Area Sales Manager – Food Ingredients & Chemicals

The Area Sales Manager will be responsible for growing the business in the assigned territory, capturing opportunities at key accounts, identifying key segments for growth, and then developing and implementing the plans to grow those segments. This territory contains the following states: Missouri, Kansas, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Colorado, Wyoming, Montana, Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Also the southern half of Illinois. We would like to hire someone who currently lives in Kansas City (or within a 4 hour radius).

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• Grow sales at both new and existing accounts, develop new projects by working with R&D at customer locations, and negotiate contracts and sales terms, selling value-added food ingredients and specialty chemicals.
• Customers are mostly food and beverage manufacturers and chemical distributors. All sales are B2B. Some experience interacting directly with key decision makers at target customers is preferred.
• Visit target accounts; conduct benefit-selling presentations using value propositions based on specific customer situations.
• Develop and maintain contacts with key decision makers at target accounts, working constantly to improve account traction.
• Deliver sales growth and corporate gross margin goals in assigned territory.
• Establish ongoing sales forecast for input into supply chain decisions.
• Participate in trade show activities.
• Collect and contribute data for market research, competitor profiling, and customer needs assessment.
• Develop strong technical knowledge of products offered for sale, including benefits and applications.
• Maintain and develop a computerized customer and prospect database.
• Work closely with customer service personnel, marketing, the executive team, logistics, purchasing, and technical support reps.
• Monitor and report on activities and provide relevant information to management, including sales call reports and monthly work progress reports.

QUALIFICATIONS:

• 3 years minimum experience in direct B2B sales of value-added food ingredients, nutritional raw material ingredients, flavors, and/or specialty chemicals is required
• Bachelors degree required. Specific degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biology, or Food Science is desired
• Sales ability and negotiating skills, proven ability to cultivate and maintain relationships, works well independently (capable of working alone in a large geographic area), and in teams
• Excellent communication skills, presentation skills, energetic, motivated, personable, multi-tasker
• Excellent computer skills, including Email, Internet research, PowerPoint, Excel, and Word
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed to perform duties assigned

We are looking to hire someone who already lives in the territory. Work from home and travel to see accounts in person as needed. For the successful candidate we offer a competitive base salary, annual performance bonus, annual profit sharing bonus, company car or a monthly allowance (your choice), laptop computer, cell phone, health insurance, life insurance, expense account, and more. If you are interested and qualified, please apply today!!