Sales Manager (Independence)
WHY MILLCRAFT At Millcraft, we’re more than a business, we’re a family. For over 100 years, we’ve been proud to serve the paper, packaging, and graphic arts industries, guided by our values of Family, Passion, Aspire, Responsible, Deliver and Fun . We care deeply about our people, our customers, and our communities, and we believe in creating a place where you can grow, belong, and make a real difference. Come join us and be part of something truly special. THE DIFFERENCE YOU WILL MAKE At Millcraft, Sales Managers are more than leaders of a region or team, they are builders of people, relationships, and long-term growth. This role is for someone who loves selling, developing people, and believes the best way to grow business is by helping customers become more successful. Our Sales Managers lead from the front. They ask questions, listen closely, stay curious, solve problems, and help both customers and teammates see opportunities others miss. As a Sales Manager, you will coach and develop a team of Account Managers while also building strong relationships with customers, suppliers, and internal partners across the organization. You will help create a culture of accountability, collaboration, learning, and continuous improvement while driving profitable growth for both your region and the company. This role requires someone who is competitive, self-motivated, emotionally intelligent, operationally aware, and fully committed to helping others succeed. The right leader will know how to challenge people, support people, teach people, and inspire people, all while living the Millcraft Core Values every day. At Millcraft, we believe relationships matter, details matter, service matters, and people matter. We are looking for a leader who believes the same. CORE FUNCTIONS OF THIS ROLE Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing sales team focused on profitable growth, customer retention, diversification, and long-term relationship building Create a culture of accountability, curiosity, urgency, and continuous improvement where people are challenged to grow personally and professionally Coach Account Managers on how to ask better questions, actively listen, uncover opportunities, solve customer problems, and think strategically for the customer Lead by example as a relationship-driven seller who is passionate about helping customers improve efficiency, reduce costs, increase profitability, and grow their business Develop and execute regional sales strategies aligned with Millcraft’s company objectives, market opportunities, and long-term growth initiatives Establish clear expectations, measurable goals, and development plans for Account Managers while consistently reinforcing performance standards and accountability Use CRM tools and pipeline management processes to drive visibility, accountability, forecasting accuracy, opportunity development, and sales execution across the region Train and coach, the sales team on prospecting, opportunity development, diversification strategies, value-added selling, and customer relationship management Collaborate cross-functionally with Operations, Purchasing, Credit, Customer Support, and Segment Specialists to deliver exceptional customer experiences and operational execution Foster strong relationships with vendors, suppliers, and mill partners to strengthen collaboration, improve alignment, and create mutual growth opportunities Evaluate profitability, market conditions, customer trends, and business opportunities to support strategic decision making and sustainable growth Create an environment where communication is open, expectations are clear, and teammates feel supported, challenged, and valued Demonstrate the ability to teach the “how” & “why,” while also getting the team to think independently, stay curious, and continue improving Enhance job knowledge by actively engaging in training opportunities, professional development, industry networking, supplier engagement, and continuous learning Identify and monitor key performance indicators that improve customer satisfaction, sales effectiveness, team development, and profitable growth Collaborate with sales leadership and operational leadership teams to develop and execute strategies that secure new business and strengthen existing partnerships Follow all Millcraft policies, procedures, and guidelines as outlined in the employee handbook and departmental SOPs Ensure a safe working environment by strictly following all safety protocols and standards, including immediately reporting unsafe conditions, near-misses, and incidents Demonstrate Millcraft’s Core Values: Family, Passion, Aspire, Responsible, Deliver, and Fun, in daily leadership, decision-making, and interactions Perform other duties as required by the business, recognizing attendance as a fundamental job function This job description is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive list of activities, duties, or responsibilities that are required of the employee. They may change, or new ones may be assigned at any time with or without notice. WHAT YOU’LL NEED TO SUCCEED Bachelor’s degree or equivalent sales leadership experience required Minimum of five years of successful sales and account management experience, Proven ability to lead, coach, and develop sales talent while building a culture centered around accountability, collaboration, and growth Demonstrated success building strong customer relationships and growing profitable business through consultative selling and solution-based conversations Strong coaching mindset with the ability to teach, mentor, motivate, and develop others through hands-on leadership and consistent feedback Highly curious and competitive with strong listening skills and a passion for solving customer problems Self-starter mentality with the ability to prioritize, execute, and lead with confidence and urgency Ability to collaborate effectively across departments and build strong partnerships Strong analytical and strategic thinking skills with the ability to evaluate opportunities, interpret data, and make sound business decisions Experience using CRM systems, pipeline management tools, forecasting processes, and sales performance metrics to drive accountability and growth Excellent communication, presentation, interpersonal, and relationship-building skills Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment Working knowledge of Microsoft Office Suite required; experience with Microsoft D365 ERP preferred Demonstrated understanding of the Midwest market landscape preferred Commitment to safety, professionalism, accountability, and living Millcraft’s Core Values in every interaction WHAT WINNING LOOKS LIKE At Millcraft, winning is not just about hitting a number. Winning means building strong teams, growing customer relationships, creating long-term profitable growth, and making the people around you better every day. Successful Sales Managers lead teams that consistently exceed sales goals while building a culture rooted in accountability, collaboration, curiosity, development, and customer focus. Team Development & Leadership Build, coach, and retain a highly engaged sales team that consistently improves performance, professionalism, and customer relationships Develop Account Managers through regular coaching, ride-alongs, pipeline reviews, training, and real-time feedback Create clear individual goals, development plans, and accountability measures that align with regional and company objectives Foster a culture where teammates support one another, communicate openly, compete positively, and continuously strive to improve Customer Growth & Business Development Grow profitable sales within the region through new business development, diversification, strategic account growth, and strong customer retention Help the team uncover customer challenges and identify opportunities that improve customer efficiency, profitability, and operational performance Increase wallet share by expanding relationships across products, segments, and services Build long-term customer partnerships grounded in trust, responsiveness, consistency, and value creation Sales Execution & Accountability Utilize CRM tools consistently to manage pipelines, forecast opportunities, track performance, and drive accountability across the sales organization Maintain strong pipeline health with clear visibility into opportunities, growth initiatives, customer activity, and strategic priorities Establish measurable regional and individual sales goals while consistently monitoring progress and performance Drive disciplined execution around prospecting, follow-up, diversification, pricing strategy, and opportunity management Collaboration & Operational Alignment Partner effectively with Operations, Purchasing, Credit, Segment Specialists, and Customer Support teams to deliver exceptional customer experiences Support inventory planning, forecasting, and operational execution that align with customer expectations and company profitability goals Strengthen supplier and mill relationships that create strategic growth oppor
