Key Account Support Specialist - Advantage Solutions

Key Account Support Specialist

As a Key Account Support Specialist, you will play a pivotal role in driving client success. Your primary responsibilities will include directing client annual review process to customers. You will work closely with Key Account Managers (“KAMs”) to manage client business planning, forecasting, annual reviews, and joint business planning. You will leverage insights to develop category review presentations and promotional planning.

In this role, you will also actively manage and develop strategic annual plans for clients. You’re the expert within client systems and platforms. You will lead all issue resolution activities with client systems, identify all overspend and/or spending shortfalls, and work with relevant KAMs to resolve, using insights and data to recommend improvements. As a KASS, you’re the expert for the client(s) products, brands, SKUs, pricing and promotional plans. You suggest strategic actions and guide client promo planning activities.

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America’s leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Essential Responsibilities
Revenue Budget Achievement

• Research and implement effective strategies for clients so they can meet business objectives, including revenue and market share objectives
• Make recommendations for how clients can achieve financial targets

Analysis and Presentations

• Analyze data to identify trends and recommend opportunities for improvement and reduce competitive threats
• Develop and conduct negotiations to maximize profitability and maintain positive relationships
• Build sales presentations for key clients and make client recommendations for customer presentations

Client Key Performance Indicators Achievement

• Analyze performance metrics of assigned clients and make recommendations for improvement
• Recommend ways to improve business margin for clients and recommend action plans
• Strategize on how to maximize marketing spend to achieve client’s financial goals.
• Review marketing schematics on behalf of customers, and coordinate closely with cross-functional stakeholders in our schematic, reset and retail departments

Data Systems & Reporting

• Drive cross-collaboration among all other internal teams
• Analyze data reports to ensure financial performance meets forecasted targets
• Drive alignment across KAMs, highlighting key opportunities and challenges and also suggesting resolutions to issues

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports
- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports
Indirect Reports
- Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Minimum Qualifications
Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
1-3+ Years of experience with grocery operations, including promotional planning activities, systems experience preferred.

Required Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

• Strong presentation skills
• Excellent interpersonal and organizational skills
• Working knowledge of syndicated data
• Proficiency in Microsoft Excel
• Intermediate or advanced computer skills
• Strong written communication and verbal communication skills
• Conflict management skills
• Demonstrated ability to provide cross-functional leadership
• Well-organized, detail-oriented, and able to handle a fast-paced work environment
• Flexible and adaptable, able to change and alter according to changes in projects or business environment
• Ability to complete multiple duties with accuracy shifting from one to another with frequent interruptions and competing deadlines

Environmental & Physical Requirements
Office / Sedentary Requirements
Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically, requires the abilty to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may require the ability to lift up to 10lbs.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties and Job Descriptions
Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one’s supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties, and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job positions, or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.