Position Overview

The Junior Key Account Manager’s primary responsibility will be to support the activities being managed by the Costco Strategic Accounts Director. The joint task is to build a profitable, sustainable business with one of the largest Strategic Key Accounts Puratos has worldwide. The objective is to achieve & exceed sales revenue, profitability and other budgetary objectives within the scope of the 2030 long range plan. The role involves gathering strategic data on Costco, analyzing & interpreting sales performance, helping manage forecasting & Costco LTO’s, as well as guiding the Puratos technical team to develop relevant finished concepts in line with Costco’s product strategy. This will be achieved by building strong relationships and trust with key Costco decision-makers, in tune with their day to day activities & decisions being made via regular face to face interactions. The intention is for this role to develop and gain the necessary experience within the account to eventually take on more responsibility, a clear growth potential for the person fitting the role.

 Project Management

• Develop a concrete project management process and tools for our Costco business, picking up the baton from where Costco R&D sign off a new item, driving it through our supply chain system to deliveries into Costco depots.
• Build solid timelines for each new launch/seasonal LTO and ensure key activities are being executed by the Puratos team strictly within the agreed timeline/ deadlines.
• Manage supply for shorter lead-time needs by Costco, bringing key team members together (often daily) to ensure actions are moving forward as planned to hit the tighter deadlines.
• Support Triangular business development for new & existing items – liaising with Puratos Industry KAMs to ensure smooth flow of information & product to key partners.
• Be the final check-point in the project timeline to ensure each plan is water tight before the Costco Account Director communicates it to Costco.
• Above activities to result in a target OTIF for deliveries of 98.5% for the delivery dates communicated to Costco.

Support Forecasting (supply chain & business)

• Work closely with the Costco Account Director and the Costco buyers to establish concrete supply chain forecasts for both everyday business as well as LTO’s. Analysis of Costco buyers & the IC’s forecasts to identify any variances so clarification can be obtained on the true demand.
• Accurate updating of the IBP forecasting system to reflect demand changes as they happen.

Puratos Product Insights Management

• Build & maintain a ‘Puratos items sold to Costco database’ listing key raw materials in each SKU and their lead-times (in close collaboration with Purchasing department). This to guide Costco buyers on any raw materials currently at risk of supply, as well as their lead times.
• Build & maintain mapping of historical LTO’s, listing all relevant information to enable continuous improvement of development & supply for future programs (pricing, volumes, what went well, could be improved).

Business Analytics & CRM:

• Monthly Costco reporting (US/Intl) : sales results, service level, quality, profitability, budgets. Identify deviations to budget and work with Costco Accounts Director to initiate corrective actions where necessary.
• Support NAM in managing and reporting all activity within CRM daily/weekly/monthly.
• Conduct a post-launch analysis for each project to ensure targets were met, and process improvements to be made for future launches.

Market Intelligence:

• Work with Puratos Customer Marketing team using the latest Taste Tomorrow insights to identify relevant trend data and how these translate into opportunities suited to Costco.
• Support Costco & internal Puratos Technical Advisors with these market data/consumer trends to aid the development of finished concepts to fit the Costco product ranges, for production in their in-store bakeries, or via industrial triangular partners.
• Link with the Puratos Costco International team on trends/products to potentially present locally in the USA.
  
   

Additional Responsibilities:

• Play a role on selected business development teams as a voice of the customer/the sales community to help guide new product development & business sales support required.
• Fill in for the Costco Account Director in selected internal meetings/trainings and fully document/report back on subject matter/actions required to take in the Costco account.
• Participate in sales/technical meetings and communications to exchange Best Practices and  improve our overall performance with this customer.

EDUCATION & EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS:

• A solid knowledge of Business (Sales & Marketing education modules) to help the team develop new concepts, ideas with a creative and goal oriented objective.
• Have a good grasp of strategic insight and concept thinking.  Must have an ability to influence, advice, and manage projects within strict timelines.
• Knowledge or training in Bakery/Sweet Goods/Chocolate ingredients, technical knowledge, and their product applications is preferred. Ideal candidate studied at a food university and majored in business, and wishes to continue down the business road, but using their knowledge of food/baking in their career.
• Excellent social competencies, respect and relationship-building skills are a must.
• Knowledge of applicable software programs to communicate via email and develop activity memos, reports, and spreadsheets (Word, Excel, Powerpoint..) & CRM platforms.
• Keen understanding of financial issues relating to sales and profit.  Must be able to analyze and solve problems with a financial perspective. 
• Excellent oral communication, written, and presentation skills.  Excellent project management and organizational skills.

Looking for a Career for Good?

Puratos is a global purpose-driven company focused on bringing people together through food innovation for good. We offer a full range of innovative food ingredients and services for the bakery, patisserie, and chocolate sectors, serving artisans, retailers, industrial and food service companies in over 100 countries around the world. Our passion for innovation, pioneering spirit, and core values continue to propel our global ambitions. This coupled with our commitment to our communities is what makes working at Puratos so magical.

We offer a competitive compensation and benefit package, designed to promote a Happier, Healthier You.  This includes:

• Insurance coverage beginning the first of the month—no extra waiting period to get started
• Immediate 401(k) eligibility including a fully vested matching contribution
• Receive over 5 weeks total of paid time off within your first year of service
• Free life coaches, convenient onsite health exams, 24/7 access to Registered Nurses
• Puratos-paid insurance coverage to protect you and your family including Life and Disability insurance

If you are a solution oriented and analytical thinker with a passion for leading and inspiring people, we invite you to experience the magic of being yourself and join us for “a career for good.”

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