Now Hiring - Western Montana Growers Cooperative - Produce Sales Category Manager in Missoula, MT

Full description of the position

Job Description Title: Sales - Produce Category Manager Location: Missoula, MT Compensation: $21.50 DOE/hour, full time Benefits : Employee healthcare plan, Paid Time Off, Paid Holidays, Employee Discount Start Date: Immediate This position is a full-time job focused on the purchasing and sales of fresh produce from local and regional farmers. The primary objective of this position is to maintain excellent relations with WMGC wholesale customers, members, and vendors and encourage the sale of products from WMGC producers to customers. The Category Manager is responsible for maintaining many existing customer and vendor accounts while also being tasked with developing new business. They are responsible for compiling information from Produce growers to share with other sales and operational staff members. While this position emphasizes Fresh Produce, a working knowledge of all WMGC items will be necessary for successful customer interactions. A successful candidate must have excellent written and oral communication skills, be a skilled negotiator, and possess a group-first attitude. They must also have at least 2 years of experience in sales and marketing and a working knowledge of produce production systems. Strong computer skills (word processing, spreadsheets, database, and bookkeeping) are a must. Applicants must have a strong desire to promote local food and community-based food systems. This position will require travel for in-person customer visits, including occasional overnight stays, and therefore requires a valid drives license. Primary Objectives * Facilitate the sale of products from WMGC producers to customers. * Plan produce production with WMGC members based on market needs. * Coordinate purchases from vendors based on market demand. * Ensure that WMGC customers receive exceptional customer service. * Develop and implement sales and marketing strategies that meet the needs of WMGC members and vendors. Job Duties include * Create customer orders within WMGC sales software biweekly * Generate purchase orders for inventory weekly or as needed * Visit customers to discuss product merchandising, promotions, and product availability * Meet weekly with WMGC Sales Manager and other sales staff members to discuss upcoming product availability, new opportunities, and general issues relevant to the business. * Forecast product demand to ensure inventory sustainability and accurate budgeting * Maintain and develop inventory par levels for various products based on customer demand and space availability * Call on potential accounts to develop new business. * Generate product information for weekly marketing emails to inform and engage customers. * Visit farms to discuss production and marketing needs. * Monitor competition and market trends by gathering current marketplace information on pricing, products, new products, delivery schedules, merchandising techniques, etc. * Discuss product information and specs with WMGC producers and vendors to represent their products more accurately * Resolve customer complaints by addressing issues with tact and referring to management when necessary. * Communicate opportunities, developments, and feedback gathered on customer visits to the appropriate staff member(s). * Attend occasional trade shows, marketing events, trainings, and community events. * Liaise with the warehouse and transportation teams to ensure that producer and customer needs are being met. * Other duties as assigned. Required Skills and Education * Applicant must be self-motivated and have a strong desire to improve local food systems. * Applicant must be willing to work through ambiguity and be adaptable to a changing work environment. * Attention to detail and accuracy in execution are critical * Willingness and ability to work a flexible schedule * Strong written and oral communication skills are paramount * Must maintain a clean, professional appearance and present a positive personal and company image to the public. * Ability to prepare and deliver presentations to customer groups. * Ability to adapt to changes in technology. * Experience with MS Office, Google Workspace, CRM software, and inventory management systems. * Ability to provide detailed product information to customers * This position requires weekly travel to visit customers and may include occasional overnight stays. A valid driver's license and dependable transportation are required at all times. * WMGC is a small company, and successful employees must be willing to assist in jobs other than their own. A team-first attitude is a must. General Guidelines As an employee of Western Montana Growers Cooperative you should: * Keep the co-op's mission in mind: Our mission as members or employees of The Western Montana Growers Cooperative is to provide people within our region with fresh, quality products from our member 's farms; to build a stable company based on cooperative principles and personal relationships which delivers quality to our customers and provides improved income return for our members. Within this mission, the cooperative shall whenever possible work to support small-scale, family-run, and regionally-based sustainable farms and encourage cooperation and mutual aid among farmers. * Perform your tasks with accuracy, efficiency and professionalism. * Establish priorities with GM's assistance * Be sensitive to how your work affects the work of your fellow employees. * Approach your work with creativity, offering suggestions for improvements. * Attempt to evaluate your work from a financial perspective, considering how your actions impact the co-op's sales and profitability. * Keep confidential any information you receive about customer sales, purchases from growers, and overall co-op financial performance. * Treat your fellow employees, customers and growers with fairness, courtesy and respect. Practice honesty and tact. * Communicate any significant problems to the GM in a timely fashion. * Expect an evaluation from the GM annually, and ask for one to be scheduled if necessary. * Provide constructive feedback to Management with ideas to improve the business. * Keep truck clean and organized * Do whatever is reasonable to keep customer and grower satisfaction high. Job Type: Full-time Pay: From $21.50 per hour Benefits: * Employee discount * Flexible schedule * Health insurance * Paid time off Schedule: * 8 hour shift * Monday to Friday Work Location: Hybrid remote in Missoula, MT 59802