Knowledge Operations Manager Jobs in Waterloo, IA

The Retail Execution District Manager leads frontline execution within a defined territory, overseeing a team of retail associates responsible for in-store merchandising, sales support, and program delivery. This role ensures consistent execution of client standards through hands-on coaching, store-level engagement, and day-to-day operational management.

The role is focused on execution excellence, including staffing, scheduling, training, and performance management of hourly or field-based teams, while maintaining strong relationships with store leadership and ensuring retail objectives are achieved.

The Company is one of North America's leading sales and marketing agencies specializing in outsourced sales, merchandising, category management, and marketing services to manufacturers, suppliers, and producers of food products and consumer packaged goods. The Company services a variety of trade channels including grocery, mass merchandise, specialty, convenience, drug, dollar, club, hardware, consumer electronics, and home centers. We bridge the gap between manufacturers and retailers, providing consumers access to the best products available in the marketplace today.

Responsibilities

Retail execution:
• Oversees in-store program execution, merchandising, and audit activities to meet client standards
• Ensures product placement, shelf standards, and merchandising compliance
• People leadership:
  • Directly manages, coaches, and develops retail associates through field engagement and structured feedback
  • Supports hiring, scheduling, training, and performance management of frontline teams
• Results and execution management:
  • Monitors execution through reporting and store visits; addresses performance gaps through coaching and training
  • Ensures timely completion of retail projects and coverage expectations
• Client and store relationships:
  • Builds relationships with store leadership and client partners to support execution objectives
• Operational and administrative excellence:
  • Manages schedules, reporting, and expenses aligned to territory expectations

Qualifications

• Education Requirements: High school education
• Experience Requirements: 2-4 years experience in relevant field
• Travel requirement: 30% travel expected

Supervisor Responsibility

Direct Reports: Hires, retains, trains, coaches, guides, directs, and develops direct reports using company-wide processes, tools and resources

Indirect Reports: May delegate work of others and provide guidance, direction and mentoring to indirect reports

Required Knowledge and Skills

• Understanding of in-store retail standards including planograms, shelving, pricing/signage, and product placement
• Familiarity with retail operations across channels including grocery, mass, and specialty
• Knowledge of territory-based staffing, scheduling, and store coverage models
• Understanding of how retail programs are executed in-store
• Working knowledge of retail reporting including store audits, execution reports, and coverage metrics
• Ability to interpret performance data to identify execution gaps and trends
• Understanding of performance management basics including coaching, feedback, and evaluations
• Knowledge of hiring, onboarding, and training practices for hourly and field teams
• Ability to coach in real-time in store environments
• Effectively delivers feedback to improve performance and accountability
• Builds engagement and accountability across dispersed teams
• Strong ability to organize and execute multiple store-based projects simultaneously
• Manages schedules, routes, and coverage effectively to meet client expectations
• Maintains high attention to detail in fast-paced environments
• Builds trust and credibility with store managers and local client stakeholders
• Represents the company professionally in field settings
• Resolves day-to-day issues quickly and effectively
• Communicates clearly with associates, peers, and support teams
• Provides timely reporting and updates on execution and performance
• Adapts communication style for frontline versus management audiences
• Uses reporting tools, Excel, and internal systems to track performance and activity
• Applies insights from reports to make immediate adjustments to execution
• Demonstrates a bias for action and follow-through
• Maintains focus on completing tasks accurately and on time
• Adjusts quickly to changing priorities, store conditions, and staffing gaps
• Solves operational issues independently while escalating appropriately
• Effectively manages competing demands across multiple stores and associates
• Prioritizes work to align with client and business needs
• Takes ownership of territory results and team performance
• Holds self and others accountable to expectations
• Motivates and develops associates through consistent presence and engagement
• Demonstrates empathy while driving performance expectations

Environmental & Physical Requirements

Field Requirements: Incumbent must be able to perform the essential functions of the job. Work is performed in a retail in-store environment, which may include working in variable temperatures such as refrigerated areas, freezer sections and deli/bakery areas. The position typically requires the ability to spend 66%+ hours each workday performing the following activities: Engage in considerable physical activity, ability to lift, push and pull up to 50 pounds, stand on feet for long periods of time, use consumer goods products, prepare, and serve food and beverages safely as appropriate for the product demonstration.

Additional Information Regarding Job Duties

Job Will Remain Open Until Filled