The Sales Manager establishes relationships with major retailers, consumer products goods companies, and retail-industry executives globally to promote awareness of and generate sales for the Retail Packaging and Display business. The position, based in Chicago (Aurora), IL, will work in cooperation with National Accounts as well as Retail Packaging and Display sales, design, shopper marketing, project management, manufacturing, quality, fulfillment, and supply chain functions to develop and successfully execute Key Account Plans and Value Propositions with priority strategic accounts.

Customers are commonly multi-location and complex in nature with multi-division needs. This position is responsible for generating business opportunities for an area that spans from Chicago to the West Coast in a fast-paced culture that requires frequent interaction with facilities located across our IP Retail business to win profitable new business.

• Fifteen+ years selling national or regional users of point-of-purchase displays, value-added packaging, and/or and fulfillment solutions.  Must possess a proven track record of winning new business, successful sales grown (volume and margin), and thrive on opening new business.
• Extensive selling and leadership experience with a solid track record of delivering profitable results in the point-of-purchase/retail packaging industry, inclusive of related turn-key services such as temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent displays, creative design services, contract packaging/assembly, and logistics.  Full supply chain understanding of customer’s needs from product development through point of sale to consumers is strongly preferred.
• BS or BA in business, marketing, or related field strongly preferred. 
• Well-established relationships with a broad network of clients and contacts developed over years of working in the retail packaging and display space.
• Extensive knowledge of retail packaging trends, consumer trends, off-shelf merchandising, and the corrugated industry, including container designs (characteristics and specifications), enhanced graphics, pricing and costing practices, quality processes, and printing.
• Superior professional sales skills and a network of client contacts with a specific knowledge of “value-added” retail packaging products and services.  Strong knowledge and application of the company’s and plant’s capabilities and resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of general business management principles, internal financial management, and industry business practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a winning sales team and work with a variety of functional areas (shopper marketing, design, operations) within the customer’s organization, primarily directed at the selling of their products to the retail marketplace.
• Must be comfortable providing direction to a team of sales professionals across a large geographic area on a strategic basis, working closely with internal stakeholders to develop customer proposals, and ensuring successful execution of customer-related activities to secure major new business wins.
• Deliver solutions and provide a “speed-to-market” advantage relative to our competition; make decisions quickly with superior follow through skills.  Provide the necessary service to follow up and retain successful sales. 
• Remain flexible and adapt to the situation and provide either leadership or follow instructions and work independently.
• Negotiate with customers and overcome objections; ability to handle pressure, stress, and rejection.
• Willingness and ability to work overtime or irregular hours; frequent overnight travel required.
• Ability to handle details accurately and in a timely manner.
• Excellent time, organizational, presentation, and communication skills.
• Fifteen+ years selling national or regional users of point-of-purchase displays, value-added packaging, and/or and fulfillment solutions.  Must possess a proven track record of winning new business, successful sales grown (volume and margin), and thrive on opening new business.
• Extensive selling and leadership experience with a solid track record of delivering profitable results in the point-of-purchase/retail packaging industry, inclusive of related turn-key services such as temporary, semi-permanent, and permanent displays, creative design services, contract packaging/assembly, and logistics.  Full supply chain understanding of customer’s needs from product development through point of sale to consumers is strongly preferred.
• BS or BA in business, marketing, or related field strongly preferred. 
• Well-established relationships with a broad network of clients and contacts developed over years of working in the retail packaging and display space.
• Extensive knowledge of retail packaging trends, consumer trends, off-shelf merchandising, and the corrugated industry, including container designs (characteristics and specifications), enhanced graphics, pricing and costing practices, quality processes, and printing.
• Superior professional sales skills and a network of client contacts with a specific knowledge of “value-added” retail packaging products and services.  Strong knowledge and application of the company’s and plant’s capabilities and resources.
• Demonstrated knowledge of general business management principles, internal financial management, and industry business practices.
• Demonstrated ability to lead and develop a winning sales team and work with a variety of functional areas (shopper marketing, design, operations) within the customer’s organization, primarily directed at the selling of their products to the retail marketplace.
• Must be comfortable providing direction to a team of sales professionals across a large geographic area on a strategic basis, working closely with internal stakeholders to develop customer proposals, and ensuring successful execution of customer-related activities to secure major new business wins.
• Deliver solutions and provide a “speed-to-market” advantage relative to our competition; make decisions quickly with superior follow through skills.  Provide the necessary service to follow up and retain successful sales. 
• Remain flexible and adapt to the situation and provide either leadership or follow instructions and work independently.
• Negotiate with customers and overcome objections; ability to handle pressure, stress, and rejection.
• Willingness and ability to work overtime or irregular hours; frequent overnight travel required.
• Ability to handle details accurately and in a timely manner.
• Excellent time, organizational, presentation, and communication skills.