Key Account Manager Western Canada – Job Description
Location: (Remote & In Field Work)
Reports to: Director, National Sales
Status: Full-time (40 hours per week)
White Ash Group has been engaged by a fully licensed Cannabis cultivation, processing, and
consumer packaged goods company to recruit a Key Account Manager Western Canada.
Job Description:
The Key Account Manager – Western Canada is responsible for maximizing market share,
volume, and distribution across Canada. The role includes gaining brand distribution,
implementing, and executing trade programs, and educating retail store owners, managers,
staff and external stakeholders on the company brand and our products. The development of
building strong business relationships with Key Partners, including both regional and national
key retail accounts, and ensuring the visibility, brand awareness and education of the
company’s suite of brands will be critical for success.
The Key Account Manager will function as the Subject Matter Expert and continue to actively
pursue the most current cannabis knowledge including industry symposiums, trade shows and
training programs. Success will be based on the ability to understand the critical and ever-
changing customer needs, ability to develop and deploy creative selling solutions to drive
volume and profitability, analyze customer and consumer trends, and guide overall strategic
direction with customers.
This is a hardworking, hands-on, roll-up-your-sleeves environment emphasizing a team-
oriented and collaborative style. It will be key for the candidate to embrace change and see
past obstacles with a focus on solutions in the context of a company undergoing rapid growth
and ongoing functional integration.
Responsibilities:
• Constantly seek out additional sales avenues and seek to increase market share in each
existing market.
• Assist the VP of Commercial and Director of National Sales in onboarding and training of
new national sales team members across all provinces.
• Organize/participate in any and all remote product knowledge sessions with key
accounts and large retailers.• Pursue a continuous learning and improvement attitude and actively seek the most
current industry knowledge including attending relevant training programs.
• Develop strong, long-term relationships with key decision makers, category managers,
educators, and cannabis retail teams - store owners, budtenders, and store managers -
and other regional stakeholder as assigned.
• Create brand awareness and community engagement within assigned territories,
including directly at Point of Sale, but indirect, grassroots tactics to grow CIG's affinity
outside of the retail network specifically.
• Implement, track, and achieve Key Performance Indicator targets on sales volumes,
distribution, market share, placement & visibility, and retailer engagement & visitation.
• Negotiate and activate merchandising and distribution programs for retail partners and
find unique opportunities to promote the company's suite of brands within the
applicable regulatory framework.
• Conduct in-store education sessions for staff and consumers to introduce products,
features and benefits (where permitted).
• Be the "go-to" specialist to assist retail buyers in managing inventory and profitability
and provide feedback to supply chain on weekly orders while considering all
quantitative and qualitative factors.
• Troubleshoot and report back any concerns or issues with our products gained from
stakeholder engagement.
• Use best practices for route planning, call frequency and tracking performance.
• Prepare and submit weekly reporting to commercial team summarizing weekly results.
• Analyze sales activities, market conditions and competitive pricing to meet company
objectives.
• Manage promotional expenses for assigned partnerships and territories.
• In collaboration with Marketing, utilize social media to interact with retailers and
consumers to promote our brands in a compliant manner based on provincial and
federal regulations
• Represent the company as the product expert by attending provincial and regional trade
shows, and other events across Canada
• Support the Director and VP with special projects and tasks outside of regular
responsibilities as required
• Respect and maintain confidentiality of private conversations with employees
Accountability & Decision Making:
• Receive direction from Director of National Sales & VP of Commercial• Responsible for the development, implementation and maintenance of regional sales
programs
• Required to follow standard operating procedures regarding overall processes and
procedures
• Maintain open communication with senior leadership regarding any issues that may
occur
• Responsible to execute assigned tasks and expectation in accordance with CIG and
Health Canada regulations
• Responsible for completing any work assigned to them during their scheduled shift as
well as information sharing to direct leader
• Responsible for following any and all operational guideline, verbal directions, training
information and policies when performing duties
Qualifications:
• Minimum 2 years of Sales, Category, and/or Account Management experience,
preferably in a regulated/restricted category such as cannabis, alcohol, tobacco, or
pharma
• Bachelor of Commerce degree, or a demonstrated equivalent of training and experience
• Exceptional cannabis product knowledge and passion for the industry
• Ability to build and maintain lasting relationships with stakeholders
• Strong communication, presentation, and organizational skills
• Knowledge of retail and/or wholesale sales principles, methods, practices, and
techniques
• High proficiency in Excel, Word and PowerPoint
• Driver's license and access to a safe, reliable vehicle (company will pay monthly vehicle
allowance)
• Criminal background check and good credit standing (must have a credit card for
business travel)
White Ash Group and the companies it represents are Equal Employment Opportunity employers
that values the strength of diversity within the workplace. All qualified applicants, regardless of
race, colour, religion, gender, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression,
nationality, age, disability or veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable
law, are strongly encouraged to apply.