Senior Key Account Manager, Large Format East

Location: remote USA anywhere (west coast based applicants preferred) 

Reports to: Senior Director, Grocery

Travel Required: up to 40% domestic travel as needed 

As one of the fastest growing non-alcoholic beverage brands, Liquid Death uses comedy and entertainment to make health and sustainability 50 times more fun. We take the healthiest things you can drink and package it into infinitely recyclable cans that compete with the fun marketing of unhealthy brands across energy drinks, beer, and junk food. Our product lines include mountain water, sparkling mountain water, sparkling flavored water, iced tea, and our hydration sticks, Death Dust. A portion of Liquid Death’s proceeds goes to nonprofits who are helping fight plastic pollution and bring clean drinking water to those in need.

As a Senior Key Account Manager, Large Format you will be responsible for managing and growing and developing relationships with key retailers (headquarter buy in, influences, and division stakeholders.  This role is responsible for building strong customer relationships and drive profitable growth. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional negotiation skills, a deep understanding of the beverage industry, and a passion for delivering outstanding results.  

Key Responsibilities: 

• Account Management: Strengthen customer relationships at both national and regional customers 
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop internal routines and execute company sales objectives. Provide strategic insight, analyze data to be used in decision making and presenting to stakeholders
• Collaborate with internal teams to develop internal routines and execute company sales objectives. Provide strategic insight, analyze data to be used in decision making and presenting to stakeholders
• Responsible for new account penetration, account management, and overall account performance against targets
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans, Joint Business Plans (JBPs), and call plans for top national accounts, ensuring alignment with Liquid Death objectives and customer needs
• Cultivate strong relationships with buyers and divisional managers at key accounts, leveraging these relationships to drive sales and secure favorable product placement.
• Negotiate customer agreements, manage the P&L to ensure delivery against top-line and bottom-line targets
• Ensure optimal in-store execution, including Planogram (POG) compliance, promotional activity, and display execution
• Leverage data and insights to develop compelling, fact-based narratives that resonate with customers and drive decision-making. Quickly assess business needs, identify critical issues, and develop effective strategies for resolution
• Stay up-to-date and analyze market trends, competitor activities, and account activity to drive business plans to maximize brand opportunities
• Provide effective leadership and mentorship to the national accounts team, fostering a culture of high performance and collaboration
• Manage trade spend, forecasting, and responsible for overall profitability
• Align company strategies with retailer goals to foster mutual growth and long-term partnerships

Qualification Requirements: 

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred 
• 4+ years of relatable Key Account experience calling on retail buyers in large format, working directly with a wholesaler, in the CPG industry   
• Advanced presentation skills (both creating slides and presenting)
• Deep understanding of joint business plan (JBP) processes and call planning required
• Previous P&L management and trade budget and spend required
• Experience in DSD, Broadline distribution, and alternative routes to market preferred
• Ability to work with cross functional teams (Operations, Customer Service, Accounting, Distribution, and Finance) across organizations to achieve results
• Deep comfort with joining a high growth start up environment 
• Advanced problem solving capability and willingness to work with ambiguity and adaptability