Hershey's Territory Sales Lead; Sarasota​/Bradenton FL

Hershey's Territory Sales Lead (Sarasota/Bradenton FL)

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The Territory Sales Lead (TSL) ensures flawless execution of store‑level sales and promotion plans with customer retailers in the assigned territory, which includes high‑volume food‑chain grocers and mass‑merchandiser customers. The TSL masters retail execution plans by driving incremental sales, implementing and maintaining best‑in‑class promotional and merchandising strategies, and ensuring 100% distribution of authorized Hershey items across all classes of trade. A successful TSL is driven, entrepreneurial, influential, and planful.

Consultative Business Partnering

• Build and maintain consultative business relationships with key decision makers (KDMs) at all levels.
• Partner and collaborate with KDMs to develop and execute action plans to increase sales, cultivating a network of influential contacts to achieve sales objectives.
• Leverage strategic relationships with KDMs to influence and negotiate customers’ assistance in the merchandising of Hershey products.

Data Analysis

• Obtain and analyze relevant store, product, and market data and leverage trends and analytics to build the business.
• Utilize and complete pre‑call planning methods and other company tools.
• Review and recommend route modifications that maximize business efficiencies for all sales calls within the territory.
• Effectively solve problems by analyzing information, utilizing consumer trends and customer insights to guide decision‑making and influence others to act.

Sales

• Engage in forward selling via consultative sales techniques using provided data sources, technology, processes, and procedures.
• Maximize sales and display opportunities by conducting store walk‑throughs and gaining commitment from KDMs on successful outcomes.
• Tailor strategies to influence KDMs to order additional products to increase incremental sales and to obtain best‑in‑class quality of merchandising locations.

Merchandising

• Achieve all merchandising objectives and execute customer‑specific promotional plans on the sales floor using forward selling.
• Partner at store level to build, maintain, and execute product on the sales floor, including permanent secondary displays and other display vehicles.

Administrative Responsibilities

• Complete and submit reports of daily and weekly activities, expenses, competitive activity, account changes, promotions, and all administrative functions within the assigned territory using company‑approved methods and technology.

Education and Experience:

• High school diploma or GED required.
• Two‑year associate or community college degree required, or three years of prior sales experience.
• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred.

Minimum knowledge, skills, and abilities:

• Must have a valid U.S. state‑issued driver’s license.
• Must reside or be willing to commute within the territory boundaries.
• Must be able to drive to make multiple sales calls daily.
• Must be able to lift 10–60 lbs. regularly.
• Must be able to bend, kneel, stoop, and demonstrate manual dexterity frequently.
• Occasional ladder climbing, use of equipment such as crushing balers and handheld electric trucks.
• Must be able to use tablets and other wireless technology; some roles require intermediate Microsoft Office skills.
• Must have daily access to wireless internet.
• Must be flexible and adaptable to changes in territory coverage.
• Occasional weekend work may be required during peak seasons; select territories may require occasional overnight stays.

Employees can expect to be paid a starting base salary of $50,000. Additional compensation may include overtime and incentives. Other benefits include health care, vision, dental, retirement, vacation, sick leave.