Job Description

SUMMARY:

This position is responsible for handling key accounts on sales of specific produce (commodities) by identifying current and future market prices, negotiating customer pricing and orders, anticipating customer needs, managing sales margins and expanding new customer base, while providing superior customer service. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

On a daily basis:

· Verifies inventory and maximizes sales by balancing customer demands, vendor supplies, and other factors. Manages shrink and losses.

· Ensures that product returns from customers are accounted for and adjustments are made in physical inventory.

· Calls upon customers to take orders. Cold-calls and follows-up with potential new customers. Accepts customer orders; ensure orders are entered and recorded accurately.

· Regularly cultivates positive and productive sales relationships with customers. Ensures customers receive timely and accurate information on product availability, quality and market price. Negotiates pricing with key customers per order.

· Regularly cultivates positive and optimal supplier relationships with farmers, packing houses, and shipper representatives.

· Liaises closely with warehouse operations and receivers to ensure high-quality product and appropriate credit management when necessary.

· Monitors current and anticipated future market price ceilings/floors for all commodities.

Acts as a resource and commodity expert for assigned commodities including seasonal fluctuations, pricing strategies, selling strategies, futures, crop damage, and inventory optimization. Sets price-after-sales, as appropriate.

· Supports the accounts receivable/credit department to communicate with customers, as appropriate.

· Coordinates sales activities with transportation, warehouse operations, food safety, and finance to ensure customer satisfaction on all levels.

· Manages and grows existing key customer accounts.

· Drives business development for commodities including identifying, qualifying, and facilitating meetings for potential new customers.

· Facilitates vendor and customer meetings and presentations.

· Suggests substitutions to customers for items ordered that are unavailable or otherwise unacceptable; encourages customers to purchase maximum possible amount of product conducive to their business.

· Responds to customer phone inquiries and ensures that customer comments, problems, complaints and requests are resolved and/or forwarded to the appropriate individual(s) in an appropriate and timely manner.

· Visits vendors and customers as necessary. Conducts customer business reviews.

· Consistently focuses on ongoing, continuous learning to improve sales skills and techniques and facilitate improved sales per customer.

On a regular basis:

· Attends and actively participates in trade shows; executes follow-up.

· Communicates with co-workers, management, customers, and others in a courteous and professional manner.

· Conforms with and abides by all regulations, policies, work procedures, and instructions.

· Performs other duties and projects as assigned by management.

COMPETENCIES:

· Business Acumen.

· Communication Proficiency.

· Customer Focus.

· Initiative.

· Results-driven.

· Problem Solving/Analysis.

· Strategic Thinking.

· Organizational Skills.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITY:

This position does not include any supervisory responsibility.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

This job operates in an indoor office and refrigerated warehouse setting. Regular working conditions include close quarters, sectioned-off cool rooms of 33-35 degrees F., some moisture on floors and stairs. Some work occurs in the dock areas, which are outdoors and covered. This role routinely uses standard office equipment such as computers, keyboards, telephones, photocopiers, fax machines, and filing cabinets.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle or feel; and reach with hands and arms. The employee is occasionally required to sit, climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl. The employee must frequently lift and move up to 15 pounds and occasionally lift and move up to 40 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus. As the office of this position is located on the second floor, climbing up and down stairs is required. Occasionally, this position requires work to be performed in a cold environment up to 30-degrees Fahrenheit.

POSITION TYPE/EXPECTED HOURS OF WORK:

This is a full-time position. Days and hours of work are Monday through Friday, 12:30 am to 9:30 am. Occasional evening and weekend work may be required as job duties demand.

TRAVEL:

This position does may require overnight travel. Some daily driving of an automobile is possible.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

· High school diploma or GED

· Minimum 5 years of related work experience (produce industry)

· Or equivalent combination of education and experience

REQUIRED SKILLS:

· Computer skills

· Creative problem-solving skills

· Math skills

· Negotiation skills

· Sales skills including ability to close sales

PREFERRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

· Minimum 7 years of related work experience (produce industry)

· Specific commodity/produce experience

· Supply-side experience

PREFERRED SKILLS:

· 10-key by touch

· Produce Pro® experience

· General produce knowledge

· Spanish language skills (written/spoken) are helpful.

Salary: $19 - $28 or DOE