**DESCRIPTION** The **Team Leader** plays a pivotal role in driving the company’s growth and profitability. This is not just a position—it’s a leadership opportunity recognized by senior management and peers as critical to organizational success. As the dedicated champion for a key customer, you will own overall business development, build strategic relationships, and deliver results that shape the future of our business. In this role, you’ll combine vision and execution: leading initiatives that influence category performance, shopper engagement, and promotional strategies, while ensuring operational excellence and financial accountability. Your ability to lead, innovate, and collaborate will set the standard for performance across the team and the organization. **RESPONSIBILITIES** **Lead the customer relationship** + **Own the day‑to‑day relationship** as the customer’s primary point of contact for principal‑specific needs— **category management** , **shopper behavior insights** , and **promotion strategies** . + **Build executive‑level trust** : personally engage all key decision‑makers and **represent Acosta** on strategic corporate issues. **Drive growth, revenue, and sales fundamentals** + **Develop and sell account business plans** that deliver principal **volume/share** targets and core sales fundamentals ( **merchandising, assortment, pricing, shelving** ) at the **lowest selling cost** . + **Hit revenue goals on time** while **operating within budget** ; continuously seek ways to **maximize brokerage/commissions/bonuses** without increasing cost. + **Optimize trade marketing funds** at the account—set clear controls, minimize sales‑related deductions, and ensure compliance with Acosta and principal guidelines. **Turn data into action** + **Monitor market pricing and competitive moves** ; collect, analyze, and **report competitor activity** to inform strategy. + **Translate analytics into compelling stories** using RW3, **IRI Analyzer** , demographics, **Excel** , and **PowerPoint** ; practice **fact‑based selling** (e.g., average transaction size, tier migration, expandable consumption, HH penetration, store/brand loyalty). **Orchestrate retail execution** + **Partner with Retail Sales Managers** to launch new products, run selling drives and contests, and ensure flawless retail execution. + **Maintain accurate account distribution data** and ensure alignment across field and customer teams. **Lead and develop the team** + **Run monthly internal team meetings** to align priorities, share insights, and remove blockers. + **Coach Business Managers** and cross‑functional retail leaders (Retail Sales Managers, Supervisors, Territory Managers) with clear direction and feedback. + **Supervise, monitor, and evaluate** team members; **build organizational capacity** by sharing customer/manufacturer knowledge and supporting execution of major initiatives. **Stay strategically aligned and continuously improve** + **Keep a pulse on customer strategic plans** and key industry trends ( **ECR** , channel incursion) and **leverage them** to deliver results for Acosta’s principals. + **Proactively manage your development plan** and **lead special projects** as requested to advance the business. **QUALIFICATIONS** **Education:** Bachelor’s degree preferred. **Experience:** Proven success in customer sales with a food broker or major national company; demonstrated ability to lead and manage teams. **Skills:** Strong communication, negotiation, presentation, and organizational skills; proficient in sales‑support software and analytics tools; ability to interpret sales and marketing data for effective presentations. **Other Requirements:** Valid driver’s license, ability to travel, and comfort with technology (Excel, PowerPoint, retail systems). **Attributes:** Analytical thinker, relationship builder, and results‑driven leader. \#DiscoverYourPath **ABOUT US** Acosta is a part of Acosta Group – a collective of the industry’s most trusted retail, marketing and foodservice agencies reimagining the way people connect with brands at every point in their shopping journey. Specializing in retail sales services, digital strategy, and business intelligence, Acosta empowers brands to thrive in the world of omnichannel shopping. Our sales and digital teams build lasting relationships, ensuring our client brands get the space they deserve in stores and outperform the competition online, while our merch reps make brands shine in retail locations across the world. But it’s not just about what we do – it’s about who we are. With a team of over 20,000 associates, we’re a community of forward-thinking, value-driven professionals committed to an unmatched level of trust and transparency in the industry. And, we understand the importance of work-life balance, which is why many of our field roles provide our associates with flexible scheduling options. Join us and be a part of a team that values growth and making a real impact for our clients, retail partners and their customers. Acosta Group is an equal opportunity employer and will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact AskHR@acosta.com. Be sure to include "Applicant Accommodation" in the subject of your email to expedite the request. Acosta Group believes in good faith that the minimum and maximum annual salary or hourly compensation range for this opportunity is accurate and reasonable at the time of posting. The Acosta Group utilizes E-Verify for validating the ability to work in the United States for all job candidates. If you want more information on what this entails and your rights as a job applicant, please use the link provided to access information on our use of E-Verify and your right to work. Employer Resources (e-verify.gov) By applying, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms and Conditions of Use. **\#DiscoverYourPath** Acosta, and its subsidiaries, is an Equal Opportunity Employer **Job Category:** Wholesale **Position Type:** Full time **Business Unit:** Sales **Salary Range:** $94,400.00 - $110,000.00 **Company:** Acosta Employee Holdco LLC **Req ID:** 21953 **Employer Description:** ACOSTA\_EMP\_DESC