National Sales Manager, Canada

**OVERVIEW**:
Perfetti Van Melle - one of the world's largest manufacturers and distributors of confectionery and chewing gum with global brands that are being enjoyed in more than 150 countries worldwide - is seeking a passionate and enthusiastic **National Sales Manager, Canada **to join our growing team.

**WHAT YOU WILL DO**:
The National Sales Manager - Canada is a strategic sales leader of a broad, external sales team responsible for bringing PVM’s brand plans to life via Channel and Customer sales. This leader is responsible for developing and executing strategic long-term operating plans that are both Channel and Customer specific. The incumbent will work collaboratively with both internal PVM functions (marketing, operations, demand planning) and external Sales partners to ensure we are strategically positioned to drive significant growth via thought leadership and Joint Business Plans. The National Sales Manager will lead channel strategy development and deployment, connecting customer strategies to brand strategies, by working closely with internal marketing and category management, and external Director of Sales. Most importantly, the incumbent will create a clear vision and DSMP initiatives for each Channel and Customer, aligning with the external Director of Sales on annual priorities and empower their leaders to execute them. Ultimately, the incumbent will be accountable for the Gross Sales and Channel/Customer Budgets that are established prior to the start of each year.
Specific responsibilities include:

- Provide leadership of long-term channel/customer strategic plans and annual operating plans to include DSMP priorities and financial budgets/goals by customer, ensuring sustainable growth.
- Establish and maintain positive relationships with key customers, advocating and representing their point of view internally.
- Manage trade communications (ie. new items, discontinued items, delivery issues, etc)
- Collaborate on contract negotiations with partners, business reviews, and monthly performance summaries.
- Ensure external Sales Director and brokers have the tools needed to execute the plans, and maximize PVM business results with all customers.
- Work collaboratively with PVM internal colleagues and partners in other functions to ensure alignment on strategic priorities, risks/opportunities, demand forecasts, etc.
- Achieve internal alignment across departments on best approach to meet sales objectives and customer goals, while remaining consistent with corporate and global brand objectives.
- Drive results by positively influencing others to take action (ie. customers through an unbiased objective lens, sales partners to recognize problems, cross functional team to execute timely projects).
- Coach and challenge external sales partners to not only sell but to grow relationships, including management of diverse relationships.
- Provide oversight and decision-making with sales teams priorities, sales execution details, distribution goals, execution of launch strategies, procedure and administration related to trade investment. Collaborate on annual budget development, and customer call objectives and preparation.

**WHAT WE NEED FROM YOU**:

- Bachelor’s degree in related field required. MBA preferred.
- Minimum of 10+ years of relevant customer management experience, along with Broker Sales management experience, within CPG companies.
- Bilingual (English/French) preferred.
- Must be proficient with Microsoft Office including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- Experience managing trade spending budgets and customer P&Ls.
- Must have the ability to be driven and ambitious, people-oriented, strategic, well organized, results driven and detail oriented.
- Strong analytical and problem solving skills.
- Ability to work cross functional with internal and external partners at all levels of the organization.
- Strong relationship development and interpersonal skills.
- Strong communication skills, both oral and written. Must be able to present data in a clear and concise way.
- Knowledge of product development and performance to define and plan optimal category mix in a variety of customer environments.
- Effective communication skills to deliver the right information to the right people and engage all kinds of audiences.
- Ability to translate market insights into successful value propositions that meet the future needs of customers and build the brand foundation while remaining in line with business strategy.
- Ability to be flexible and adapt to commercial changes in needs and market trends.
- Role is primarily home-based with weekly in office day (Markham, ON).
- Ability to travel nationally and internationally.

**WHAT WE OFFER**:
At Perfetti Van Melle, we have a core value of **Care For Our People** and we are proud to offer benefit programs that support our team member’s goals and well-being.
- Perfetti Van Melle, USA is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer. All qualified