Heartland Food Products Group
Regional Sales Manager - Central
Chicago, Illinois, US
Role snapshot
Heartland Food Products Group is hiring a Regional Sales Manager - Central on a full-time basis. This is a hybrid role based in Chicago, Illinois, US.
- Company
- Heartland Food Products Group
- Location
- Chicago, Illinois, US
- Work mode
- Hybrid
- Job type
- Full-time
- Experience
- 7+ years
- Posted
- Nov 1, 2026
Who this role suits
Experienced professionals who can lead projects, set direction and be accountable for outcomes, not just tasks.
How to prepare your application
- Prepare examples of decisions you drove, how you measured the result, and how you worked with other teams.
- Be ready to discuss trade-offs and scope, not only the tools you have used.
- Read what Heartland Food Products Group publishes about its product or team, so you can say clearly why this role and this company.
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About the role
Regional Sales Manager
Heartland Food Products Group | U.S. Field-Based (Central/Midwest)
We are seeking a Regional Sales Manager (RSM) to lead a hybrid direct and national sales agency model within an assigned region. This role is accountable for delivering regional KPIs through a combination of direct retailer engagement and sales agency leadership , and serves as the primary face of Heartland for regional retailer calls and field-level relationships .
This role requires a confident, externally facing sales leader who can influence retailers directly, set clear direction for agency partners, and translate national strategy into consistent in-market results.
What You’ll Do
Retailer Leadership & Direct Customer Engagement
- Serve as the primary Heartland representative for regional retailer calls and field-level customer relationships
- Lead retailer meetings focused on execution, distribution, merchandising, promotions, and issue resolution
- Reinforce Heartland’s brand strategies, selling stories, and expectations directly with retail partners
Sales Agency Leadership
- Direct and lead Heartland’s national sales agency partner within the assigned region
- Set clear priorities, expectations, and KPIs for agency teams
- Ensure strong alignment between Heartland and agency leadership on goals, programs, and execution standards
- Drive accountability through regular performance reviews, market visits, and ride-alongs
Executional Excellence & KPI Delivery
- Own regional execution KPIs including distribution, shelving, pricing, displays, voids, promotional compliance, and resets
- Ensure flawless execution of innovation launches, seasonal programs, and national initiatives
- Validate in-store performance through store audits, field feedback, and data analysis
Performance Tracking, Reporting & Insights
- Own regional scorecards and dashboards tied to defined KPIs
- Analyze execution data and retailer feedback to identify trends, risks, and opportunities
- Communicate clear, actionable insights and corrective actions to internal stakeholders and agency partners
Cross-Functional Partnership
- Act as the field execution liaison between retailers, sales agencies, and internal teams (National Accounts, Marketing, Category Management, Supply Chain)
- Provide field input into customer strategies, innovation readiness, and go-to-market planning
- Ensure agency and field readiness for new items, resets, and promotional programs
Training, Communication & Capability Building
- Lead onboarding and ongoing training for agency teams on Heartland’s brands, tools, and priorities
- Deliver consistent communication to the field, reinforcing focus and executional discipline
- Share best practices and wins across regions
What You Bring
Required Qualifications
- Bachelor’s degree required
- 7+ years of CPG sales or field sales leadership experience
- Proven experience operating in a hybrid direct / sales agency model
- Strong capability and confidence leading direct retailer calls and representing the manufacturer
- Deep understanding of retail execution, selling fundamentals, and KPI management
- Ability to influence, align, and drive results without sole reliance on direct authority
- Willingness to travel extensively within assigned region
Preferred Experience
- Experience supporting national brand portfolios across multiple retail channels
- Familiarity with retail execution tools, store audit platforms, and field reporting systems
- Experience partnering closely with National Account Managers and category teams
Key Competencies
- Strong external presence and customer credibility
- Clear, decisive leader with an accountability mindset
- Execution-focused with high attention to detail
- Data-driven problem solver who turns insights into action
- Collaborative partner who builds trust with retailers, agencies, and internal teams