Key Account Executive

Van Drunen • Momence, IL

7d • Hybrid

About The Position

The Van Drunen Family of Companies is growing! As a global, growing, and vibrant supplier of fruit, vegetable, herb, grain-based, and functional ingredients, we partner with some of the world’s best food, beverage, and nutraceutical brands. We’re a family-oriented company where talented people have the opportunity to grow professionally and personally while helping shape the future of nutrition and health. This highly strategic sales role focuses on building long-term partnerships with leading brands and industry organizations. You will have the opportunity to work with innovative ingredients and clinically studied functional solutions supporting the future of nutrition and health. You will collaborate closely with Sales, Business Development, Key Account Management, Account Services, and cross-functional teams. This is a relationship-driven role with significant customer visibility and opportunities to influence new product development and business growth.

Requirements

• Five or more years of direct industry sales experience, preferably within the food, beverage, nutraceutical, or functional ingredient industries.
• A strong network of brand and industry partners with demonstrated success developing customer relationships and driving business growth.
• Proven business development and sales experience with measurable results in implementing sales strategies, solving complex customer challenges, and growing accounts.
• Strong problem-solving skills with the ability to identify customer needs and connect them to potential product and service solutions.
• Ability to use analytical data and conceptual thinking to identify business opportunities and potential product offerings.
• Excellent listening, written, and verbal communication skills with the ability to build relationships across multiple levels of an organization.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to manage multiple customer opportunities and projects simultaneously.

Responsibilities

• Drive profitable growth by developing business with key current and target partners across the functional food, beverage, and nutraceutical markets.
• Build strategic relationships with key accounts and position Van Drunen Farms and FutureCeuticals as a trusted industry partner across ingredient supply chain management, product development, and long-term growth.
• Understand customer objectives and challenges and connect them with tailored ingredient, product, and functional IP solutions.
• Identify product- and brand-specific opportunities across our broad portfolio of fruit, vegetable, herb, grain-based, and clinically studied functional ingredients.
• Partner with Sales Leadership, Business Development, Key Account Managers, Key Account Specialists, and Account Services to develop and execute strategies that grow existing accounts and new business opportunities.
• Facilitate new customer projects by gathering key information, coordinating internal alignment, and helping move opportunities from concept to execution.
• Maintain frequent communication and face-to-face customer engagement, with extensive travel across the U.S. to build relationships and grow business.

Benefits

• Supplemental compensation in the form of bonus and incentive programs, contingent upon achieving pre-established individual and company performance metrics.
• Benefits Eligible: Yes

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: No Education Listed