US Commercial Manager

Fall Creek is creating a world with better blueberries through its friendly, collaborative team spread across the globe. This role reports to the General Manager of US & Canada North America and involves frequent travel (30% - 50%) across US regions and Canada, with occasional international travel.

About the role

The Commercial Manager supervises and directs the customer service and sales/grower support team, as well as distributors in assigned territories. This position collaborates with other managers and departments globally, interacts with North American blueberry industry associations, and engages with key industry stakeholders and Fall Creek partners. The role operates in office, field, and nursery settings.

Responsibilities

• Collaborate with the General Manager US & Canada and Chief Commercial Officer to develop a regional commercial strategy aligned with global goals.
• Manage all sales in the assigned region and oversee commercial business relationships to ensure customer satisfaction.
• Execute activities measured against the commercial plan and hold the customer service, sales, and grower support team accountable for achieving goals.
• Work with the General Manager to create and manage the department budget.
• Oversee execution and administration of company IP licensing strategies in coordination with the Intellectual Property department.
• Implement, adopt, and optimize the use of the company CRM in the region to improve performance and efficiency.
• Manage sales, demand, and crop forecast processes, collaborating with Operations, Planning, and Production departments to forecast inventory deployment accurately.
• Establish and maintain strong relationships with customers, industry influencers, and key representatives.
• Gather market intelligence on competitors, customers, and trends to recommend strategic opportunities.
• Directly supervise and coach sales and customer service employees, including performance management, goal setting, training, and development.
• Provide leadership for day-to-day commercial department operations while focusing on strategic goals and company culture.
• Establish short- and long-term commercial goals for the region.
• Monitor intellectual property concerns and develop recommendations for managing infringements.
• Provide direction for handling product failures, customer complaints, and problems in coordination with the production department.
• Collaborate with the marketing team on planning and executing advertising, communication, and marketing plans tailored to regional needs.
• Ensure proper communication, information sharing, and collaboration within the commercial team and across departments.
• Provide input and recommendations for new products and varieties, contributing to their commercialization and market acceptance.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, horticulture, or a related field.
• 10+ years of commercial management experience, preferably in fresh produce or Ag input industries; blueberry industry experience is a plus.
• 10+ years in a supervisory or management position with proven ability to manage sales performance, develop growth strategies, and mentor staff.
• Demonstrable experience with sales planning, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Proven track record of developing and executing commercial strategies with an understanding of the US market, preferably in berries, fresh produce, nurseries, or Ag inputs.
• Understanding of intellectual property and royalty administration.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills, with the ability to present to peers, customers, and industry leaders.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines with strong attention to detail and prioritization.
• Strong collaboration skills and ability to work effectively with internal teams and industry professionals.

Qualifications

• Language skills in English; ability to communicate in Spanish is a plus.
• Master’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, Economics, or a related field (desirable).
• Experience working with an ERP system, preferably SAP or NetSuite (desirable).
• Experience working with a CRM system, such as Salesforce or NetSuite CRM (desirable).
• Able to understand complex business and political relationships.

About Fall Creek

Fall Creek is a US-based company focused on blueberry genetics, plants, and grower support for premier blueberry growers worldwide. With over 40 years of experience, we operate nurseries in Mexico, Peru, Spain, South Africa, the Netherlands, Chile, China, and expanding locations in North Africa and Eastern Europe. Our global team includes breeders, researchers, propagators, nursery professionals, grower support technicians, and sales and customer service experts. Our mission is to serve growers and support the blueberry industry by delivering the best genetics, technical expertise, and global market intelligence to maximize grower success.

Benefits

• Competitive salary.
• Health, vision, and dental insurance.
• Paid time off.
• Company-paid life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability insurance.
• 401K plan.

This position requires an executed confidentiality and non-solicitation agreement upon hire. Employment offers are contingent on meeting drug testing, background, and reference check standards.