Food Ingredient Sales Manager

Nielsen Massey Vanillas I•Waukegan, IL

13h•Remote

About The Position

Nielsen Massey Vanillas is a leading provider of high-quality vanilla extracts and flavors, dedicated to delivering innovative solutions and exceptional customer service. With a strong commitment to excellence and growth, we are looking for a dynamic and experienced Food Ingredient Sales Manager to join our Ingredients Sales Team. As Food Ingredient Sales Manager for the East Coast, you will be responsible for driving new B2B sales and managing direct customer relationships with food manufacturers across application categories. Your primary goal will be to grow our market presence by prospecting new business opportunities, maintaining and expanding sales with existing clients, and aligning with internal teams to ensure customer satisfaction and business success. This role is remotely based within the assigned region.

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree in food science or business-related field.
Minimum 5-10 years of outside sales experience selling flavors, extracts, or other value-added ingredients into the industrial manufacturing channel of the food industry.
Must have demonstrated success selling solutions to manufacturers in the following categories: Baking, Beverage, Confection, Dairy/Alt Dairy, Frozen, Snacks, Sauces & Spreads.
Proven track record of meeting or exceeding sales targets and building strong customer relationships.
Strong customer-focused approach with excellent communication, negotiation, and presentation skills.
Self-driven, proactive, and able to work independently as well as part of a team with a solution mindset.
Demonstrated strong ability to prospect effectively and convert new business opportunities.
Ability to collaborate with internal teams to achieve aligned goals and deliver exceptional results.
Strong analytical and problem-solving skills, with the ability to adapt to changing market conditions.
Willingness to travel within the region (25-40%). Located close to major airport hub.
Experience working with CRM systems, Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Canva

Nice To Haves

The employee must be capable of adapting, with minimal or no advanced notice, to changes in how business is conducted, and work is accomplished, with no diminishment in work performance. This may include, but is not limited to, organization structure, finance goals, personnel, work processes, technology, and customer demands.
All employees are responsible for observing safety and security procedures as applicable and reporting potentially unsafe conditions to management.
High energy, results-driven, determined, and flexible, with a strong and disciplined work ethic.
Sets a quick pace and raises the bar and presses the organization toward higher levels of achievement.
Measures and tracks processes and branded content assets against top competitors and the market.
Promotes superior performance against stretch goals.
Entrepreneurial mindset.
Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations.
Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities.
Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others.
Embraces a sense of urgency and enthusiasm about the future path and where we are going as a team.
Challenges the status quo and can quickly develop and execute improvement plans.
It is important that this individual has the capacity to assume greater responsibilities over time.
They must have unquestioned integrity and strong values; non-political and non-bureaucratic.
High level of emotional intelligence (EQ).
Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively deliver and reinforce consistent messages
Leverages these communication capabilities to interact with, and persuade, peers throughout the organization.
Excellent listening skills.

Responsibilities

Develop and execute a strategic sales plan aligned to channel strategy to achieve revenue targets and expand market share in the B2B channel across the following categories: Baking, Beverage, Confection, Dairy/Alt Dairy, Nutraceutical, Snacks, Spreads & Sauces.
Identify and prospect new business opportunities through market research, networking and lead generation.
Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers, providing exceptional customer service and addressing needs proactively & effectively.
Collaborate with internal teams, including inside sales, marketing, applications, innovation, planning, and customer support to ensure alignment and optimize the customer experience.
Budget and Forecast reporting.
Analyze & report on market trends and competitor activities to identify opportunities and risks while adjusting sales strategies accordingly.
Prepare and deliver compelling presentations and proposals to clients, demonstrating the value of our products and services.
Negotiate contracts and agreements, ensuring favorable terms for both the company and the customer.
Track and report sales activities within CRM to ensure pipeline is accurate.
Providing monthly updates and insights to management on key customers and opportunities.
Attend regional and national tradeshows as prioritized by leadership.