Job Description:
In this position you will provide leadership and strategic direction to Pacific Organic’s Sales Team and other team members focusing on enhancing revenue and grower returns. You will be responsible for visiting, handling and maintaining key client accounts, negotiation and closing deals, and ensuring good relationships through customer service excellence. You will also be responsible for leading sales in continuous improvement initiatives and business development.
Compensation/Salary:
DOE
Requirements:
- 7+ years of sales and management / leadership experience, preferably in a perishable food distribution, retail or wholesale environment.
- Organics knowledge and/or experience a plus.
- Demonstrated experience meeting and exceeding sales budgets.
- Competent working with sales systems and MS Office Suite, including Outlook, Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
- English/Spanish bilingual skills a plus.
- Valid driver’s license required.
Responsibilities & Duties:
-
Establish and lead an effective sales team through recruitment, training, coaching and developing of sales staff to improve knowledge and sales skills and techniques.
-
Effectively communicate areas of responsibility, performance expectations and execution of team goals;
-
Ensure proper training of employees;
-
Establish annual performance goals;
-
Identify ways to inspire a drive for process improvement;
-
Provide periodic 1-2-1s on workload and technique;
-
Conduct timely and effective employee evaluations;
-
-
Facilitate resolution of customer issues, ensuring order fulfillment;
-
Maintain existing customers and revenue; develop and grow customer business, partnerships and relationships through sales staff.
-
Review inventory, incoming product estimates, and general supply to determine customer needs and market pricing.
-
Responsible for timely movement of inventory to manage product freshness and to urgently sell long, aged or poor quality inventory.
-
Responsible for overseeing sales staff in the development, approval and execution of retailer ads.
-
Responsible for the development and execution of program sales.
-
Meet with key clients, assisting sales team with initiating and maintaining relationships, negotiation and closing deals.
-
Communicate to Supply Chain on quality and logistics problems and collaborate to determine quick solutions.
-
Provide strategies and creative solutions for assigned accounts. Visit accounts as necessary to enhance relationships, grow business and resolve problems. Act as Inside/Outside Sales Representative as necessary; handle assigned call loads.
-
Facilitate sales meetings, actively participate and contribute in sales and other business meetings.
-
Develop sales and margin budgets and develop detailed strategic plans.
-
Develop marketing plans and coordinate trade shows.
-
Collaborate with internal business partners to develop and sustain relationships with growers and other supply lines.
-
Manage the process and collaborate with business partners in deal forecasting and planning.
-
Provide timely responses to grower questions and offer solutions to deal problems.
-
Coordinate and/or lead other special projects as identified.
-
Follow all policies and procedures outlined in the Pacific Organic Produce Recall Plan.
-
Work with team to control gross profit margin, customer credit; monitor credit and payment history for each customer.
-
Actively obtain feedback from customers on sales team effectiveness.
-
Perform all duties and responsibilities in a highly ethical manner and in accordance with Company policies and procedures; embody these behaviors in a leadership role and serve as a role model for others.
-
Perform other duties and projects as assigned by management.
Education:
Bachelor’s degree or equivalent training and experience.
Skills:
Qualifications:
-
Ability to demonstrate high level of personal initiative to achieve goals and objectives.
-
Able to develop and execute sales strategies and account planning to exceed sales goals.
-
Capable of leading courageously: willing and able to address difficult issues; puts self on the line to deal with important problems; stands firm when necessary.
-
Ability to effectively lead, coach, inspire, motivate and train sales personnel. Able to accurately assess strengths and development needs of employees; capable of providing timely, specific feedback and helpful coaching; able to provide challenges and opportunity for development.
-
Able to effectively assign responsibilities, delegating and empowering others to do assignments. Capable of removing, allow for and contribute necessary resources. Able to coordinate work efforts when necessary.
-
Innovative, forward thinker; able to anticipate issues/opportunities and work through obstacles and potential roadblocks.
-
Able to develop and maintain effective, positive internal/external working relationships with a diverse group of individuals throughout the organization and exemplify these qualities in a leadership role.
-
Ability to work effectively in a highly open, dynamic and collaborative environment.
-
Able to perform effectively in an environment that is progressing rapidly and where multiple priorities and tasks need to be constantly addressed.
-
Highly motivated sales professional with strong team work ethic.
-
Ability to drive sales in a customer-centered environment.
-
Excellent influencing and negotiating skills.
-
Strong organizational and multitasking skills; ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously for self and others.
-
Excellent oral/written communication and presentation skills.
-
Strong integrity; able to demonstrate principled leadership and sound business ethics; shows consistency among principles, values and behavior. Able to build trust through own authenticity and commitment to follow-through.
-
Strong computer skills, including various sales systems, MS Excel, Word, PowerPoint and Outlook; competent to learn and adapt to new computer applications, system upgrades and other technology as necessary.
