Senior Sales Manager - Proteins

Overview

We're hiring! Kemin is seeking a Sales Manager for our Protein team. This role is responsible for managing sales and service functions for assigned meat and protein customers, ensuring strong client relationships and delivering on performance goals. The Sales Manager will be accountable for meeting budgeted targets in sales, margin and expenses across designated region. We’re looking for a candidate with a proven track record in protein industry sales, ideally supported by a background in Food Science. This role will be responsible for servicing the Upper Midwest territory. Candidates residing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois, North or South Dakota are highly preferred. Extensive travel (60%) will be required. High potential candidates with less experience may be considered for a role commensurate with their skills and work history.

Responsibilities

• Achieve consistent growth in sales and gross margin within each of the assigned accounts, in accordance with yearly sales budgets.
• Lead Kemin’s business unit expansion and sales growth in the territory.
• Collaborate with cross functional teams in developing and implementing a marketing plan for the territory.
• Carry out specific responsibilities in each step of the sales process.
• Identifying prospective customers.
• Developing, executing, documenting and maintaining sufficient customer sales projects to exceed sales growth expectations for the territory.
• Authoring and executing strategic plans for key customers.
• Establishing relationships with individuals at all levels of the customers’ organization.
• Making technical sales presentations on Kemin products/services.
• Cooperating with product development efforts.
• Closing the sale and implementing the startup programs.
• Continued relationship building and growth with customers after the sale.
• May work together with other Account Managers in a team selling approach.
• Responsible for conducting high level meetings as well as assist customers with testing products in the manufacturing plant.
• May mentor account representatives.
• Support on building forecast reports that will feed consensus meetings with sales information for production and inventory management.
• Attends industry tradeshows, conferences, and events.

Qualifications

• Education and Experience: Bachelor’s degree in Food Science or a related field with 5+ years of experience in sales, specifically protein. Proven experience selling ingredients for the meat industry is highly preferred.
• A solid understanding of biological sciences in order to prepare and present detailed technical and commercial presentations to prospective customers.
• Prior experience in managing sales projects to a successful completion.
• A high degree of energy and personal motivation, demonstrated project and time management skills, and strong interpersonal skills.
• Proficiency with computers, including Microsoft Office products and database development programs and the ability to train others in these systems.
• Excellent communications skills.