Entry Level (0-2 years)

Graduate FMCG Sales Executive

This is your starting point in the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) world. You'll be out and about, getting our products onto shelves and making sure they look great. It's a hands-on role where you'll learn the ropes, understand how retailers work, and build those crucial foundational sales skills. Think of it as an apprenticeship in commercial reality; you'll be supporting the wider sales team, making sure our plans actually happen in stores. It's less about big strategy and more about getting stuck in, making sure our brands are visible and available for shoppers.

Job ID
JD-SAMA-JRSALES-001
Department
Sales
NOS Level
OFQUAL Level
Level 3-4
Experience
Entry Level (0-2 years)

Role Purpose & Context

Role Summary

The Graduate FMCG Sales Executive is here to make sure our products are on the shelves, looking good, and selling well in a specific territory. You'll be the eyes and ears on the ground, supporting our bigger accounts and making sure our promotional plans actually come to life in stores. Frankly, this role directly impacts our daily sales figures and ensures we keep our retail partners happy by delivering on our promises. You'll work closely with your Key Account Executive or National Account Manager, translating their head office agreements into real-world action in individual stores. This means you'll be checking stock, merchandising, and building relationships with store managers. When you do this well, our products fly off the shelves, and shoppers can always find what they're looking for. If it's not done properly, we lose sales, and our competitors gain ground—it's that simple. The challenge is that every store is different, and you'll often need to be a bit of a detective and a problem-solver on the spot. You might find a promotion hasn't been set up correctly or stock is in the back room, not on display. The reward, though, is seeing your efforts directly translate into sales, building genuine relationships with store teams, and learning the ins and outs of the FMCG world from the ground up. It's a proper launchpad for a sales career.

Reporting Structure

Key Stakeholders

Internal:

External:

Organisational Impact

Scope: This role is all about execution. You're the one who ensures our sales strategies don't just stay on paper but actually happen where it counts: in the shops. Your daily efforts directly affect product availability, visibility, and ultimately, sales volume. Get it right, and we hit our targets; get it wrong, and we leave money on the table. It's a critical link between our strategy and the shopper's basket.

Performance Metrics

Quantitative Metrics

  1. Metric: Store Visit Completion Rate
  2. Desc: The percentage of planned store visits you actually complete within your assigned territory each week.
  3. Target: 95%+ weekly
  4. Freq: Weekly
  5. Example: If you're meant to visit 20 stores in a week, you'll need to hit at least 19 of them. We track this through your CRM check-ins.
  6. Metric: On-Shelf Availability (OSA)
  7. Desc: The percentage of our core products that are actually on the shelf and available for purchase during your store visits.
  8. Target: Maintain 90%+ for core SKUs
  9. Freq: Weekly (based on your checks)
  10. Example: During a store visit, you check 10 key products. If 9 are on the shelf, that's 90%. Your job is to make sure those numbers are consistently high.
  11. Metric: Promotional Execution Compliance
  12. Desc: How well our agreed-upon promotions (e.g., special displays, price reductions) are actually set up correctly in stores.
  13. Target: 85%+ compliance rate
  14. Freq: Monthly (audited during visits)
  15. Example: If we've agreed to a 2-for-1 deal with a retailer, you'll check that the signage is up, the price is correct, and the stock is there. We're looking for you to spot and fix issues.
  16. Metric: New Distribution Points Gained
  17. Desc: The number of new product listings you secure in independent stores or get additional facings for existing products.
  18. Target: Secure 5-10 new points per month
  19. Freq: Monthly
  20. Example: You convince an independent corner shop to stock our new crisps, or you get an extra facing for our best-selling chocolate bar. That's a win.

