Key Account Manager, South Grocery

Advanced Hydration is a dynamic, fast‑paced business unit at The Coca‑Cola Company where teams come together to lead what’s next in hydration. With a portfolio that includes BODYARMOR Sports Drink, Powerade, vitaminwater, and smartwater, the group is driven by an entrepreneurial spirit, strong collaboration, and shared ambition. This is a place for people who think differently, move with agility, challenge the status quo, and thrive in an ever‑changing category. Joining the team means helping shape the future of hydration alongside passionate, collaborative teams committed to winning.

THE ADVANCED HYDRATION DIVISION is looking for a Key Account Manager, South Grocery to join our team.

The Key Account Manager, South Grocery will lead a cross functional team to deliver business results across our HEB, Brookshire's Grocery and other grocers. As a key leader within Advanced Hydration, this individual will be required to lead annual planning processes and negotiate annual agreements to ensure alignment and execution to achieve aggressive business targets. This individual will provide subject matter expertise to resolve complex customer issues and deliver BODYARMOR annual goals.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Customer Development

• Strategic leader responsible for the Direct Customer/Business Management of the assigned customer channel.
• Create and develop the vision and strategy to support both long-term and short-term business objectives.
• This leader will exhibit subject matter expertise and demonstrate from experience they have successfully built and created joint business planning models for customers.
• Drive processes and execution of annual plans across assigned customers and bottlers. Delivery of key business and financial metrics including topline results (Revenue, volume, Share) and key financial metrics (trade spend and T&E budgets) will be required.
• Partner with Sr. Management and cross functional team members to build Annual Plans to achieve both short-term and long-term business objectives.
• Lead annual negotiations ensuring an optimized partnership agreement is in place that supports overall organizational priorities.
• Collaborative leader of a cross functional team responsible for the development and implementation of overall customer selling stories, while providing key insights to deliver all key execution metrics (Assortment, Shelving, Pricing, Merchandising and Innovation).
• Oversee the on-going account updates and performance reporting against key metrics and problem solves plan gaps while bringing forward recommendations to deliver on required business objectives.
• Develop and leverage top level external relationships at to optimize BODYARMOR positioning in the market.

System Leadership

• Participate in all system routines as needed (Customer Core Teams) to provide customer updates including annual plan targets and elements and on-going customer performance updates and action plans to deliver annual plans.
• Work closely with Coca-Cola NAOU + Bottler Customer Leads (Directors/AE’s) to maximize mutual customer plans, results, and execution.
• Build and leverage relationships with both BODYARMOR teams and Bottlers to ensure alignment and focus on delivering key customer objectives.

Cross Functional Communication and Collaboration

• Provides on-going updates on customer plan results and opportunities to BODYARMOR management.
• Participate in key cross functional routines to provide on-going plan updates and ensure flawless execution of customer programs and initiatives.
• Provide customer input to annual plans including all Marketing, Commercial and Innovation plans.

Organizational/People Development

• Fully leverage all cross functional resources to deliver best in class capabilities to customers including selling stories, consumer and customer marketing and insights and revenue growth management plans.

• Manage to annual T&E budget for department ensuring alignment with internal financial objectives.

REQUIREMENTS:

• Bachelor’s Degree or relevant experience required
• 5 Years National Account management experience required
• Residence within San Antonio, Dallas, or Houston areas required
• 30% travel required both local territory and to national meetings required
• Experience developing strong collaborative strategic relationships with national retailers required
• Ability to utilize and mine syndicated data to translate into fact-based story telling required
• Must be self-motivated and highly organized with a powerful desire to produce results with an entrepreneurial spirit to succeed.
• Must be able to quickly assess the needs of the business, develop an action plan & manage the required change. The ability to effectively intermingle with a wide variety of business professionals is essential.
• Must have a passion for building brands, new products, and long-term growth.
• Must have a verifiable list of current contacts with appropriate buyers & divisional managers.
• Solid computer skills in Outlook, Power Point, Excel, and Word. Strong understanding and analytical skills in understanding of Nielsen/IRI syndicated data.
• Must hold and maintain a valid driver's license and be able to drive long distances
• Motor Vehicle Records must satisfy Company standards per Driving Policy