About Blue Buffalo:

"Love them like family, feed them like family.” ® Everything at Blue Buffalo starts with this simple idea.

We think of our dogs and cats as family members, so we believe their food should be natural and healthy. In fact, this was the sole reason for starting the Blue Buffalo Company. When the beloved Bishop family dog, Blue, faced a variety of health issues, Bill and his two sons set out to create a pet food that was made with only the highest quality natural ingredients—the kind of things a family member deserves. Ten years later we have, in many ways, accomplished what we set out to do—help our dogs and cats live happy, healthy lives. And we’re only getting started!

Feeding healthy ingredients isn’t just a trend for us. It’s our history. Since we started in 2003, we’ve always used high-quality natural ingredients with real meat first. Never any corn, wheat or soy. And no poultry by-product meals. It’s been that way since day one for every product we’ve ever created. And it always will be.

Mission: Our vision is to feed all pets the natural BLUE way as the undisputed leader in wholesome, natural pet food.

Key Account Manager

OVERVIEW
The Key Account Manager – Food/Drug/Mass will be responsible for executing the go to market strategy and managing the day to day business between Blue Buffalo and our customers. They will be tasked in developing and executing initiatives to drive sustainable growth including innovation, promotions and marketing campaigns. You will need to leverage your strong influential leadership, previous retailer experience & cross-functional expertise to set strategies that enable both BLUE and our current/potential customers to win. We are looking for someone who can demonstrate strategic thinking, negotiation skills, as well as someone who can flawlessly execute, drive a culture of inclusion, and deliver personal accountability. Another facet of the role will be to identify other Key Accounts in Canada and how we can establish a business with them.

KEY ACCOUNTABILITIES

SELLING EXPERTISE & LEADERSHIP
• Works closely with Internal and External partners to understand & educate on customer strategies/ priorities/ tactics/ policies
• Aligns analytics, customer strategy and trade strategies to build an annual merchandising plan for their category/customer
• Lead JBP process at grocery accounts & negotiations while accelerating BLUE’s long-term strategies
• Identify new accounts and routes to market to expand the grocery category

EXECUTIONAL EXCELLENCE
• Lead regularly scheduled meetings with customers, provide results and opportunities to drive the business
• Lead event execution from initial opportunity through to final event (external concept/opportunity sell-in, participating items, consumer/customer offer, POS execution, SPPK confirmation, retail feedback)
• Develop and maintain strategic relationships across all Departments including merchants/buyers, marketing and supply chain
• Completes requirements for account(s) i.e. deal sheets, promotional executions, customer presentation decks inclusive of new product innovation reviews
• Budget, plan and track promotional events with accounts
• Present innovative solutions, items and rollout plans in timely fashion that meet the accounts needs

PROBLEM SOLVING & ANALYTICS
• Analyze and summarize key business learnings and sales trends from your areas of responsibilities back to the BLUE Business
• Identify customer-specific strategic initiative opportunities, leveraging analytics and financial acumen to operationalize both internally and externally.
• Integrate customer data and knowledge of BLUE Buffalo’s strategies to make promotional and assortment recommendations
• Unlock efficiencies through process improvement and promotional analysis

ENGAGING LEADER
• Model Engaging Leader behaviors to foster an inclusive environment and embrace a learning mindset and demonstrate personal accountability

REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Pet enthusiast
• Minimum of 3-5 years in consumer packaged goods account management experience (preferably in pet channel)
• Strong knowledge of Nielsen, LDIA, IRI
• Must be a proactive and results oriented
• Must be able to analyze data and extrapolate insights that translate into results
• Ability to multitask and thrive in fast pace growing business environment
• Ability to work in team setting and display excellent communication skills and interpersonal qualities
• Possess the talent to interface directly and effectively with all levels within the organization
• Strong negotiation skills, with ability to follow-through
• Able to travel occasionally, 10% overnight travel and some weekend work
• Must be able to lift up to 30lbs
• Strong sales, planning, organization, leadership, teamwork skills and proficient in software packages (Microsoft Excel and PowerPoint)

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS
• Proficiency with internal systems and processes as well as customer systems and processes
• Ability to thrive in a virtual team setting and display excellent communication skills and interpersonal qualities
• Preference for location in Greater Toronto Area, Ontario, Canada
• FDM retail experience and working with pet product distributors is a plus
• Bachelor’s degree