Associate Business Manager

Associate Business Manager

Provides critical administrative and operational support to sales and client service teams. This role is responsible for tasks such as promotional entries and management of deadlines, new client onboarding, trade show preparation and communications, as well as management of retailer systems. Acting as the operational backbone for client-facing teams, the executive ensures seamless execution across high volumes of clients and retailers. Success in this role requires exceptional attention to detail, efficiency, and deep knowledge of cross-retailer platforms and processes.

Essential Responsibilities

Follows selling team guidance for comprehensive administrative support with internal and client-facing materials.
• Basic understanding of structured business processes and internal tools to support client satisfaction and drive brand success. Maintains cross-functional knowledge of all client service responsibilities and retailer systems to ensure seamless, accurate execution across all areas of the business.
• Basic understanding of grocery retail market for brand placement and promotional execution.
• Facilitate and track incoming sample requests by coordinating with clients to ensure timely and accurate shipment to retailers. Maintain detailed records of all requests and delivery timelines, as well as communicate shipment tracking internally to support timely retailer follow-up.
• Follows a structured process for end-to-end promotional planning by creating and maintaining annual planning tools, managing promotional entries across retailer systems, and ensuring all deadlines are met. Collaborate with selling team to deliver timely, accurate, and effective execution that drives sales performance.
• Follows a structured process for end-to-end client onboarding by ensuring all systems, tools, and documentations are accurately completed and submitted on time. Partner cross-functionally to align internal teams, enabling a smooth transition that supports brand readiness and empowers sales team effectiveness.
• Follows a structured process to coordinate all aspects of trade show participation, including client attendance tracking, internal attendee logistics, and communication of key event details to clients to ensure seamless, well-prepared, and engaging trade show experience.
• Ensures that all members of the selling team are proactively planning on-shelf brand promotions and submitting relevant review opportunities to retailers in a timely manner.

Required Knowledge and Skills

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled

The Company is one of North America's leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Position Summary

Associate Business Manager collaborates with Business Managers, Senior Leadership and external Clients (suppliers and retailers) to execute and achieve growth objectives. Independent thinker and decision maker.

Job Duty

Managing Client Relationships

• Owning relationships within the retailers Private Label/Own Brand team and understanding the priorities of the Private Label/Own Brand team and the supplier partner
• Understand all client's strategies/priorities and be able to leverage and communicate the knowledge
• Work with supplier partners and retailer on executing new item launches, label updates, and reformulations of product. Ensure all parties stay on track to meet deadlines.
• Build and maintain business relationships with supplier partners and retailer.

Business Management

• Manages supplier/client sales and revenue
• Negotiates brokerage rates
• Contract management

Project Management

• Facilitate and drive projects through the process (work closely with cross functional teams to achieve project milestones within established timeframes)
• Identify potential risks and solutions

Product Development

• Managing the private label product development process and timeline with the retailer and suppliers from ideation to shelf
  • Influencing suppliers and retailer for actions and decisions that will result in a project meeting deadline
  • Managing the expectations of both our clients and the retailer throughout the product development process when necessary
• Obtaining new sources of supply for retailer product development

Communication

• Advising the BM for potential road blocks in a project and helping to provide and execute solutions.
• Work with and support business managers on new business development
• Can think on your feet, be a problem-solver, and be a self-starter.
• Stakeholder on progress
• Proactively communicate with retailer, suppliers, internal team and/or third party teams to ensure objectives are met

Supervisory Responsibilities

Direct Reports

- This position does not have supervisory responsibilities for direct reports

Indirect Reports

- Does not have direct reports, but may delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Travel and/or Driving Requirements

- Travel and Driving are not essential duties or functions of this job

Minimum Qualifications

The following are the minimum job-related qualifications which an individual needs in order to successfully perform the essential duties and responsibilities of the job

Education Level: (Required): Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience

Field of Study/Area of Experience: Business

0-2 Years of experience in Account or Brand Management

Skills, Knowledge and Abilities

• Basic Computer Skills, including Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Access, Outlook, & web browsers
• Strong Written & Verbal Communication Skills
• Conflict Management Skills
• Decision Making Skills
• Strong Prioritizing Skills
• Excellent Customer Service Skills

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Office / Sedentary Requirements

Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed primarily in an office environment. Typically requires the ability to sit for extended periods of time (66%+ each day), ability to hear the telephone, ability to enter data on a computer and may also require the ability to lift up to 10 pounds.

Additional Information Regarding Advantage Solutions Job Duties and Job Descriptions

Job duties include additional responsibilities as assigned by one's supervisor or other manager related to the position/department. This job description is meant to describe the general nature and level of work being performed; it is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required for the position. The Company reserves the right at any time with or without notice to alter or change job responsibilities, reassign or transfer job position or assign additional job responsibilities, subject to applicable law. The Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable a qualified applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.

Any estimate, schedule, or guideline provided to associates in this job description or elsewhere in connection with their jobs is only intended to help describe job duties and for planning purposes. Regardless of any such estimate, schedule, or guideline, associates must always record all time worked for our company (which includes but is not limited to on-site work time in an assigned store, office, or other work location; required waiting time; administrative time; and work-related travel time).

The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this position. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and skills required of associates so classified.

The Company is committed to providing equal opportunity in all employment practices without regard to age, race, color, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, religion, physical or mental disability, or any other category protected by law. As part of this commitment, the Company shall provide reasonable accommodations of known disabilities to enable an applicant or employee to apply for employment, perform the essential functions of the job, or enjoy the benefits and privileges of employment as required by the law.