Account Representative

Sonoco · Chicago · $73,280–$82,440 (stated in the posting)

From a small family business to a multi-billion-dollar global company, Sonoco has been changing the face of products and packaging since 1899 — all while keeping the heart of “People Build Businesses” alive.

Our talented people are at the core of our growth, constantly reinventing the Sonoco wheel with brilliant solutions every year. Today we are a world leader in global packaging solutions with diversified operations in over 34 countries. We're extremely proud of our portfolio of brands, our achievements in sustainability and industrialization and the groundbreaking work accomplished by our people.

Reporting to the Sales Director, the Cascades Sonoco Account Representative will lead all direct sales activities within an assigned Midwest regional territory. This role is critical in driving growth in our Poly and Water-based coated board to service folding carton, corrugated, and other markets requiring deep customer engagement, strong business acumen, and the ability to translate customer needs into high‑value packaging solutions.

You will be responsible for building and executing account strategies, expanding multi-level relationships, and identifying opportunities aligned with our capabilities in Poly and Water-based coated board to service folding carton, corrugated, and other markets. Success in this role requires consistent territory travel, disciplined use of sales systems, and strong analytical skills to ensure accurate and actionable forecasting.

What You’ll Be Doing:

This role supports the joint venture between Cascades Inc. and Sonoco Products Company, and you will be responsible for understanding the changing market conditions, recognize developing trends, and identify creative solutions that will allow our partners to be successful in dynamic markets.
Provide insights to Marketing to support strategic planning initiatives; ensure account plans align with broader divisional strategies and market positioning.
Implement, monitor, and refine account plans to maximize effectiveness, growth, and customer value.
Develop and manage a territory sales funnel focused on new folding carton business opportunities.
Establish and maintain multi-level customer relationships, ensuring regular engagement with decision-makers, influencers, and operational contacts.
Conduct ongoing discovery to understand customer operations, challenges, and packaging needs—identifying what constitutes true value for each customer.
Promote new product innovations, service offerings, and potential applications for our folding carton capabilities.
Maintain a disciplined call plan and adjust based on market conditions, customer needs, and growth objectives.
Monitor customer facilities for activity such as expansions, closures, equipment investments, business shifts, and volume changes.
Maintain detailed customer profiles, including share of business, product specifications, pricing, competitor activity, and performance metrics.
Identify prospective accounts and support acquisition-oriented discussions where appropriate.
Maintain current information regarding gross margins, competitive pricing benchmarks, and cost drivers in the folding carton industry.
Make informed pricing recommendations aligned with margin targets, value propositions, and competitive positioning.
Use CRM systems and reporting tools rigorously to deliver accurate sales forecasting, funnel analysis, and territory performance reporting.
Leverage data to identify trends, refine strategies, and drive accountability within the sales cycle.
Provide consistent, high-quality reporting on account activity, customer updates, and progress against account plans.
Partner with internal teams—Operations, Customer Service, Engineering, and Marketing—to bring forward customer-driven solutions.
Communicate critical account information to the organization to support operational readiness and strategic alignments.
This role requires significant regional travel: approximately 3 nights per week.
Candidates must be comfortable managing a remote territory and maintaining an in-person presence with customers across the Midwest region remote (Chicago, Indiana, Ohio ideal) on a regular basis.

We’d Love to Hear From You If:

A 4-year college degree.
3+ years of experience in folding carton manufacturing, corrugated packaging.
Demonstrated success in sales prospecting, new business development, and territory growth.
Proven ability to manage complex sales development cycles and multiple concurrent customer projects.
Familiarity with folding carton design, converting processes, food service/CPG packaging requirements, and paperboard substrates.
Strong discipline with CRM tools, sales reporting systems, and data analysis to support accurate forecasting and strategic planning.
Excellent communication, relationship-building, and strategic thinking skills.
Experience in corrugated or folding carton manufacturing.

Compensation:

This is a progression position, and can be a Level I, II, or Senior, depending on experience and business needs. The annual base salary range for this role is as follows:

Account Representative: $73,280 - $82,440, plus an annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.
Account Representative II: $99,360 - $111,780, plus an annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.
Senior Account Representative: $111,760 - $125,730, plus an annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.

