Business Development Manager

Job Description
Business Development Manager
Location: Minnesota, Nebraska, and Great Lakes Area
Department: Business Development
Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation's largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving over 1,100 member companies and over 3,400 locations throughout 31 states from 9 wholesale Divisions. The consolidated run-rate sales for AWG are $12.3Billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company also operates subsidiary companies that provide certain real estate and supermarket development services, print and digital marketing services, health and beauty care, general merchandise, pharmaceutical products, specialty foods, and natural and organic products.
Summary
The Business Development Manager is responsible for planning, coordinating and directing new Business Development efforts to achieve the overall new business growth objectives for AWG. This function includes the responsibility of prospecting and affiliating new business to AWG, maximizing sales volume at minimum cost to the co-op and ensuring that the new business is accretive to the company. The position would also represent and promote AWG at industry events as needed. In addition, the Business Development manager should also maintain ongoing service relationships with new members and existing members as needed to ensure successful long term members. New business is the life blood of the company and sustaining sales increases through new business is paramount to achieve and exceed budgeted sales for the company.
Essential Functions:

• Identifying prospective members and prioritizing strategic plans to present the benefits of AWG.
• Identifying needs and areas of "tension for change" with prospective retailers. Developing and presenting plans and programs to provide solutions to these needs which would lead to gaining commitment to join AWG.
• Ensuring Wholesale sales goals and company objectives are achieved within the Business Development department.
• Regular travel to prospective members to present AWG programs and ensure ongoing contact with retailers to build and maintain the necessary relationships and confidence to lead to member affiliation.
• Collaborating and coordinating with AWG divisions, departments and/or third parties to provide necessary information, presentations and solutions to meet the retailers' needs.
• Ensure proper communication within AWG to ensure all objectives are met and all necessary followup is completed on a timely basis.
• Coordinate and complete all new member processes, internal set-up, Membership documents and onboarding is completed timely.
• Identify and participate in any Industry functions/ organization that would facilitate the success of AWG and its members.

Important Functions:

• Ability to develop PowerPoint presentations.
• Ability to analyze financial statements and build proforma's.
• Ability to analyze retail operations.
• Ability to understand and analyze strengths and weaknesses of competitors' programs.

Qualifications
College Degree or equivalent work experience with extensive knowledge of wholesale and retail operations. Any combination of education, training and experience providing the following knowledge and abilities:
Knowledge:

• Understanding of ALL AWG programs.
• Financial reporting acuity, Retail P&L statements.
• Understanding of trade area opportunities from a wholesale and retail perspective.

Abilities

• Ability to travel.
• Ability to prioritize and set your own schedule to maximize results.
• Ability to interpret P&L statements.
• Ability to develop and make presentations.
• Must possess excellent negotiation skills, combined with strong communication skills.

Experience, Education and Training:

• College degree preferred.
• Three-five years of experience in the following areas: Previous wholesale operations, vendor experience or, Supermarket retail operations.
• Strong competency in the use of Microsoft Office Suite with emphasis in Excel and Access database.
• Strong public speaking and negotiation skills.

Physical Requirements:

• Perform bending, squatting, sitting, and reaching from floor level to six feet in height.
• Must be able to move throughout various buildings, conduct training at retail sites, load and unload materials and equipment.
• Must be able to lift or move at least 25 pounds and move products or equipment as needed.
• Must be able to sit in a car for long periods of time.
• Must be able to travel by car and airplane both day and night.

Working Environment:

• On a part-time basis, standard office environment.
• Frequent time spent in a Supermarket environment.
• Frequent overnight travel.
• Must have the flexibility and ability to work nontraditional hours as needed (before and after normal office hours and weekends).

Licensing/Certifications:

• Food Safety certification a plus

Benefits:

• Medical, Dental, & Vision Insurance
• Health Savings Account
• Dependent Care Flexible Spending Account
• Paid Vacation, Holiday, and Sick Time
• 401(k) with 4% match along with 3 other contributions
• Tuition Reimbursement
• Basic & Supplemental Life and AD&D
• Employee Assistance Program
• Short-Term and Long-Term Disability
• Wellness Program
• Yearly Holiday Bonus

Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc. (AWG) is the nation's largest cooperative food wholesaler to independently owned supermarkets, serving over 1,100 member companies and over 3,400 locations throughout 31 states from 9 wholesale Divisions. The consolidated sales for AWG are $12.3 billion. In addition to its cooperative wholesale operations, the company also operates subsidiary companies that provide certain real estate and supermarket development services, print and digital marketing services, health and beauty care, general merchandise, pharmaceutical products, specialty foods, and natural and organic products.