Senior Sales Manager - Great Lakes Region - Remote Eligible

Senior Sales Manager

This is a remote position based in the Midwest (Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin). The Senior Sales Manager is responsible for driving profitable revenue growth across assigned markets and key accounts within the paperboard and packaging sector. This role leads strategic customer relationships and partners closely with operations, pricing, supply chain, and technical services to deliver differentiated solutions to customers. The ideal candidate brings deep experience in paperboard, folding carton, SBS, or packaging materials, strong commercial acumen, and the ability to balance customer growth with manufacturing and margin realities. We have a current opening for coverage in the Great Lakes territory. However, we are open to all candidates that have a willingness to travel and relocate as needed for possible territory restructure needs.

WHAT YOU WILL DO

CUSTOMER RELATIONS

Prepare and present written and oral sales presentations with customer decision makers at headquarters and/or division levels.

Provide monthly, quarterly, and annual sales reviews as needed.

Negotiate supply contracts, requests for proposals and other agreements.

Research and secure strategic new customers.

Constantly assess customer accounts for opportunities to improve product mix, cost-to-serve and volume where appropriate.

Assess customer needs and lead team involvement of Clearwater employee for collaborative account management

BUDGET/METRICS

Prepare annual account budget.

Submit monthly forecasts.

Actively manage profitability improvement initiatives through use of reports and collaboration with finance teammates.

Monitor and react to daily sales activities.

Working with mill and Converting Solutions teammates, oversee quality issue resolution processes.

Monitor order input to line of credit and when necessary, initiate actions for timely collection of receivables.

COMMUNICATION

Maintain regular communication and coordination with mill personnel on sales/customer issues.

Represent the "voice of the customer" back to the business.

Work with Customer Service to assure that target customer service levels are met.

Resolve supply and delivery issues with Customer Service and S&OP.

Schedule and attend customer warehouse visits to improve service and costs.

Provide input for Division mission statement and strategies.

MARKET ANALYSIS

Provide Marketing with information on new competitive products.

Monitor, appraise and provide information on competitive activity.

Disseminate category trend data.

CORE COMPETENCIES & ATTRIBUTES

Data-driven decision making

Strategic and tactical thinker with strong territory planning abilities

Demonstrated ability to lead in a matrixed and highly collaborative environment to influence change and core processes

High degree of business curiosity; quick learner with a proactive and agile mindset

Excellent problem-solving skills and the courage to identify, communicate and bring to light opportunities and solutions

Optimistically looks toward future for opportunities to innovate and improve

Personal resilience to lead an organization through continuous process improvements developing and executing iterative plans

Exceptional communication skills (written and verbal); leading and presenting complex materials for various audiences

Confidence in dealing with ambiguity; bringing different perspectives to light and rallying others to aligned goals and objectives

WHAT YOU WILL NEED

Bachelor's degree in business, marketing, or related field required

MBA preferred

12+ years' experience in paperboard and packaging industry

10+ years in sales and account management, with proven ability to drive revenue growth.

Extensive knowledge of Midwest markets, regional customers, distribution channels, and the co