Family
Camping
Water sports
Volunteering
Samantha Jones
Botanic Ridge,VIC
Summary
- Dynamic Retail Sales Manager with 25+ years in FMCG retail at Simplot Australia, specializing in sales growth, team leadership, and stakeholder relationships. Proven track record managing 23 team members across Victoria and Tasmania, delivering sales budgets, and driving business development strategies that optimized profitability for key accounts Woolworths, Coles, and Independents. Skilled in risk management, health & safety, and fostering high-performance cultures, with a focus on autonomous operations and regional travel. Core Competencies
- Sales & Business Development: Influencing at all levels, profit optimization, category management, and distribution growth (e.g., expanded 'R' lines in Metcash warehouses).
- Leadership & Team Management: Leading 23-member teams, mentoring for high performance, developing individual strengths, and driving projects to exceed potential.
- Operations & Strategy: Implementing business plans, managing budgets (financial hours and KM), local area marketing, off-location displays, and risk management.
- Health & Safety: Developing wellbeing programs, managing WorkCover claims, ergonomic assessments, and implementing safety tools; hold current First Aid, CPR, and Defib certifications.
- Stakeholder Relations: Building relationships with key accounts (e.g., Woolworths State Trading Manager), Tier 2 Independent customers, internal teams, and external partners.
- Technical Skills: Computer software development, presentations, selling processes, and project leadership (e.g., new payroll system for remote workers).
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Retail Sales Manager, Victoria and Tasmania
Simplot Australia
12.2022 - Current
- Leading a sales team of 23 across Victoria and Tasmania, delivering state sales budgets and optimizing profits through targeted marketing strategies and business plans aligned with customer needs.
- Expanded product portfolio in independent channels by developing new customer relationships, resulting in increased distribution and growth in categories.
- Coordinated regional travel to ensure high standards of team capability and customer engagement, while managing operations including financial hours, KM budgets, and risk mitigation.
- Acted as category captain to optimize layouts, plan local area marketing, and secure off-location displays via sales drives.
- Project-led implementation of a new payroll system for remote workers, enhancing efficiency; developed team members through training in selling processes and presentations.
Safety Health and Wellbeing Manager, Corporate and Commercial (National including New Zealand)
Simplot Australia
11.2019 - 12.2022
- Developed and expanded a Health and Wellbeing program for field sales teams, introducing the Healthy Hub and adapting initiatives for remote work during COVID-19.
- Implemented safety tools like Take 5, mobile apps for hazards/near misses/incidents, and ergonomic assessments; facilitated national safety working groups and closed internal audit actions.
- Developed and implemented SWP (Safe Work Practices) across foodservice, retail, and innovation and growth divisions.
- Managed WorkCover claims, reported incident trends, and trained teams in CARE conversations; elected to Diversity Equity Inclusion Council, contributing to Reconciliation Action Plan.
- Built relationships with senior leadership and stakeholders to drive safe work practices across commercial and innovation teams.
- Sourced a driver training provider for driver training across our National Sales Teams including Retail and Foodservice.
Field Manager/Supervisor, Victoria and Tasmania (Retail)
Simplot Australia
01.2014 - 01.2019
- Directed teams of 15+ sales support representatives, training in SimSelling processes, identifying strengths/weaknesses, and actioning development plans to achieve outstanding results.
- Delivered state sales budgets by working closely with stakeholders, including building relationships with Woolworths State Trading Manager; ensured safe workloads aligned with national account plans.
- Ran reports to monitor speed-to-market targets, negotiated displays, and implemented planograms to drive category growth in independents like Ritchies.
- Promoted from Supervisor to Manager in 2018
Field Supervisor, Victoria (Retail)
Simplot Australia
01.2004 - 01.2014
- Assisted SSR team in negotiating and building displays, planning, and monitoring distribution reports to ensure speed-to-market.
- Supported sales growth in independent retail sectors by influencing store owners/managers on planogram implementation.
Victorian Sales Representative (Retail/Independent)
Simplot Australia
01.2001 - 01.2004
- Increased distribution and sales in independent supermarkets (e.g., Ritchies, Supa IGA) by selling promotions, securing off-location displays, and targeting new business to meet monthly revenue targets.
- Built and maintained displays to enhance product presence; worked with stakeholders to implement relays and drive category growth.
Sales Support Representative (Retail)
Simplot Australia
01.1997 - 01.2001
- Merchandised FMCG products in major chains like Woolworths and Coles, achieving monthly sales targets and building relationships with area managers.
- Serviced 20 sites weekly, building displays to increase volume, and reported sales trends to monitor performance.
Skills
- Promotions and specials
- Store display management
- Training and mentoring
- Promotional planning
Accomplishments
- Nominated for MD Award, Simplot (2022 and 2018)
- Winner, Sales Representative of the Year, Simplot (2003)
- Winner, Sales Support Representative of the Year, Simplot (1999)
- Coordinated donations for Henty Agriculture Show, raising over $30,000 for Country Hope Foundation (2 years)
- Assisted Foodservice with Chiko Hand promotion, including radio giveaways in Tasmania
- Volunteered in sponsored Remote Aboriginal Community, Arnhem Land
- Volunteered at Foodbank
Certification
- Role of Return-to-Work Training, CGU (2020)
- Leading Mental Health Framework for Australian Leaders, Health@Work (2020)
- First Aid/CPR/Defib, Simplot (2011 – Current)
- Fire Warden, Simplot (2020 – Current)
- Taruna People Development/SimSelling for Coaches, Simplot (2016; Refresher 2019)
- OLP and Constructive Conversations, Simplot (2017)
Interests
Timeline
Retail Sales Manager, Victoria and Tasmania
Simplot Australia
12.2022 - Current
Safety Health and Wellbeing Manager, Corporate and Commercial (National including New Zealand)
Simplot Australia
11.2019 - 12.2022
Field Manager/Supervisor, Victoria and Tasmania (Retail)
Simplot Australia
01.2014 - 01.2019
Field Supervisor, Victoria (Retail)
Simplot Australia
01.2004 - 01.2014
Victorian Sales Representative (Retail/Independent)
Simplot Australia
01.2001 - 01.2004
Sales Support Representative (Retail)
Simplot Australia
01.1997 - 01.2001
Hobbies and Interests
Family, camping/outdoors, water sports, volunteering (e.g., community initiatives). References available upon request.
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