Field Sales Consultant - Los Angeles, Orange County, San Diego

About the Role

This position carries out and achieves a sales plan assigned by the Sysco Specialty Meat Group (SSMG). The individual achieves maximum sales profitability, growth, and account penetration within an assigned territory by effectively selling the company’s products. The role involves promoting, selling, and securing orders from existing and prospective customers through a relationship-based approach, demonstrating products and services, and assisting customers in selecting those best suited to their needs.

Compensation includes salary, commission, and bonus, with commission and bonus paid out monthly.

Responsibilities

• Establish, develop, and maintain business relationships with current and prospective customers in the assigned territory to generate new business for SSMG’s products and services.
• Conduct in-person visits and presentations to existing and prospective customers.
• Take customer orders with SSMG goals in mind: sales and gross profit/stop maximization.
• Participate in and oversee the input of orders for customers through communication with inside sales partners.
• Respond promptly to customer problems and needs.
• Review daily out-of-stocks, shortages, and transportation issues, and implement solutions quickly.
• Analyze and react to daily/weekly sales and margin reports to identify improvement opportunities.
• Stay informed about product applications, technical services, market conditions, competitive activities, trends, and key distributors/sales organizations in the market.
• Participate in SSMG training, customer events, and sales meetings led by Sysco Sales leaders.
• Develop relationships with accounts payable contacts at every account and coordinate communication between them and the SSMG accounts receivable manager/representative.
• Implement “Ask Early and Often” to control days sales outstanding (DSOs) and recognize signs for when to enforce “No Ship” or “Cash on Delivery (COD).”
• Update bid files, customer profiles, and customer call sheets to ensure proper pricing and accuracy, reducing costly credits and returns.

Requirements

• High school diploma (4-year degree in culinary arts, business, marketing, agriculture/animal science, or related studies preferred).
• 2 years of prior food service sales and culinary background preferred; Center of the Plate (COP) experience strongly preferred.

Skills

• Deep expertise in the meat and seafood category or a restaurant/culinary background with the ability to quickly learn and apply new knowledge.
• Consultative sales ability.
• Self-motivated with strong time management skills and accountability without constant supervisor direction.
• Strong customer relations skills and a sense of urgency in meeting customer needs.
• Basic computer skills and proficiency with MS Outlook.

Decision-Making Authority

Decisions Made Fully Independently:

• Approach to building relationships with customers/stakeholders.
• Time and customer management.
• Customer pricing.
• Self-motivation.

Decisions Requiring Review/Approval:

• Sales strategy (review/approval required).
• Contract pricing and customer pricing (review/approval required).
• Authorizing credits and returns (review/approval required).

Pay

Salary Range: $75,000 - $95,000

Commission & Bonus: Paid out monthly.

Organizational Reporting

Reports to: Sales VP, Director, or Manager.