JOB SUMMARY: The Sales Representative will be responsible for nursery plant sales for strawberry, blackberry, raspberry, and blueberry plants, both domestically and internationally. The successful candidate will manage our current customer base as well as seek new business opportunities.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Report to and work with the Sales Manager
- Consistently engage with current and potential customers
- Regular travel within California
- Occasional travel to Florida, Mexico, Canada
- Produce annual sales goals and objectives.
- Develop and execute a long-term sales plan that is focused on the priority markets.
- Forecast future sales to assist in the planning of planting the nursery.
- Work closely with Research and Development Team to develop Planasa proprietary varieties with our customers.
- Consistently provide feedback from customers to Planasa’s operations team
- Coordinate with the logistics team to schedule shipments to customers
- Execute an efficient communication process that consistently and continuously provides timely and accurate information to the Sales Manager.
- Perform critical financial negotiations on behalf of Planasa LLC which includes negotiating pricing, terms, and shipments of all nursery commodities, assisting in setting annual pricing, negotiating pro-rata deliveries, and negotiating rejections and poor performance claims.
- Coordinate customer accounts receivable management including customer profiles, credit applications, past due accounts and disputes.
- Attend seminars, conferences, and industry meetings to stay informed on the latest industry developments.
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
- Knowledge and experience in sales management, specifically in the agricultural industry.
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills are required.
- Must have skill in nurturing strong, credible relationships with growers and a variety of people.
- Ability to work independently using effective time management and organizational skills.
- Ability to make critical decisions under pressure, specifically during periods of peak operations or intense negotiations.
- Ability to adapt to change and growth in overall business operations and concepts.
- Ability to speak conversational Spanish is preferred.
- Agronomy experience with strawberry, raspberry, blackberry, and blueberry preferred.
- Ability to travel internationally.
QUALIFICATIONS:
The ideal candidate will have a background working in the berry industry and have a Bachelor’s Degree in agriculture or a related field. Valid State Driver’s License required. Valid passport with availability to travel domestic and international is required.
WORKING CONDITIONS/PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS:
Work is performed both in an office environment and outdoors visiting customers, in all types of weather conditions. Physical requirements include working for extended periods of time at a computer and spending time at the farms with customers, working long hours (seasonally).
