Sales Specialist

Land O'Lakes • Lansing, MI

9d • $72,000 - $88,000

About The Position

Sales Specialist Position Summary The Dairy Sales Specialist represents Purina Animal Nutrition products to dealers, co-ops and direct to producers within an assigned market or territory. Territory focus will be western & central Michigan covering cow-dense counties and markets. This role is responsible for managing dealer and co-op relationships, driving growth of Purina products at the dealer level and at the farm gate, and expanding distribution within the assigned market. The Dairy Sales Specialist builds upon existing relationships while proactively identifying and pursuing new sales opportunities. This role will partner with customers in Michigan. Candidates must live in the territory.

Requirements

• Strong verbal and written communication skills, including effective sales presentations.
• Ability to analyze sales data and customer information to support decision-making.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills to manage multiple accounts and priorities.
• Ability to develop plans and goals to accomplish tasks efficiently and effectively.
• General management, analytical, and problem-solving skills.
• Solid understanding of animal husbandry, management practices, and nutritional guidelines.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office and virtual collaboration tools.
• Ability to build and maintain positive relationships with customers and internal stakeholders.
• Willingness to travel overnight approximately 10-20%.
• Bachelor’s degree in Animal Science or a related field.
• Typically 3-5 years of relevant sales and/or animal nutrition experience.

Responsibilities

• Sales & Market Development Build and grow strong relationships with assigned dealers and co-ops to promote Animal Nutrition products within the market.
• Gain a solid understanding of customer and market needs and communicate how the Animal Nutrition product portfolio addresses those needs.
• Identify and pursue new business opportunities with new prospects through proactive relationship management within the assigned territory.
• Manage a range of sales calls, from routine follow-ups to moderately complex sales situations, with moderate supervision.
• Qualify, pursue, and close new opportunities independently as required.
• Account & Territory Management Establish and maintain strong relationships with a defined set of accounts or territories.
• Understand and help manage current inventory levels at dealers and co-ops, providing accurate product availability updates.
• Serve as an “account quarterback” at designated accounts when multiple sellers are involved, as applicable.
• Address customer needs, recommend solutions, and ensure customer satisfaction.
• Tools, Systems & Data Use CRM systems such as Salesforce to manage customer interactions, track sales activities, and maintain accurate records.
• Utilize reporting and analytics tools such as Power BI to support sales activities and identify opportunities for improvement.
• Analyze sales data and customer information to inform decisions and recommendations.
• Business Acumen Demonstrate general business skills and understanding of Animal Nutrition products and services.
• Apply basic financial literacy including revenue, costs, pricing, profit and loss, and ROI.
• Use company-provided tools and technology to obtain relevant insights.
• Demonstrate understanding of Animal Nutrition’s mission, values, goals, and objectives.
• Collaboration & Teamwork Work closely with internal teams such as sales, marketing, and customer operations to align strategies and achieve results.
• Participate in team meetings, sharing customer insights and progress toward sales goals.
• Collaborate with peers and managers for guidance on challenging sales situations.
• Share customer feedback and best practices to support continuous improvement.
• Learning & Development Demonstrate willingness to continuously learn and adapt to new sales techniques, tools, and industry trends.
• Participate in training sessions and workshops to enhance sales skills and product knowledge.
• Incorporate feedback from managers and peers to improve performance.
• Seek mentorship from senior team members to support professional growth.

Benefits

• Benefits for most full-time roles include medical, dental, vision, PTO, life & disability insurance, education assistance, a 401k and a variety of well-being resources.
• Most part-time employees are eligible for prorated PTO, holiday pay, employee development programs, prorated education assistance, and a 401(k).

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level