Sales Lead

Role Overview

This is a senior commercial position that turns sales strategy into measurable revenue growth for a food manufacturing and distribution company. day to day, the Sales Lead owns the full sales operation—coaching a team of associates, negotiating with retail and distribution partners, and building the repeatable processes that make revenue targets achievable. The role is central to the company’s expansion because it sets the direction, discipline, and accountability required to grow beyond existing accounts.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the end-to-end sales function, including setting individual quotas, monitoring pipeline health, and driving weekly and monthly revenue reviews.
• Coach, mentor, and manage sales associates, improving their selling skills, product knowledge, and ability to close deals in food retail and distribution channels.
• Own key customer relationships at account manager level, negotiating pricing and terms, resolving delivery or quality issues, and identifying opportunities to expand existing orders.
• Develop and execute a market expansion plan, targeting new retail chains, independent distributors, wholesalers, and foodservice operators in line with company growth goals.
• Design scalable sales systems, including territory planning, lead qualification criteria, pricing guidelines, and CRM usage so the team can operate consistently.
• Work closely with supply chain and marketing teams to align product availability, promotions, and new product launches with sales activities.
• Track competitive activity, consumer buying trends, and channel performance, using those insights to adjust pricing, positioning, and sales tactics.
• Prepare accurate sales forecasts and performance reports for company leadership, recommending corrective actions when targets are at risk.

Requirements & Qualifications

• Proven sales leadership experience, ideally in food, beverage, or consumer packaged goods, with a track record of hitting revenue targets.
• Demonstrated ability to manage a sales team, including recruiting, coaching, setting performance standards, and holding people accountable.
• Deep understanding of retail and distribution channels, including how to win shelf space, manage distributor relationships, and support in-store execution.
• Strategic and analytical mindset, comfortable using sales data, financial metrics, and market research to guide decisions.
• Strong negotiation, presentation, and relationship-building skills, with the confidence to engage both frontline staff and senior retail buyers.
• Hands-on leadership style—willing to join field visits with sales associates, meet customers directly, and solve operational problems as they arise.
• Availability to travel for client meetings, trade shows, and market visits as needed.
• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, or a related field is preferred, but equivalent practical experience in a commercial leadership role will be considered.