#LI-CB1

At Sonoco Products Company, we offer a comprehensive total rewards package, including competitive pay and benefits. *Benefits listed below are for employees located in the U.S. Specific benefits and wellbeing programs may vary depending on your location (within the U.S. or global), or if you are a union employee.

Benefits

Medical, dental, and vision coverage for you and your dependents, including FSA and HSA options
401(k) retirement plan with company match
Wellbeing tools and resources to support holistic health, including an Employee Assistance Program with a variety of services
Paid time off and holidays to recreate, rejuvenate and care for the health of yourself and family
Variety of company paid and voluntary employee-paid insurance plans including life, personal accident, and disability insurance
Tuition reimbursement

We are an equal opportunity employer, and we strictly prohibit and do not tolerate discrimination against employees, applicants or any other covered persons because of race, color, religion, national origin or ancestry, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, gender identity or expression, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any legally protected characteristic.

More jobs at Sonoco · Other jobs in Chicago

Account Representative

What You’ll Be Doing:

This role supports the joint venture between Cascades Inc. and Sonoco Products Company, and you will be responsible for understanding the changing market conditions, recognize developing trends, and identify creative solutions that will allow our partners to be successful in dynamic markets.

Provide insights to Marketing to support strategic planning initiatives; ensure account plans align with broader divisional strategies and market positioning.

Implement, monitor, and refine account plans to maximize effectiveness, growth, and customer value.

Develop and manage a territory sales funnel focused on new folding carton business opportunities.

Establish and maintain multi-level customer relationships, ensuring regular engagement with decision-makers, influencers, and operational contacts.

Conduct ongoing discovery to understand customer operations, challenges, and packaging needs—identifying what constitutes true value for each customer.

Promote new product innovations, service offerings, and potential applications for our folding carton capabilities.

Maintain a disciplined call plan and adjust based on market conditions, customer needs, and growth objectives.

Monitor customer facilities for activity such as expansions, closures, equipment investments, business shifts, and volume changes.

Maintain detailed customer profiles, including share of business, product specifications, pricing, competitor activity, and performance metrics.

Identify prospective accounts and support acquisition-oriented discussions where appropriate.

Maintain current information regarding gross margins, competitive pricing benchmarks, and cost drivers in the folding carton industry.

Make informed pricing recommendations aligned with margin targets, value propositions, and competitive positioning.

Use CRM systems and reporting tools rigorously to deliver accurate sales forecasting, funnel analysis, and territory performance reporting.

Leverage data to identify trends, refine strategies, and drive accountability within the sales cycle.

Provide consistent, high-quality reporting on account activity, customer updates, and progress against account plans.

Partner with internal teams—Operations, Customer Service, Engineering, and Marketing—to bring forward customer-driven solutions.

Communicate critical account information to the organization to support operational readiness and strategic alignments.

This role requires significant regional travel: approximately 3 nights per week.

Candidates must be comfortable managing a remote territory and maintaining an in-person presence with customers across the Midwest region remote (Chicago, Indiana, Ohio ideal) on a regular basis.

We’d Love to Hear From You If:

A 4-year college degree.

3+ years of experience in folding carton manufacturing, corrugated packaging.

Demonstrated success in sales prospecting, new business development, and territory growth.

Proven ability to manage complex sales development cycles and multiple concurrent customer projects.

Familiarity with folding carton design, converting processes, food service/CPG packaging requirements, and paperboard substrates.

Strong discipline with CRM tools, sales reporting systems, and data analysis to support accurate forecasting and strategic planning.

Excellent communication, relationship-building, and strategic thinking skills.

Experience in corrugated or folding carton manufacturing.

Compensation:

This is a progression position, and can be a Level I, II, or Senior, depending on experience and business needs. The annual base salary range for this role is as follows:

Account Representative: $73,280 - $82,440, plus an annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.

Account Representative II: $99,360 - $111,780, plus an annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.

Senior Account Representative: $111,760 - $125,730, plus an annual target bonus of 12.5% of base salary.

#LI-CB1