Account Manager - Food Ingredients

Increases profitable sales in assigned EMEA territory, by developing current and prospect accounts (and distribution partners) into commercial sales. Develops sales opportunities and services customer accounts in assigned territory. Maintains relationships with all levels at assigned customer accounts. Assesses customer product needs and goals, demonstrates value, and achieves budgeted sales levels. Protects existing account base and introduces and promotes new products to attract new business. Provides feedback to Marketing, Applications, Product Development, and Business Units on sales and product trends and customer preferences. Remains current in necessary training programs according to the official company training matrix.

Responsibilities

• Plans, schedules, and makes regular face-to-face sales calls to assigned accounts and territory prospects. Arranges meetings with various company professionals, demonstrating value-based selling to multi-level stakeholders. Communicates results of sales calls via timely call reports via Salesforce

• Develops sales strategies and sales budgets for geographical territory, application areas (Bakery, Meat and Confectionery) and assigned accounts. Regularly reviews and provides status reports on progress against sales budget.

• Communicates and maintains accurate customer forecasts for product usage.

• Coordinates sales efforts to ensure effective sales service, customer relations, and administrative needs. Investigates customer complaints and assures prompt, effective solutions. Responds to customer inquiries for samples, technical data, and support. Responds to customer inquiries on the use and application of products.

• Obtains and reports marketing data for successful achievement of business objectives and strategies. Monitors trends, competitive activity, product development, and market penetration. Recommends course of action to prevent loss of existing business.

• Daily contact with customers and monitoring of competitive activity in assigned territory.

• Independently identifies customer needs and works closely with Marketing, Product Development, Business Unit Management, and other staff to deliver marketable products in concert with customer needs. Makes decisions on products to demonstrate to customers. Receives limited supervision and direction on territory management.

• Continuous search for new potential accounts as a means for increasing sales in assigned territory (including “cold calls” to potential customers).

• Follows all safety policies and procedures including use of safety equipment (PPE) and equipment safeguards.

• Must have polished customer relations, sales, and technical skills.

• Ability to coordinate the efforts of company and customer teams and establish strong working relationships.

• Excellent follow-up and organizational skills. Must have 5 to 7 years of hands-on sales experience and knowledge of food specialty ingredients (ideally towards the meat, bakery and/ or confectionary markets) in the European market.

• Bachelor’s degree required. Preferably in Food Science, Chemistry, or other related field.

• The role requires a self-starter that is independent and highly motivated.

• Ideal candidate resides in the Randstad (The Netherlands).

• Willingness to travel internationally; travel is estimated to be approximately 50%.

• Multi-lingual skills (besides English) is a pre.

• Must have a strong track record of closing sales agreements with customers.