resolution at both a strategic and functional level
• Quality orientation and attention to detail
• Possess ability to adapt to a high rate of change environment
• Management: the ability to organize and manage multiple priorities
• Strong inter-personnel skills to interact with many cross-functional teams to accomplish sales objectives
• Decisive leadership and management style, executive presence, knowledge and a practical understanding of the financial aspects of business - demonstrated strong ethical and moral character and high work ethic standards
• Strong communication skills, both oral and written, and the ability to relate with all personnel
• Must be flexible with a willingness to perform the jobs personally as well as through delegation or interaction with others
• Ability to work with minimum direction but will understand the importance of clear and effective communication with the VP of Sales, Marketing, and Kenny's leadership team and others with whom, the position interacts
• Possess inherent traits such as initiative, high energy, creativity, teamwork and positive attitude
• Must possess the willingness to live the KLN Values, understand and articulate the KLN Mission and work diligently toward the KLN Vision