Job Description:
Organically Grown Company, the Northwest’s Premier distributor of organic produce is seeking a full-time Sales Representative to be based out of its Portland location. With warehouses in Portland and Eugene, Oregon and Kent, Washington, OGC serves over 200 natural and fine foods stores and restaurants located throughout western Oregon and Washington, as well as retail and wholesale accounts in other western states and Canada. Check out our website at www.organicgrown.com to read about our commitment to sustainable business practices.
This position is primarily responsible for successfully selling OGC products, assisting in developing new business and for providing exceptional service in order to meet the customers’ needs.
Compensation/Salary:
$47,230 to $73,938
Responsibilities & Duties:
- Represents the Company’s product lines by servicing existing accounts, which may include both small and larger chain accounts. Obtains orders and establishes new accounts by planning and organizing a daily work schedule to call on existing and potential customers. Provides sound customer service.
- Maintains a thorough understanding of OGC’s products, quality, pack, promotions, substitutions, pricing and services to be able to match products to account needs and increase sales volume. Must have a comprehensive understanding of account needs and preferences, and how best to service each account.
- Tracks account sales to identify trends in amounts and produce purchased. Fully utilizes company software programs to track and analyze account and sales information.
- Negotiates products with customers based on margin goals, which may include providing volume discounts or other agreements. Promotes products on special or as agreed in daily sales meeting. Successfully sets ads with accounts and Buyers.
- Ensures all orders are accurately documented and entered into the computer system. Ensures orders include all necessary instructions regarding specific products, producers, and prices for other OGC employees. Keeps Buyers informed of account requests and projected volume. Monitors all expected orders for the day to ensure they are accounted for.
- With appropriate staff, solves service problems, tracks order/delivery errors, calls on accounts to resolve issues and follow up on special orders. Makes regular visits to assigned accounts to assess customer satisfaction with price, products and service.
- Frequently inspects and tastes produce in stock to stay current on quality, pack and other conditions. Assists in the crop coordination process. Makes regular annual visits to OGC’s farm suppliers.
- Processes credit requests, determines reason for loss, and informs buyers of quality issues. Follows-up with credit advice upon receipt and subsequent delivery of product.
- Performs other duties as assigned such as attending meetings and assisting with trade shows, acting as a back-up to other Account Reps’ customers as needed, etc.
- Attend conferences and actively pursue opportunities to build relationships with accounts, growers, and suppliers.
- Develops and maintains historical perspective on the marketplace to analyze and predict future trends and needs. Also maintains familiarity with competitor’s products and services. Writes up documents and other business correspondence to business partners and accounts.
- May assist Sr. Account Reps at trade shows. May set up and break down booths, participate in promotion events, provide price lists and catalogs, and network with potential customers.
Skills:
- Customer Focus
- Drive for Results
- Integrity and Trust
- Good Peer Relationships
- Problem Solving
- Time Management
- Intermediate to advanced Produce Pro Skills
- Intermediate MS Office suite software skills
- Business Acumen
- Composure
- Timely Decision Making
- Decision Quality
- Perspective
- Priority Setting
- Strategic Agility
- Presentation Skills
- Interpersonal Savvy
BENEFITS INCLUDE:
- Medical
- Prescription
- Dental
- Vision
- Alternative Care
- Flex Spending
- Life Insurance
- Short & Long Term Disability
- EAP
- 401K
- Generous PTO Plan
- Employee Discounts
- Employee Stock Ownership Plan (Organically Grown Company is employee & grower owned)
Thank you for your interest. Organically Grown Company is an Equal Opportunity Employer.
Qualifications:
Position typically requires:
- High school diploma
- 4 year college degree with a minimum of 5 years commercial produce experience and 2 years work experience at OGC servicing accounts, or overall equivalent experience.
Must have proven skills and/or experience in the following:
- Increasing sales volume for assigned accounts
- Using systems to identify and analyze sales trends
- Actively participating in farm supplier visits
- Negotiating volume or pricing agreements with clients
- Completing business documentation
- Knowledge of produce varieties and organic growing practices
- Produce retail experience preferred
- Understanding of OGC’s service and marketing policies preferred
- Knowledge of OGC’s product labels preferred
- Previous experience working for an organization with aspirational sustainability goals desired
