SUMMARY:

Implements sales strategies and objectives to ensure the achievement of the organization’s goals in budget, profit, contribution margin, product mix, and market share. Sells Knouse products and maintains relationships with key decision makers in Food Service buying groups or distributors.

(PERFORMS OTHER ASSIGNMENTS OR DUTIES AS REQUIRED.)

1. Participates in setting the annual sales plan for each market area by understanding the market, customers, and products and communicating with brokers, distributors, and sales management to establish the targets for the sales plan.
2. Meets assigned targets of budgeted number of cases, profit, and contribution margin, product mix, and market share by continual analysis of:
   a. Identifying tier products to shift product mix to levels 1 and 2.
   b. Communicating with Knouse Food’s Sr. Director of Food Service/Zone Manager//Buying Groups Mgrs/ Multi-unit Sales Managers, and brokers, in determining customers’ needs.
   c. Create business plans and proposals around strategic sales KPI’s.
   d. Reviewing financial reports and sales data to complete pre- and post-analysis to ensure cost/benefit of promotions.
3. Ensures accuracy and efficiency by completing administrative paperwork for deductions and promotions; submits proposals with 30 days’ prior notice to gain approval from sales management and promotion/ pricing analyst.
4. Keeps sales plan on target by:
   a. Quarterly scheduled business reviews with brokers.
   b. Quarterly scheduled business reviews with distributors and client business partners.
   c. Monthly KPI score card performance review with brokers.
   d. Regular updates with Knouse Team leaders regarding business territory.
   e. Establishing and maintaining industry contacts that lead to sales.
   f. Maintaining up-to-date understanding of industry trends that effect target markets.
   g. Monitoring competition by gathering current marketplace information on pricing, products, or other information that may affect market share.
   h. Obtaining market information from key decision makers at trade shows and informing regional managers for follow-up leads and programs.
5. Contributes to sales effectiveness by making regular pre-planned market visits to develop and maintain relationships, deliver sales presentations, close sales, finalize proposals, and works in coordination with brokers and Knouse Food Service Sales Management.
6. Develop new markets, sales channels, and extend penetration in existing markets through creative menu ideas and concepts.
7. Submits Quarterly call reports to management by summarizing activities, results, information, trends, and other pertinent data.
8. Maintains team effectiveness by attending corporate office meetings for updates, business plan reviews, product reviews, presentations and open communications as scheduled or requested by Knouse Foods management.
9. Ensures the company’s financial health by controlling expenditures to conform to budgetary requirements.
10. Maintains customer confidence and protects the company by keeping information confidential and disclosing only on a need to know as per company policy. Ensures high ethical standards for self and brokers.
11. Contributes to the team effort by accomplishing related results as needed. Contributes to the Company effort by continually looking for ways to improve productivity and customer orientation within the region by the use of better technology, procedures, and the use of resources.
12. Maintains professional and technical knowledge/skills by using the performance appraisal system to access personal strengths and development needs to accomplish the strategic goals of the organization. With supervisor, establishes a development plan which may include, but not limited to, attending educational classes, reviewing professional publications, establishing personal networks and/or mentors and participating in professional societies.
    JOB REQUIREMENTS: Requirements listed represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability, mental/physical demands and work environments required to perform the essential job functions. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.
    Education/Knowledge/Skills/Abilities
    Ø Requires knowledge that is acquired through a pertinent business administration degree or its equivalent in experience
    Ø Three to five years’ sales experience with the ability to understand brokers’ responsibilities and customer needs/demands within the Food Service industry.
    Ø Ability to manage and motivate brokers.
    Ø Established computer skills with the ability to use spreadsheets and word processing, and PowerPoint software.
    Ø Ability to analyze and understand the nature of Knouse’s business; understand the customers’ perspective; and understand how initiatives will impact the targets of budgeted cases, product mix, profit and contribution margin, and market share.
    Ø Ability to be creative in setting up promotions that will meet targeted expectations.
    Ø Ability to read and interpret complex documents such as financial statements, trend analysis, broker and distributor contracts/agreements.
    Ø Excellent English skills, oral and written communication skills, including informal and formal presentation skills before both small and large groups.
    Ø Demonstrated ability to listen, establish rapport to gain information and negotiate with special emphasis on closing the sale.
    Ø Ability to solve practical problems at the functional level. Must be able to analyze trends, understand economic implications, analyze financial issues and make judgments or recommendations about sales issues.
    Ø Ability to prioritize, organize, and be detail-oriented
    Ø Ability to be self-motivated, confident, positive and to be persistent in getting sales results.
    Ø Ability to work with a wide variety of personalities and demographic backgrounds
    Ø Ability to maintain confidential information.
    PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The work regularly requires walking, standing, and some carrying of items up to a max of 55 lbs or more with additional assistance/carrier. Requires sitting when traveling or in meetings.
    WORK ENVIRONMENT: The travel required for the position is 50% - 70%. Automobile and air travel.
    CERTIFICATIONS/LICENSES/REGISTRATIONS: Must possess a valid motor vehicle operator’s license that is not under suspension or revocation, and possess current automobile insurance coverage.
    Job Type: Full-time

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• 401(k) matching
• Dental insurance
• Employee discount
• Flexible schedule
• Flexible spending account
• Health insurance
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Work Location: Remot