Area Sales Manager - 1 Year FTC in London

This is a 1 year FTC role - ideal location for this role would be Manchester, Sheffield, Leeds. Suntory is a fast moving, agile and entrepreneurial business that is home to some of the nations most loved brands. The Suntory Group is one of the largest soft drinks companies and among the world’s leading consumer products companies. We offer a uniquely diverse portfolio of beverages enjoyed by millions across the globe.

About your role

The purpose of this position is to turn the Suntory business strategy and commercial plan into an execution plan for their defined territory, by influencing multiple points of contact across the market. They will lead, develop and inspire a team of Business Development Executives (BDE’s) to execute this plan throughout their customers. You will be required to write, execute & evaluate a plan (through your team) that delivers growth of existing business and develop new business across multiple channels. You will be truly GEMBA obsessed, and be the voice of the field within Suntory.

What You'll Do

• Customer Development
  • Develop a deep understanding of your region (market) dynamics and Customer strategies with the objective of identifying and realising opportunities for Suntory Brands.
  • Work with KAMs to negotiate, implement and drive compliance of Joint Business Plans.
  • Ensure all admin associated with the customers is delivered to a high standard by the BDE’s. This would include JBP terms invoicing and debt management.
  • Work with KAMs and Shopper Marketing Managers (CAMs) to build channel plans to execute the Suntory commercial calendar through the BDE’s.
• Execution
  • Working with Customer teams to set the right plans to deliver distribution of Suntory’s portfolio and execution of the SUNTORY Commercial Plan.
  • Work with our third party field sales providers area managers to create alignment of plans across impulse and drive excellent execution from depot to store.
  • Field Accompaniments to develop and ensure they are correctly prioritising their objectives on their territory.
  • Set and ensure that BDE’s are held accountable and deliver against their KPI’s and operational standards.
  • Control of the BDEs management of clearing short dated stock and invoice management.
  • With the KAMs develop an annual Customer plan to meet and exceed target KPIs.
  • Regular evaluation of trade spend, execution spend (Shopper and Field) to drive efficiency and effectiveness.
  • Work with BDEs to ensure promo compliance & retro management is done OTIF.
  • Recruit and retain high potential talent at BDE level.
  • Working with the Field Sales controller to create and implement training plans to promote talent that motivates and inspires at both individual and team level.
  • Build high levels of technical capability within the team through ‘hands‑on’ coaching.
  • Raise the bar with capability and be able to hold BDEs accountable to delivering against KPIs and Operational standards.
  • Be a leader in the Field Leadership team – contributing regularly to building the overall team; leading process, capability and tools improvements.

What's in it for you

Joining Suntory isn’t just about taking on a role, it’s about embarking on a career journey. You have the opportunity to work with talented, inspiring and authentic leaders and have the freedom to dream big and go for it (Yatte Minahare). At Suntory you’ll find a supportive work environment that values work life balance and that will help you realise your full potential and grow for good. Our People and Culture team are a team that genuinely care about creating a great experience for our employees and we would love you to be part of it.

What You need to be successful

• You will be a leader of people and of teams – with a proven track record of delivering.
• You will be highly self‑motivated and be driven by the desire to grow sales in your territory.
• You will have a growth mindset, and be constantly looking for ways to develop yourself, the business and the team.
• You will have a natural flare with people and use your relationships to deliver business gains.
• You will have a passion for brands, customers and consumers.
• You will be able to set clear direction and guidance for a team, and motivate them to deliver against it.

Our DEI Commitment

At Suntory, we recognize that diverse knowledge, perspectives, and backgrounds contribute to our collective success. We are committed to fostering a diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace where all individuals can bring their whole selves to work every day, regardless of race, color, religion, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, age, or any other protected characteristic. Our recruitment and selection processes are designed to highlight what Suntory offers as an employer while allowing candidates to share their unique skills and experiences. We understand that career trajectories vary, and if you believe your experience/background can benefit our team, we encourage you to apply. We endeavor to make our interview process as inclusive as possible and offer reasonable accommodations as needed. Together, we can cultivate a workplace where everyone can thrive and propel our mission of Growing for Good.