Area Manager - Indirect Retail

Position: ATX -Area Manager Indirect Retail/Specialty/Independents

Supervisors: City Manager, Austin TX

Job Type: Full-time

Job Description:

Management position leading the deployment of brand-building initiatives, consumer engagement programs, and commercial execution for heated tobacco product. This position provides a conduit for communication between field sales/brand teams and senior leadership; Leads planning for success with a strong local-market and consumer-centric perspective. Drives critical strategic initiatives across brand awareness, adult consumer acquisition, and sales growth; Builds agile, high-performing teams and manages execution excellence; Ensures compliance with all regulatory requirements; Communicates effectively with team members and leadership; Oversees retail visibility, merchandising standards, and experiential activations; Works with leadership on partnerships, retail agreements, and channel development.

 

Duties and Responsibilities:

• Provides regular updates on activation performance, sales metrics, market insights, challenges, and achievements.
• Elevates operational, regulatory, and commercial risks appropriately.
• Conducts structured monthly and quarterly business reviews with direct reports.
• Collaborates to deliver excellence within consumer activation channels.
• Sets clear objectives and execution of roadmaps aligned with KPIs (e.g., adult smoker conversion, guided trial rates, lead generation).
• Reviews KPIs regularly with the team, identifies gaps, and implements corrective actions to optimize performance.
• Recruits, trains, and develops a high-performing field team focused on both brand storytelling and sales conversion.
• Ensures teams are well-versed in product knowledge, device usage, and responsible communication guidelines.
• Delivers coaching and ongoing feedback to improve engagement quality and sales effectiveness.
• Promotes a culture of accountability, compliance, and continuous improvement.
• Oversees indirect retail execution, including merchandising, visibility standards, and point-of-sale excellence within activation spaces.
• Leads adult consumer engagement programs, including product sampling (where permitted), demonstrations, and conversion-focused interactions.
• Assist in Identifying, negotiation, and activation of partnerships with key retail accounts.
• Conducts regular market visits and ride-along to ensure quality execution and gather insights.
• Supports workforce planning and scheduling through company systems; monitors time, attendance, and productivity.
• Ensures strict adherence to regulatory frameworks governing tobacco and nicotine product marketing and sales.
• Oversees direct reports adherence to inventory planning.
• Ensure timely and accurate distribution of marketing materials and assets.
• Monitors asset utilization and maintains operational efficiency across locations.

Skills/Knowledge:

• Leadership and team development
• Strategic thinking with commercial acumen
• Communication and influence
• Networking and negotiation
• Performance management and accountability
• Collaboration and cross-functional alignment
• Adaptability in regulated and dynamic environments
• Problem-solving and decision-making
• Relationship building
• Time and priority management
• Strong understanding of tobacco/nicotine regulatory frameworks and compliance requirements.
• Knowledge of adult consumer behavior and conversion journeys.
• Sales management and brand activation principles within CPG environments.
• Retail execution and merchandising standards.
• Operational logistics and inventory management.
• Requires managing multi-level communications across field teams, cross-functional stakeholders, and executive leadership.
• Operates within a highly regulated industry requiring strict adherence to local, state, and national tobacco/nicotine regulations.
• Balances brand-building, consumer engagement, and direct sales accountability.
• Navigates diverse retail environments and evolving competitive landscapes.

Preferred Education and Experience:                 

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Management, or a related field.
• Minimum 8+ years of experience in CPG, field marketing, brand activation, or sales management.
• Minimum 2–3 years of experience in a managerial role leading field or commercial teams.
• Experience within nicotine, tobacco, or other regulated categories preferred.

 

Physical Requirements:

• Must be able to lift objects of at least fifty (50) pounds.
• Must have a valid government issued driver’s license.

 

Technology:

• Square reader
• Inventory Software
• ID Scanner
• Electronic Tablets
• Office suite software - Microsoft Office including Teams and OneDrive
• Electronic mail software - Microsoft Outlook
• T-Sheets

 

Work Schedule

• Flexible scheduling
• Must be available evenings & weekends.