<p>Regional Sales Manager</p> <p>Heartland Food Products Group | U.S. Field-Based Southeast</p> <p>We are seeking a Regional Sales Manager (RSM) to lead a hybrid direct and national sales agency model within an assigned region. This role is accountable for delivering regional KPIs through a combination of direct retailer engagement and sales agency leadership, and serves as the primary face of Heartland for regional retailer calls and field-level relationships.</p> <p>This role requires a confident, externally facing sales leader who can influence retailers directly, set clear direction for agency partners, and translate national strategy into consistent in-market results.</p> <p>What You'll Do</p> <p>Retailer Leadership & Direct Customer Engagement</p> <ul> <li>Serve as the primary Heartland representative for regional retailer calls and field-level customer relationships </li><li>Lead retailer meetings focused on execution, distribution, merchandising, promotions, and issue resolution </li><li>Reinforce Heartland's brand strategies, selling stories, and expectations directly with retail partners </li></ul> <p>Sales Agency Leadership</p> <ul> <li>Direct and lead Heartland's national sales agency partner within the assigned region </li><li>Set clear priorities, expectations, and KPIs for agency teams </li><li>Ensure strong alignment between Heartland and agency leadership on goals, programs, and execution standards </li><li>Drive accountability through regular performance reviews, market visits, and ride-alongs </li></ul> <p>Executional Excellence & KPI Delivery</p> <ul> <li>Own regional execution KPIs including distribution, shelving, pricing, displays, voids, promotional compliance, and resets </li><li>Ensure flawless execution of innovation launches, seasonal programs, and national initiatives </li><li>Validate in-store performance through store audits, field feedback, and data analysis </li></ul> <p>Performance Tracking, Reporting & Insights</p> <ul> <li>Own regional scorecards and dashboards tied to defined KPIs </li><li>Analyze execution data and retailer feedback to identify trends, risks, and opportunities </li><li>Communicate clear, actionable insights and corrective actions to internal stakeholders and agency partners </li></ul> <p>Cross-Functional Partnership</p> <ul> <li>Act as the field execution liaison between retailers, sales agencies, and internal teams (National Accounts, Marketing, Category Management, Supply Chain) </li><li>Provide field input into customer strategies, innovation readiness, and go-to-market planning </li><li>Ensure agency and field readiness for new items, resets, and promotional programs </li></ul> <p>Training, Communication & Capability Building</p> <ul> <li>Lead onboarding and ongoing training for agency teams on Heartland's brands, tools, and priorities </li><li>Deliver consistent communication to the field, reinforcing focus and executional discipline </li><li>Share best practices and wins across regions </li></ul> <p>What You Bring</p> <p>Required Qualifications</p> <ul> <li>Bachelor's degree required </li><li>7+ years of CPG sales or field sales leadership experience </li><li>Proven experience operating in a hybrid direct / sales agency model </li><li>Strong capability and confidence leading direct retailer calls and representing the manufacturer </li><li>Deep understanding of retail execution, selling fundamentals, and KPI management </li><li>Ability to influence, align, and drive results without sole reliance on direct authority </li><li>Willingness to travel extensively within assigned region </li></ul> <p>Preferred Experience</p> <ul> <li>Experience supporting national brand portfolios across multiple retail channels </li><li>Familiarity with retail execution tools, store audit platforms, and field reporting systems </li><li>Experience partnering closely with National Account Managers and category teams </li></ul> <p>Key Competencies</p> <ul> <li>Strong external presence and customer credibility </li><li>Clear, decisive leader with an accountability mindset </li><li>Execution-focused with high attention to detail </li><li>Data-driven problem solver who turns insights into action </li><li>Collaborative partner who builds trust with retailers, agencies, and internal teams </li></ul>