Key Account Manager

Location

• Remote USA anywhere (Texas or Michigan preferred)
• Travel up to 40% as needed (candidates must be within ~30 miles of a major metropolitan airport)

Reports To

• Director of Sales, Large Format

About the Role

As a Key Account Manager, you will be responsible for managing and growing strategic accounts, building customer relationships to drive key decisions on pricing, promotion, and product placement. This role is ideal for someone with retailer HQ call‑point experience and a relentless, action‑oriented mindset to drive the central region retailer account business for Liquid Death. You will need to influence across all levels of the organization while building strong external partnerships. The ideal candidate is a proactive, forward‑thinking owner with exceptional negotiation and communication skills, capable of managing multiple priorities and deadlines with precision. You’ll leverage strong analytical and organizational abilities, including experience with VIP, Nielsen, IRI, and retailer portal data, to drive strategic decisions. Advanced proficiency in Excel and PowerPoint, along with polished presentation skills, are essential.

Key Responsibilities

• Account Management: Own central region HQ call‑point actions, focusing on hunting (≈20 %) for new opportunities and farming (≈80 %) existing accounts to maximize growth.
• Business Planning and Execution: Develop and implement national plans to achieve/exceed sales targets; collaborate with field/DSD teams to maximize execution; ensure trade investments are smart, measurable, and monitored through Vividly.
• Cross‑Functional Partnership: Proactively maximize retailer performance, improve business processes, and engage collaboratively across departments and with external stakeholders to ensure successful execution.
• Business Planning and Analysis: Partner with Sales Forecasting and Finance to accurately forecast case volume, trade spend (Vividly), and profitability; analyze retailer and syndicated data (IRI) to understand account trends and develop plans that maximize sales and share; achieve account‑level sales and profit targets.
• Marketplace Execution: Meet regularly with field sales teams and key distributor partners to conduct business reviews as warranted.

Qualifications / Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field (preferred but not required).
• 2+ years of beverage‑company regional sales management or key account management experience with HQ call‑point responsibility for at least one of: Meijer, HyVee, or HEB.
• Trade Promotion Management (TPM) experience required; Vividly preferred.
• Background with DSD, broadline distribution, and alternative routes to market (experience with beer distributors for non‑alcoholic products preferred).
• Understanding of depletions using VIP (iDig) preferred.
• Strong organizational and analytical skills; solid understanding of Nielsen, IRI, and retailer portal data.
• Comfort working in a high‑growth startup environment, with advanced problem‑solving capability, adaptability to ambiguity, and a focus on continuous improvement.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint) and Google Suite (Sheets, Docs, Slides).
• Advanced presentation skills using PowerPoint.
• Valid driver’s license and clean motor vehicle record (no major violations).
• Ability to safely operate a personal vehicle for work‑related duties.
• Willingness to travel and work weekends up to 40 % as needed for retailer meetings, distributor meetings, trade shows, etc.

Compensation

• Salary range: $92,000 – $115,000 (base pay only; excludes potential bonuses, equity, or benefits).
• Adjusted as required to meet state or local minimum salary requirements.

Benefits

• Blue Shield medical plans (HMO – CA only, PPO, HDHP with HSA).
• FSA and Dependent Care FSA.
• Guardian dental and vision coverage.
• UNUM life insurance, AD&D, disability benefits, and employee‑paid options (accident, hospitalization, critical illness).
• 100 % match of Empower Retirement contributions up to 4 % after three months.
• Student Loan Retirement Match.
• Wellness perks: Headspace, ClassPass memberships, robust Employee Assistance Program (EAP).
• SNOO Bassinets for infants.
• Nationwide pet insurance.
• 17 paid holidays, flexible PTO, and travel assistance.