Qualitative Metrics

  1. Metric: Product Knowledge & Category Understanding
  2. Desc: How quickly you learn about our products, our competitors, and the category dynamics.
  3. Evidence: You can confidently answer questions about our products, explain basic category trends, and suggest appropriate merchandising solutions. Your manager will see you applying this knowledge in your daily tasks and discussions.
  4. Metric: Retailer Relationship Building
  5. Desc: Your ability to build positive, professional relationships with store managers and staff.
  6. Evidence: Store managers are happy to see you, they trust your advice, and they're willing to help you fix issues. Your manager will get positive feedback from store teams and observe your effective interactions.
  7. Metric: Initiative & Problem Solving
  8. Desc: Your willingness to identify issues in stores and proactively suggest solutions, rather than just reporting problems.
  9. Evidence: You don't just tell us a display is missing; you've already found the stock in the back and helped the store team put it out. You're thinking on your feet and taking ownership of small challenges. You'll bring solutions, not just problems, to your manager.
  10. Metric: Adherence to Sales Process
  11. Desc: How consistently you follow our established sales processes, from call logging to reporting.
  12. Evidence: Your CRM is always up-to-date, your reports are submitted on time, and you follow safety protocols during store visits. This shows you're reliable and can be trusted with more responsibility.

Primary Traits

Supporting Traits

Primary Motivators

  1. Motivator: Seeing Tangible Results
  2. Daily: You'll love walking into a store and seeing your products perfectly displayed, knowing you made that happen. You'll get a kick out of seeing sales figures go up for a store you've just visited.
  3. Motivator: Learning and Developing
  4. Daily: You're keen to understand how the business works, asking questions about why we do things a certain way. You'll actively seek feedback and look for opportunities to take on new challenges.
  5. Motivator: Building Relationships
  6. Daily: You enjoy meeting new people and building friendly, professional connections with store staff. You'll remember their names and what they like, making your visits more productive and enjoyable.

Potential Demotivators

Honestly, this role isn't for everyone. You'll spend a fair bit of time driving, often in traffic, and dealing with the unpredictable nature of retail. You might feel like you're constantly chasing things up or fixing issues that weren't your fault. The 'urgent' request that disrupted your Thursday will sometimes get deprioritised on Friday because something else blew up. You'll put a lot of effort into a display, only for it to be moved a day later. If you need a perfectly predictable, desk-bound routine, or if you get easily frustrated by things not going exactly to plan, you'll probably struggle here.

Common Frustrations

  1. Driving long distances for short store visits, especially in traffic.
  2. Finding that promotional materials you sent haven't been put up, or stock is in the backroom, not on the shelf.
  3. Dealing with busy or uncooperative store staff who don't see your visit as a priority.
  4. The sheer amount of administrative tasks (CRM updates, expense reports) after a long day on the road.
  5. Being held accountable for things outside your control, like a competitor's surprise promotion or a supply chain delay.

What Role Doesn't Offer

  1. A fixed 9-5 office-based routine.
  2. Immediate high-level strategic decision-making or budget ownership.
  3. A role where every single piece of your work makes it to production exactly as planned.
  4. A quiet, solitary work environment; you'll be interacting with people all day.

ADHD Positives

  1. The varied nature of field sales, with different stores and tasks each day, can be really engaging and prevent boredom.
  2. The need for quick thinking and on-the-spot problem-solving can be a strength, as you're constantly reacting to new situations.
  3. The direct, tangible results of your work (seeing products on shelves, sales increases) can provide immediate dopamine hits and motivation.

ADHD Challenges and Accommodations

  1. Managing a territory and keeping track of multiple store requirements can be tricky; we can help with robust digital planning tools and clear checklists.
  2. The administrative tasks like CRM updates and expense reports might feel tedious; we encourage using AI tools for summarisation and offer flexible times for admin.
  3. Distractions in busy store environments can be challenging; we can discuss strategies like focused check-in routines or using noise-cancelling headphones for admin tasks.

Dyslexia Positives

  1. This role is highly visual and interpersonal, relying on face-to-face communication and observation rather than heavy reading or writing.
  2. Your ability to see patterns and think creatively about store layouts or merchandising can be a real asset.
  3. Strong verbal communication skills, often found in individuals with dyslexia, are highly valued for building rapport with store staff.

