Contract Sales Manager

About MPG

Market Performance Group (MPG) is a leading end-to-end, strategy & services omnichannel commerce agency focused on creating the best PATH FORWARD — from market strategy to in-market reality — for today’s fastest-growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) manufacturers. Over the years, we’ve built a strong reputation as a trusted partner and valuable resource to a broad range of companies, from Fortune 500 to Private Equity, in categories that include health & wellness, food & beverage, home and hardlines. We revel in the opportunity to guide our clients on their path forward, building and activating strategies that ensure success. Everything we do is driven by our unrelenting commitment to leverage our deep operational experience, unparalleled omnichannel expertise, and industry relationships to drive performance in today’s dynamic omnichannel marketplace.

At MPG, we value our people and their contributions; they are critical to building the MPG Brand. Our leadership team has significant experience driving topline revenue and bottom-line profit, having held senior operating roles at leading CPG manufacturers and retailers. Our highly regarded, seasoned team of 400+ strategy and commercialization professionals brings strong operational experience and a collaborative approach. All team members are singularly focused on providing clients with pragmatic, real-world market approaches, built on the strong consumer, category and marketplace insights needed to create sustainable, profitable brand growth.

Position Overview

This is a part-time, 1099 independent contractor opportunity supporting fast-growing CPG brands in the Natural Channel. In this role, you would leverage your existing industry experience and relationships to help drive new distribution, build buyer partnerships, and support commercial growth strategies.

This opportunity is well-suited for someone who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment, enjoys building relationships from the ground up, and is comfortable operating independently while delivering against agreed-upon business objectives. Success in this role may include opening new distribution, developing compelling buyer programs, and creating measurable momentum for the brands you support.

While this is currently structured as a part-time independent contractor opportunity, there may be potential for the scope to evolve over time based on business needs, performance, and mutual interest.

Key Responsibilities

• Establish robust short-term and long-term objectives for key customers, as well as strategies to ensure delivery of goals.
• Ensure that customer objectives are closely aligned with client goals.
• Achieve all assigned and mutually agreed upon client and customer objectives within assigned trade investment budgets.
• Establish and achieve specific MBOs that are closely aligned with the company and client objectives.
• Develop a proactive communication protocol and discipline with all stakeholders to include clients, customers and company management.
• Ensure that all relevant information, positive or not, be conveyed in real time supported by relevant facts and, where appropriate, recommendations and options for alternative actions.
• Consistently provide accurate sales forecasts and trade investment projections. Ensure that all are actualized at least monthly in the company’s sales and trade management platform.
• Leverage all relevant data including customer POS, syndicated data (IRi, SPINS, Nielsen), factory shipments and other industry sources to create and deliver fact-based customer and client specific proposals and recommendations.
• Work effectively and productively within the MPG team to include support resources, peers and management to achieve client intimacy and the achievement of company goals.

Required Experience And Education

• Ability to think critically about the client, partner goals.
• Ability to effectively understand client’s analytical needs.
• Effective and efficient project management skills with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, and keep projects moving and on time.
• Strong communication and presentation skills that will allow for success in a virtual team environment.
• Robust knowledge of consumer products industry and category, brand, and retail strategies.
• Demonstrated experience in the Natural Channel (e.g., Whole Foods, Sprouts, Natural Grocers, regional co-ops) — a must have; deep understanding of the unique dynamics, buyer relationships, and selling strategies required to succeed in this channel (must have).
• Thrives in a fast-paced, dynamic, and unstructured environment; comfortable managing multiple competing priorities simultaneously and pivoting quickly as business needs evolve (must have).
• Experience working for both a manufacturer and a broker as well as a background in trade marketing or brand marketing (these in some combinations are a highly desired / nice to have).
• Strong analytical skills: ability to extract the key insights and call to action from various data sources (must have).
• Exceptionally strong oral and written communication skills (must have).
• Elevated level of computer literacy in Microsoft products, Nielsen/IRi/SPINS data, etc. (must have).
• Dedicated team player – willingness to do what is necessary to achieve team success (must have).
• Effective and efficient project management skills with the ability to prioritize, multi-task, & keep projects moving.
• Knowledge of consumer products industry & category, brand, & retail strategies.

Why You'll Succeed

You are a builder. New distribution. New programs. New relationships. You see opportunity where others see a blank calendar, and you use data - POS (SPINS/Nielsen), trade investment insights - to build a compelling case and then go make it happen.

You win in the Natural Channel because people trust you. Buyers take your calls because you show up prepared, know the category, and deliver on your word. You bring that same credibility and proactive communication to your clients and internal partners — always aligned, always ahead of the issue.

You run your business like you own it. You’re managing multiple brands, multiple priorities, and a busy calendar — and you wouldn’t have it any other way. You set clear objectives, manage trade investment with discipline, and keep clients in the loop because that’s just how you operate.

You know the Natural Channel inside and out. You bring established relationships and a proven track record with Natural Channel retailers, and you understand what it takes to win in this unique and relationship-driven environment.

You embrace ambiguity and move with agility. Fast-paced, unstructured environments energize rather than overwhelm you. You can hold multiple priorities at once, shift focus when needed, and still deliver results — without waiting for perfect clarity to get started.

Equity and Inclusion

We are committed to ensuring that Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) is a part of our DNA. We embrace the beauty in all of the unique qualities of our employees, communities and clients. MPG’s DEIB efforts empower us to collectively reach our full potential by fueling innovation, connection, and growth. We recognize the value of having a diverse and engaged team. We are an organization driven by PEOPLE. We believe that by leveraging the unique perspectives and experiences of our employees, MPG can unlock more comprehensive, innovative, and long-standing results for both our client and retailer partners. We will always strive for improvement and thus we have made intentional commitments to further champion DEIB. The foundation of our pledge starts with our promise to each other, our clients, and the community.

Equal Opportunity & Accommodation

It is MPG’s practice to provide and promote equal opportunity in employment, compensation, and other terms and conditions of employment without discrimination because of race, color, creed, religion, national origin, ancestry, citizenship status, sex or gender, gender identity or gender expression (including transgender status), sexual orientation, marital status, military service and veteran status, physical or mental disability, family medical history, genetic information or other protected medical condition, political affiliation, or any other characteristic protected by and in accordance with applicable laws. We are dedicated to creating an accessible and inclusive application and selection process. Should you require accommodation during the recruitment or hiring process, please contact our Talent Acquisition team at talent.acquisition@mpgllc.com and we will work with you to meet your accessibility needs.

Key skills/competency

• Sales Management
• CPG Industry
• Natural Channel Experience
• Distribution Growth
• Buyer Partnerships
• Commercial Strategy
• Data Analysis
• Project Management
• Relationship Building
• Communication Skills