Leadership Development Program Associate

Leadership Development Program

The Leadership Development Program (LDP) at Acosta Group is a full-time, salaried opportunity that prepares you for a pivotal cross-functional role within the organization. Over 18 months, you will rotate through 56 organization subgroups, including Retail, Foodservice, Business Intelligence, Sales, Marketing, and more. This rotational structure provides a comprehensive understanding of our business and the consumer-packaged goods (CPG) industry, positioning you to take on a role that aligns with both your career interests and the company's strategic needs. Throughout the program, you'll gain hands on experience, receive executive mentorship, participate in live and virtual leadership training, and broaden your cross-functional knowledge. Together, these elements ensure that upon graduation from the program, you are equipped with the skills, insights, and professional network to accelerate your career.

Rotation Overviews :

Retail Field Execution : Gain experience and knowledge in the roles of Retail Coverage Merchandiser and Retail Business Manager. This rotation is designed to elevate your knowledge and skills in the following areas : Acosta Group's foundational business and culture, customer and client relationships, fiscal year planning for in-store execution, in-store selling of client products, self-leadership and supervisory management, retail specific technology, and CPG industry.

Foodservice : Immerse yourself in one of the fastest growing sectors of our business. This rotation provides exposure to how CORE Foodservice partners with brands, distributors, and operators. Key learning areas include : understanding the foodservice channel and customer dynamics, developing strategic and tactical selling skills, building strong relationships with key partners and operators, and delivering solutions to drive measurable results for clients.

Business Intelligence : Engage as a Corporate Analyst and Associate Business Manager. This rotation is designed to elevate your knowledge and skills in the following areas : collecting and analyzing syndicated scan data, delivering high impact strategic value to clients and customers, conducting data analysis for strategic selling and negotiating, techniques for identifying trends and patterns in data, using data to drive decision-making and strategy, and building customer and client relationships.

Headquarter & Omnichannel Sales : Gain experience as a business manager, honing your skills in effective sales and relationship building with clients and retailers. This rotation is designed to elevate your knowledge and skills in the following areas : advanced selling techniques, consumer data planning, tracking and analysis, prioritizing requirements to serve as a strategic partner in headquarter-selling, translating client and customer needs into practical business objectives, delivering high impact strategic value to clients and customers, managing, growing, and maximizing accounts, achieving client and customer objectives related to sales, productivity, profitability, and marketing strategy, fostering customer and client relationships, and best in class ecommerce knowledge and techniques.

Brand Advocacy Solutions : Engage as an account coordinator working directly with clients and customers. This rotation is designed to elevate your knowledge and skills in the following areas : coordinating and executing Assisted Sales & Training (AS&T) programs, collaborative efforts between our strategy and creative teams, coordinating and assisting the client services teams on the execution of activations, programs, and live events, understanding Mosaic's consultative approach and how it delivers ROI to clients.

Additional Rotation : The final rotation is customized to align with your interests, skillsets, and organizational priorities. This rotation is designed to help you seamlessly integrate into a team while continuing to advance your professional development.

Qualifications : Bachelor's degree in Business Administration or a related field, minimum GPA : 3.25, reliable transportation to support local and regional travel requirements.

Desirable Skills and Attributes : Passionate about diverse subjects including Retail, Foodservice, Business Intelligence, Sales, and Marketing. Proactive, dependable, and personable, with exceptional organizational, interpersonal, and communication skills. A willingness to ask questions, acknowledge mistakes, and continually deepen their knowledge. Strong leadership skills; capable of providing concrete examples of leadership from previous projects or work experiences and articulate their specific contributions as a leader. The ability to assess processes meticulously and formulate well-informed, tangible proposals. Proficient in computer applications such as Microsoft Excel, Word and PowerPoint.

About Us : Acosta Group is a collective uniting the most trusted retail, marketing, and foodservice agenciesAcosta, ActionLink, CORE Foodservice, CROSSMARK, Mosaic, Premium Retail Services, and Product Connections. Together, we connect consumers with the brands they love through omnichannel selling, merchandising, brand advocacy, and integrated marketing. We recognize our associates are the foundation of our success. That's why we prioritize your growth, development, and well-being to help you reach your full potential. With programs designed to support a fulfilling work-life balance, we offer opportunities that fit your lifestyle and ambitionswhether you're looking for part-time flexibility or full-time career advancement. Ready for a career path that's as unique as you? Discover your path at Acosta Group! Acosta Group is an equal opportunity employer and will ensure that applicants with disabilities are provided with reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed, please contact AskHR@acosta.com. Be sure to include "Applicant Accommodation" in the subject of your email to expedite the request.