District Sales Manager - Kansas City, MO

Odwalla, Inc. is the leading national brand of nourishing food products, including fresh juices, nutritionally fortified juice blends, food bars, and spring water. We are currently seeking a full-time District Sales Manager to oversee our Kansas City, MO distribution center, which also includes overseeing routes in Des Moines, Iowa, St. Louis, Missouri, and Omaha, Nebraska.



As the District Sales Manager, you will:Establish sales distribution targets and merchandising objectives for each assigned RSR (Route Sales Representative) Establish and maintain regular and on-going communications with RSRs, retail, and trade partner decision-makers, i.e. Produce Manager; maintain regular trade partner contacts and knowledge of account personnel Frequently meet with RSRs to counsel and assist with specific problems and opportunities and serve as front-line communicator with each RSR; Coach and provide RSRs with recommendations for resolutions to issues and train RSRs on sales, merchandising excellence, new products, etc. Conduct regular RSR workshops to improve operational expertise and recognize/reward results and conduct full area RSR business meetings quarterly Regularly ride with RSRs and work with them to resolve problems and achieve sales, returns, and merchandising goals (two full days/week minimum, with every RSR at least once per quarter) Schedule route coverage via Swing Reps during RSR scheduled time off, training periods and/or emergencies and may be personally responsible to cover routes and develop contingency plan for route coverage as needed to avoid downtime Build RSR capabilities to achieve display targets and sales objectives and collaborate across the organization to ensure delivery of results and use of best practices by RSRs across assigned area and region Provide assistance at retail level to ensure all new products are placed and schematic and distribution targets are achieved Sell to accounts where appropriate; furnish re-alignment/route split initiatives to Region Operations Manager to attain cooler upgrades and route development objectives Manage returns and inventory Maintain merchandising strategy that ensures proper handling and product placement by implementing agreed-upon schematics Conduct weekly sample store audits of sales, returns, product mix, merchandising, pricing, and positioning and complete and submit account call reports to Region Operations Manager for key accounts Attend account sets/re-sets, account openings, in-store demos, promotional activities, and trade functions to maintain or gain space Other duties as may be assigned.

Qualified candidates will have a bachelor's degree or equivalent plus a minimum of 5 years' industry related experience which must include direct store delivery (DSD) management and key account management (area level); a proven track record of being able to motivate and build a successful sales team and promote initiatives that build and create strong trade partnerships;  strong leadership skills to provide mentoring, training or corrective feedback; excellent verbal and written communication skills, including being able to prepare presentation materials and present the information one-on-one and in a group; strong computer skills in Microsoft Word and Excel (Power Point a plus Discoverer capable a must); demonstrated analytical and organizational skills; and an understanding of computer ordering systems.

Odwalla offers an outstanding benefit program, including comprehensive health benefits with coverage for alternative health care and domestic partners, 401(k), life and disability benefits, time off programs, Employee Assistance Program, cash and gift employee referral program, OdwallaKidz, therapeutic massage program, OdwallaWear, and of course, free juice and food bars!

Are you interested in applying? Please submit resume and cover letter (including job code) to: Odwalla, Inc., Job Code DSM-KCMO; 120 Stone Pine Road, Half Moon Bay, CA 94019; fax (650) 712-5572; or e-mail odwallajobs@odwalla.com Drink it and thrive!