Zone Manager - Retail Operations - Retail Sales (Naperville, IL/Grand Rapids, MI)

ZONE MANAGER - RETAIL OPERATIONS - RETAIL SALES (NAPERVILLE, IL / GRAND RAPIDS, MI) 

HORMEL FOODS CORPORATION

To save time applying, Hormel Foods does not offer sponsorship of job applicants for employment-based visas for this position at this time. 

ABOUT HORMEL FOODS — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ 

Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minnesota, is a global branded food company with approximately $12 billion in annual revenue across more than 80 countries worldwide. Its brands include Planters®, Skippy^®, SPAM^®, Hormel^® Natural Choice^®, Applegate^®, Justin’s^®, Wholly^®, Hormel^® Black Label^®, Columbus^®, Jennie-O® and more than 30 other beloved brands. The company is a member of the S&P 500 Index and the S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats, was named one of the best companies to work for by U.S. News & World Report, one of America’s most responsible companies by Newsweek, recognized by TIME magazine as one of the World’s Best Companies, and has received numerous other awards and accolades for its corporate responsibility and community service efforts. The company lives by its purpose statement — Inspired People. Inspired Food.™ — to bring some of the world’s most trusted and iconic brands to tables across the globe. For more information, visit www.hormelfoods.com. 

POSITION SUMMARY: 

The Retail Zone Manager plays a critical role in executing our DSMPs (Distribution, Shelving, Merchandising, and Pricing). This individual will collaborate with internal stakeholders and external partners to ensure strategic alignment and execution at the retail level. The role requires strong leadership, analytical skills, and the ability to manage communication across multiple retail touchpoints.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES: 

• Serve as the primary liaison between the Hormel headquarters selling team and the retail selling team to optimize execution.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with retail brokers to leverage their expertise to deliver best in class retail execution.
• Manage third-party retail selling teams, including selection, training, motivation, and performance management.
• Track retail performance through various reporting platforms at the store/SKU level to support execution planning. 
• Support all aspects of the retail selling process, including:
  • Lead market evaluations and resulting action plans.
  • Measure compliance of  merchandising plans.
  • Manage POP (Point of Purchase) execution in stores.
  • Planning and execution of retail surge projects.
  • Setting and evaluating third-party broker goals to support major initiatives.
  • Gathering and sharing market intelligence on competition, pricing, and new product launches.
  • Creating retail solutions and building rapport with customers at all levels.
  • Presenting at district and regional sales meetings.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Required:

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• 5+ years of sales/marketing/sales strategy experience.
• Pattern of initiative.
• Highly developed interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work effectively in a diverse team environment.
• Strong persuasive skills.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.  
• Excellent time management skills.
• Ability to work independently.
• Applicants must not now, or at any time in the future, require sponsorship for a work visa. 
• Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States for any employer. 

 Preferred:

• Experience managing third-party teams and broker relationships

LOCATION: Naperville, IL / Grand Rapids, MI  

A comprehensive relocation package to the Naperville, IL / Grand Rapids, MI areas will be offered, if required.

At Hormel Foods, base pay is one part of our total compensation package and is determined within a range.  The base hiring pay range for the Zone Manager – Retail Operations – Retail Sales role is between $82,800 -$115,925 per year, and your actual base pay within that range will depend upon a variety of factors including, but not limited to, job-related knowledge, skill set, level of experience, and geographic market location.

BENEFITS: Other components of Hormel Foods’ total compensation package includes comprehensive medical, dental and vision coverage, discretionary annual merit increases, bonuses and profit sharing, 401(k) with employer match, stock purchase plan, relocation assistance, paid time off, company car, free two-year community/technical college tuition for children of employees, and more.

TRAVEL REQUIREMENTS: 10% of the time 

For immediate consideration, apply online at: www.hormelfoods.com/careers

At Hormel we invite difference and diversity in all aspects.  We offer a space of support, understanding, and community.  We are committed to the journey!  Learn more about our progress here: https://www.hormelfoods.com/about/diversity-and-inclusion/

Hormel Foods provides equal employment opportunities to applicants and employees without regard to race; color; sex; gender identity; sexual orientation; religious practices and observances; national origin; pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions; status as a protected veteran or spouse/family member of a protected veteran; or disability.