Lead Sales Director- Strategic Growth Accounts

Job Summary:

The Sales Lead- Strategic Growth Accounts will play an important role within the Global Ingredients Sales Team.

The objective of this will be to drive profitable growth and market penetration across Strategic Growth Accounts. The position will work closely with the leadership team to develop account strategies and how to "win" with customers in this segment.

This position will be responsible for building the customer intimacy approach by leveraging our applied almond expertise in a 2 or 3 pack account team to create value and increase margins across current business while driving insight into the develop of new almond solutions for these customers. This role will be accountable for the sale and distribution of almond ingredients across the portfolio, including protein, butter, and other ingredient systems to drive growth in emerging segments including non-dairy and beverage within the specified customer base.

To be successful in this role one will need to demonstrate strong business acumen, negotiation and communication skills, customer savvy, organizational and analytical agility, and collaboration with cross functional partners and alignment with Blue Diamond's values to maximize success across this business segment.

Job Description:

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS

• Lead the development of an annual customer sales plan for the features customers in partnership with manager, VP, GID finance, and operational planning, consistent with the goals and objectives of the GID strategy
• Ensure progress is on track to performance metrics for customers in this segment and understand impact to overall GIM/commodity performance
• Collaborate with Strategic Marketing to:
  • understand how to best leverage BDG unique capabilities to drive accretive value in customer relationships which leads to increased margin for BDG
  • work in 2 or 3 pack account team (technical manager, marketing manager) leveraging each functional expertise to communicate & create value.
  • develop deep customer insights and understanding to develop almond ingredient solutions/recommendations to advance customer's strategy and in return drive incremental volume and margin for GID
  • understand the technical and commercial reasons to believe required to articulate the benefits to the customers
  • create a robust opportunity pipeline within defined growth areas and nurture them through the sale cycle to execution
  • utilize robust account and call planning efforts to maximize sales conversion and enhance margins
• Develop relationships with key decision makers at the customer, identify the needs and tailor specific solutions that create value to the customer and profitability to Blue Diamond
• Establish strategic relationships with the target customers companies' product development, innovation, and marketing teams.
• Prospect and nurture growth opportunities through communications, programs, and other activities within defined areas of growth
• Develop and present a business case to advance ideas forward
• Understand and correlate customer needs and value especially when negotiating price
• Provide detailed and accurate monthly forecasting to planning team to ensure peak reliability
• Negotiate pricing, terms, and delivery within company guidelines to maximize sales margins and long-term profitability
• Provide specialist support and expertise to work with manufacturing plants in cross-functional teams on an as-needed basis, to assist with troubleshooting, complaint resolution, process optimization etc. for customers
• Communicate deep customer's insights - organization structure, business strategies, culture, relations - with Blue Diamond colleagues to ensure knowledge transfer to continually increase our customer intimacy
• Highly Motivated, self-starter, with willingness to take ownership in development of a brand-new role
• Ability to Travel up to 50%, including international travel

MINIMUM JOB REQUIREMENTS

• Bachelor's Degree
• 10 years of sales experience or related roles
• Experience in a team selling environment
• Required to travel for extended periods up to 40% max.

PREFERRED SKILLS AND EXPERIENCES

• MBA or Graduate Degree in Food Science
• Global Sales Experience
• Experience using CRM Software & Formalized Sales Process
• Business Development Experience
• Proven leadership skills with the ability to manage complex situations to a positive resolution.
• Exceptional business acumen, including an understanding of global markets, financial and commercial models.
• Analytically minded with an eye for process improvement.
• Clear written and oral communication skills, ability to effectively articulate complex issues across all levels of an organization.
• Ability to engage stakeholders build trust and collaborate cross-functionally
• Bilingual English/Spanish

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES

• N/A

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

While performing the duties of this job, employees are regularly required to sit, walk and stand; talk or hear, both in person and by telephone; use hands repetitively to finger, handle, feel or operate standard office equipment; reach with hands and arms

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this class. Employees work under typical office conditions, and the noise level is usually quiet.

Blue Diamond Growers is an Equal Opportunity and E-Verify Employer

EOE/Minorities/Females/Vet/Disability

Education:

Bachelors (Required)

Other Job Details:

Work Shift:

Day

Pay Type:

Salary

Hourly Rate (if applicable):

N/A

Grow your career. Partner with us. We Are the Almond People!

Blue Diamond Growers (BDG) is an Equal Employment Opportunity Employer. BDG provides equal employment opportunities to all qualified applicants without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, color, age, religion, protected veteran or disability status, or genetic information. BDG also complies with all provisions of the U.S. Government's Executive Order 11246 dated September 24, 1965 and the rules, regulations and relevant orders of the Secretary of Labor.