Dyslexia Challenges and Accommodations

  1. Reading detailed planograms or filling out complex forms might take more time; we can provide digital tools with text-to-speech, templates, and offer support for documentation.
  2. Accurate data entry into CRM can be a challenge; we can use voice-to-text features and double-check processes with a buddy system.
  3. Written communication for internal reports might be difficult; we encourage using bullet points, simple language, and AI tools for drafting.

Autism Positives

  1. The structured nature of store visits and clear objectives for merchandising or stock checks can be reassuring.
  2. A deep focus on product details and market trends can lead to exceptional product knowledge, making you a go-to expert.
  3. The opportunity to build consistent relationships with a defined set of store contacts can be comfortable and rewarding.

Autism Challenges and Accommodations

  1. Unexpected changes in store layouts or staff can be unsettling; we'll provide as much advance notice as possible and clear communication channels for support.
  2. Interpreting nuanced social cues in varied retail environments might be challenging; we'll offer clear guidelines for interactions and role-play scenarios.
  3. Sensory overload in busy, noisy stores is a possibility; we can discuss strategies like visiting during quieter hours or taking regular breaks outside the store.

Sensory Considerations

You'll be working in varied retail environments, which means exposure to different levels of noise, lighting, and social interaction. Some stores can be very busy and loud, while others might be quieter. You'll also be driving a fair bit, which means different sounds and visual stimuli on the road. We're happy to discuss any specific needs you might have regarding this.

Flexibility Notes

We understand that everyone works differently. We can discuss flexible scheduling for admin tasks, provide specific tools, or adapt communication methods to help you thrive. Just let us know what works for you.

Key Responsibilities

Experience Levels Responsibilities

  1. Level: Entry Level (0-2 years)
  2. Responsibilities: Execute daily store visits within your assigned territory, following a pre-planned route and schedule (typically 8-12 visits per day).
  3. Support our core product range by checking stock levels, ensuring products are on the shelf, and rotating stock to minimise waste.
  4. Assist store teams with merchandising, making sure our products are displayed correctly according to planograms and look appealing to shoppers.
  5. Learn and apply basic sales techniques, such as identifying opportunities for additional product placement or securing extra facings for key lines.
  6. Document all store visit activities, observations, and any issues in our CRM system (e.g., Salesforce) accurately and promptly.
  7. Report back to your Key Account Executive or National Account Manager on store performance, competitive activity, and any significant issues you've encountered.
  8. Help set up and maintain promotional displays, ensuring all point-of-sale (POS) materials are correct and visible to customers.
  9. Supervision: You'll have daily check-ins with your direct manager, usually at the start or end of the day, to discuss your plan, any challenges, and your progress. All your work will be reviewed, especially early on, to make sure you're on the right track. Think of it as close coaching.
  10. Decision: Honestly, you won't be making big decisions on your own. Any deviation from a planogram, any pricing queries, or any significant issues with a store will need to be escalated to your manager. Your job is to spot the problem and report it, not to fix it independently. You can make small, on-the-spot decisions about how to best arrange products within an agreed display, but anything else needs a sign-off.
  11. Success: You'll know you're doing well when your store visit completion rates are consistently high, our products are always available on the shelves in your territory, and your manager trusts you to accurately report what's happening in stores. Building good rapport with store managers and showing a keenness to learn are also big indicators of success.

Decision-Making Authority

Save 5-8 hours weekly with AI-powered sales tools

Imagine having a super-smart assistant that handles the tedious bits of your job, leaving you more time to actually sell and build relationships. That's what AI is doing for sales professionals right now.

ID:

Tool: CRM Admin Eliminator

Benefit: Use an AI meeting assistant (like Fathom or Otter.ai) to automatically transcribe your conversations with store managers, summarise key action points, and draft notes directly into your CRM. No more typing up lengthy call reports after every visit.

ID:

Tool: Quick Store Briefing

Benefit: Before visiting a store, use an AI research assistant to pull together a quick summary of that store's recent performance (if data is available) or any local news. It helps you walk in better prepared and more informed, without hours of digging.

