Want to know if this job is worth applying to?
Chicago, Illinois, United States
Onsite
Not Available
This position is listed on behalf of a partner company, which manages all applications and next steps. Our partner is looking for a Field Manager, Retail Sales & Execution based in the United States.
We are looking for a results-driven Field Manager to lead a team of approximately 10 sales specialists across an assigned retail territory, with a focus on the Chicago market. This hands-on leadership role combines field coaching, team development, and retail execution to drive sales growth and strengthen in-store performance. You will spend at least three days each week in the field, working directly with team members to improve merchandising, product availability, displays, and promotional execution. You will translate regional and national sales priorities into actionable store-level plans while ensuring consistent standards across the territory. Using performance data, market insights, and strong distributor relationships, you will identify opportunities, address execution gaps, and improve business results. This is an opportunity to build a high-performing team in a fast-paced consumer goods environment where accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement are essential.
Team Leadership and Development: Lead, coach, and develop a team of approximately 10 field sales specialists to achieve monthly, quarterly, and annual performance targets. Spend at least three days per week in the market conducting joint store visits, providing hands-on coaching, and supporting team development.
Performance Management: Establish clear expectations and accountability through regular one-on-one meetings, team huddles, communication, and ongoing feedback. Recruit, onboard, develop, and retain talent while fostering a high-performing, values-driven team.
Retail Execution and Merchandising: Ensure consistent execution of merchandising standards, product placement, displays, point-of-sale materials, and promotional activity across assigned stores. Monitor display quality, timing, maintenance, and overall shelf presence.
Distribution and Shelf Growth: Drive distribution expansion, space gains, product availability, new item placements, and planogram compliance to strengthen brand visibility and retail performance.
Ordering and In-Stock Performance: Ensure accurate and timely DSD+ ordering in line with distributor service requirements. Coach team members to maintain strong in-stock performance across the product portfolio by identifying and resolving out-of-stocks, distribution gaps, and ordering issues.
Distributor and Market Coordination: Monitor distributor service levels and market conditions, escalating recurring issues with data-backed recommendations and collaborating with relevant partners to resolve them.
Territory Coverage and Compliance: Maintain compliant route coverage and consistent execution across the territory. Ensure field visits are properly documented through reports, photographs, surveys, and other mobile field tools.
Sales Initiative Execution: Lead long-term sales initiatives, including distribution growth, additional shelf space, new product introductions, and resets. Execute short-term priorities such as promotions, product launches, seasonal programs, and feature displays.
Data Analysis and Business Performance: Use scorecards, dashboards, field data, and store-level insights to track key performance indicators, prioritize high-value opportunities, and develop targeted action plans.
Regional Communication: Provide regional leadership with regular updates on team performance, competitive activity, market opportunities, operational risks, and resource requirements.
Field Sales Leadership: At least 5 years of relevant experience, including 2 or more years leading people, with demonstrated success managing distributed, field-based teams and driving performance through hands-on coaching.
Industry Experience: Background in retail sales, field execution, direct-store-delivery (DSD), merchandising, grocery, beverage, dairy, or consumer packaged goods (CPG).
People Management: Proven ability to recruit, develop, motivate, and hold team members accountable while building a strong performance-oriented culture.
Retail Execution Expertise: Understanding of in-store merchandising, display building, product distribution, planogram compliance, promotional execution, and inventory availability.
Analytical Skills: Ability to interpret performance metrics, identify root causes of execution gaps, and use data to prioritize opportunities and improve sales results.
Relationship Management: Strong communication and influencing skills, with the ability to build productive relationships with store personnel, distributor partners, and cross-functional stakeholders across a large geographic area.
Technology Proficiency: Comfortable using mobile field tools for visit documentation, ordering, surveys, and reporting, as well as Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
Independent Work Style: Able to work independently in the field, manage competing priorities, maintain attention to detail, and operate effectively in a fast-paced, execution-focused environment.
Physical Capability: Ability to lift and assemble retail displays in stores.
Results Orientation: A competitive, resilient, and accountable mindset, with a strong commitment to achieving goals and continuously improving performance.
Transportation and Travel: Must have a personal vehicle and a valid driver's license. Ability to travel throughout the assigned territory, including occasional overnight trips, is required.
Competitive Salary: Annual base salary ranging from $85,000 to $134,200, depending on work location, relevant skills, experience, education, and training.
Additional Compensation: Eligibility for bonus compensation and equity, in addition to base salary.
Comprehensive Healthcare: Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Financial and Insurance Benefits: Disability insurance, health savings account (HSA), flexible spending accounts (FSA), and a 401(k) plan with a 100% employer match on eligible contributions up to 5% of eligible pay.
Paid Time Off: 120 hours of paid time off, 11 paid holidays, and paid volunteer time off.
Parental Leave: 12 weeks of parental leave at full pay after six months of continuous employment.
Family Support: Fertility and childcare assistance to support employees and their families.
Wellness Resources: Employee assistance program, fitness discounts, wellness reimbursement, access to on-site gyms at certain locations, and a monthly wellness newsletter.
Education Support: Tuition reimbursement to support continued learning and professional development.
Purpose-Driven Culture: An inclusive, people-focused environment that values teamwork, community engagement, employee well-being, and equal employment opportunity.
