Note: The job is a remote job and is open to candidates in USA. Cornbread Hemp is the nation's leading USDA Certified Organic hemp company, dedicated to creating the highest-quality, full-spectrum hemp products on the market. They are seeking a National Key Account Manager to own and grow their presence in large chain accounts for their THC seltzer line, managing the entire sales process from prospecting to account growth.
Responsibilities
- Strategic Account Acquisition: Identify, prioritize, and pursue THC seltzer placements at large convenience chains (Circle K, 7-Eleven, etc. and regional c-store banners) and major grocery and mass retailers (Target, Walmart, Meijer, Sprouts, Whole Foods, Piggly Wiggly and similar). Develop account-specific strategies for each target banner
- Distribution Pull-Through: Use the chain authorizations you win to activate and accelerate distribution, partnering with our DSD and distribution teams to ensure product flows reliably into every account you open
- Full-Cycle Selling: Own the complete sales cycle — build your own pipeline, secure buyer meetings, present the brand and category story, negotiate terms, and close to first purchase order
- Account Growth and Velocity: Drive each account past the close. Win reorders, expand SKUs and door counts, and grow rate-of-sale through ongoing buyer engagement and category management
- Spritz Line Extension: Introduce our non-alcoholic functional Spritz as a complementary offering where it fits the account, especially THC-restricted retailers. Position the Spritz clearly as a non-hemp, non-THC functional beverage so buyers understand what it is — and is not — relative to our THC seltzer and hemp lines
- Forecasting and Pipeline Management: Build and maintain a detailed, accurate sales pipeline with reliable forecasting. Partner with the VP of Sales on KPIs, revenue targets, and account-level reporting
- Marketing & Operations Collaboration: Partner with marketing on sell-in materials, promotions, and account support, and with operations to ensure supply-chain readiness for chain orders
Skills
- Minimum of 5+ years selling beverages — beer, hard seltzer, RTD cocktails, or comparable — into large chain accounts, with existing relationships among category buyers at national or regional convenience and grocery/mass banners
- Demonstrated success landing and growing key chain accounts — owning the buyer relationship, navigating category reviews, negotiating, and driving velocity after the close
- Highly self-motivated, autonomous, and confident, with the social skills to build buyer relationships quickly and maintain them
- Comfort selling in a fast-evolving, regulated category, with a proven ability to introduce a new or unfamiliar product into a buyer's set and make the category make sense
- Disciplined with sales systems and data, familiarity with VIP strongly preferred
- Ability to work remotely with frequent travel for buyer meetings, trade shows, and key markets — up to 50% of the time
- This role owns large chain accounts (national and regional convenience, grocery, and mass) for the THC seltzer line
- Existing relationships with beverage distributors — a meaningful value-add, though not required
- Experience launching a new or emerging beverage brand
- Experience with beverage and convenience/grocery trade shows
- Familiarity with the THC beverage and functional-beverage categories
Benefits
- Cash incentives
- Milestone-based cash bonuses paid out immediately upon securing new retail chain authorizations
- Equity grant from the company's existing option pool, vesting over four years with a one-year cliff, offering meaningful ownership upside in a high-growth company
- Full benefits package including health, dental, and vision insurance
- Travel and expense budget for account visits, trade shows, and industry events
- Flexible and remote working capabilities
Company Overview