Area Sales Manager – Commercial Knife Sharpening
Job Summary
The Area Sales Manager will lead the growth and expansion of ZWILLING's professional knife sharpening services within an assigned geographic area.
This is a player-coach role combining sales leadership with direct business development. The Area Sales Manager will lead and develop a team of Field Sales Representatives while maintaining responsibility for an assigned sales territory and overseeing regional key account development.
The role is accountable for overall area sales performance, including new customer acquisition, revenue growth, pipeline development, and effective coordination between sales and operations.
Key Responsibilities
• Sales Team Leadership: Lead, coach, and develop Field Sales Representatives to achieve individual and team objectives. Establish clear expectations, provide regular feedback, conduct field coaching, and support professional development.
• Sales Performance Management: Drive overall area performance by establishing sales priorities, monitoring activity and results, identifying performance gaps, and implementing actions to improve productivity and achieve sales targets.
• Territory Sales: Personally identify, develop, and secure new business within an assigned territory, maintaining an active presence in the market.
• Regional Key Account Development: Oversee the development of regional and multi-location accounts, including identifying opportunities, supporting negotiations, building customer relationships, and coordinating account-level agreements and location rollouts. Coach and support team members involved in key account development while ensuring clear ownership and accountability.
• Sales Planning & Pipeline Management: Drive disciplined prospecting, territory planning, and follow-up practices. Ensure accurate Salesforce reporting, including sales activities, opportunity stages, next steps, and revenue potential.
• Client Relationship Management: Build and maintain relationships with key customers and decision makers, supporting customer satisfaction, retention, and opportunities for additional business.
• Cross Selling: Identify opportunities to expand the range of ZWILLING products and services sold to commercial customers.
• Sales & Operations Collaboration: Partner with sharpening operations and regional service teams to ensure successful customer onboarding, reliable service delivery, and alignment between sales commitments and operational capabilities.
• Market Development: Monitor competitive activity, customer feedback, and market trends to identify opportunities and refine sales strategies.
• National Account Support: Coordinate with ZWILLING leadership to support the local implementation and expansion of national and strategic key accounts within the assigned area.
Qualifications
• 5+ years of proven experience in business development, field sales, account management, or related commercial roles; experience in food service, hospitality, or related industries preferred.
• Previous experience leading, coaching, and developing a field sales team required.
• Demonstrated success in acquiring new business, developing customer relationships, and achieving sales targets.
• Experience developing multi-location or key accounts preferred.
• Strong leadership, communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
• Ability to balance team leadership with individual sales responsibilities.
• Strong organizational skills and a data-driven approach to sales management.
• Proficiency with CRM systems, preferably Salesforce.
• Self-motivated, with the ability to work independently in a field-based environment.
• Valid driver's license and clean driving record.
• Willingness to travel regionally to meet customers, coach team members, and attend industry events.
Compensation Range: $85,000.00 - $90,000.00 per year contingent upon experience + Bonus Potential.
About ZWILLING J.A. Henckels
For over 290 years, ZWILLING J.A. Henckels has offered premium products that enhance the lives of professional and home chefs worldwide. Since its start as an esteemed cutlery brand, the company has grown to include a coveted collection of cookware, flatware, glassware, and kitchen gadgets. Tradition, quality, innovation, and craftsmanship are its ingredients for success.
Today, ZWILLING J.A. Henckels is an international industry leader that sells products in 100 countries with the help of ten wholly owned subsidiaries. Always looking forward, ZWILLING has recently acquired global heritage brands —Staub (France), Demeyere (Belgium), Ballarini (Italy) and Miyabi (Japan)—to give its customers access to the most exceptional cookware and cutlery.