ID:

Tool: Basic Data Insights

Benefit: Feed simple sales data (e.g., weekly sales by SKU for a store) into an AI tool. It can help you spot basic trends or highlight which products are underperforming, giving you a starting point for conversations with store managers. No complex analysis needed.

ID: ✉️

Tool: Follow-Up Drafter

Benefit: After a productive chat with a store manager, use generative AI to quickly draft a polite follow-up email, summarising what you discussed and any actions agreed. It saves you time and ensures you don't miss anything important.

5-8 hours per week Weekly time savings potential
Starting with 2-3 AI tools Typical tool investment
Explore AI Productivity for Graduate FMCG Sales Executive →

12-15 specific tools & techniques with implementation guides

Competency Requirements

Foundation Skills (Transferable)

These are the fundamental skills you'll need to hit the ground running. We're not expecting you to be an expert, but having a solid grasp of these basics will make your learning curve much smoother.

Functional Skills (Role-Specific Technical)

These are the specific skills and tools you'll use every day in FMCG sales. We'll teach you a lot, but coming in with some basic knowledge will certainly help.

Technical Competencies

Digital Tools

Industry Knowledge

Regulatory Compliance Regulations

Essential Prerequisites

Career Pathway Context

We're looking for potential, not perfection. If you've got a great attitude, a willingness to learn, and some basic customer service experience, we can teach you the rest. This role is designed to give you the foundational skills you'll need to progress into bigger account management roles.

Qualifications & Credentials

Emerging Foundation Skills

Advancing Technical Skills

Future Skills Closing Note

The goal here isn't to turn you into a data scientist or a software developer. It's about empowering you with tools that make you a more efficient, insightful, and ultimately, more successful sales professional. Embrace these changes, and you'll be well-prepared for your next step.

Education Requirements

Experience Requirements

You'll need 0-2 years of experience. This could be anything from working in a retail store, a customer service role, or even a previous field sales position (even if it wasn't in FMCG). We're really looking for someone who has a track record of interacting with customers, solving problems, and being reliable. A driving licence and a car are absolutely essential, as you'll be out on the road visiting stores daily.

Preferred Certifications

Recommended Activities

Career Progression Pathways

Entry Paths to This Role

Career Progression From This Role

Long Term Vision Potential Roles

Sector Mobility

The skills you learn in FMCG sales are highly transferable. You could move into sales roles in other consumer-facing industries (e.g., tech, media, luxury goods) or even transition into marketing, category management, or general management roles due to your strong commercial acumen.

How Zavmo Delivers This Role's Development

DISCOVER Phase: Skills Gap Analysis

Zavmo maps your current competencies against all requirements in this job description through conversational assessment. We evaluate your foundation skills (communication, strategic thinking), functional skills (CRM expertise, negotiation), and readiness for career progression.

Output: Personalised skills gap heat map showing strengths and priorities, estimated time to competency, neurodiversity accommodations.

DISCUSS Phase: Personalised Learning Pathway

Based on your DISCOVER results, Zavmo creates a personalised learning plan prioritised by impact: foundation skills first, then functional skills. We adapt to your learning style, pace, and neurodiversity needs (ADHD, dyslexia, autism).

Output: Week-by-week schedule, each module linked to specific job responsibilities, checkpoints and milestones.

DELIVER Phase: Conversational Learning

Learn through conversation, not boring modules. Zavmo uses 10 conversation types (Socratic dialogue, role-play, coaching, case studies) to build competence. Practice difficult QBR presentations, negotiate tough renewals, and handle churn conversations in a safe AI environment before facing real clients.

Example: "For 'Stakeholder Mapping', Zavmo will guide you through analysing a complex enterprise account, identifying key decision-makers, and building an engagement strategy."

DEMONSTRATE Phase: Competency Assessment

Zavmo automatically builds your evidence portfolio as you learn. Every conversation, practice scenario, and application example is captured and mapped to NOS performance criteria. When ready, your portfolio supports OFQUAL qualification claims and demonstrates competence to employers.

Output: Competency matrix, evidence portfolio (downloadable), qualification readiness, career progression score.

Discover Your Skills Gap Explore Learning Paths