WHAT’S GROWING AT VAN DRUNEN FARMS AND FUTURECEUTICALS? WE ARE!
As a global, growing, and vibrant ingredient and nutritional supplement supplier to the world’s best companies, our client Van Drunen Farms and FutureCeuticals are always seeking positive and talented employees to help our company reach the next level. We provide a family- oriented company and an opportunity to grow professionally and personally.
This is a hybrid role based in our Momence, IL office, with an expectation of three days onsite and two days remote. However, the onsite schedule is open for discussion depending on the candidate's location.
JOB OVERVIEW:
The Key Account Executive drives profitable growth by focusing on business development among our key current and target partners in the functional food, beverage, and nutraceutical markets. Our Key Account Executives focus on strategic sales with partners who represent multifaceted opportunities in ingredient supply chain management, product development, and long-term growth. The KAE’s goal is to understand the objectives and challenges of each account so that our broad capabilities can be custom-tailored to advance the success of each opportunity. The KAE works hand-in-hand with the Sales Manager, Key Account Managers, Key Account Specialists, Account Services Coordinators and Business Development team to grow and support accounts and foster the development of sales relationships with prospects. This position requires extensive time spent communicating with current and prospective accounts via phone, email, and travel as necessary to adequately service the accounts and grow the relationships across multiple departments within the organizations. The KAE also has a working knowledge of the competitive landscape for fruit, vegetable, herb, and grain-based ingredients as well as our clinically-studied, functional IP offerings and has a singular focus on working with the best brands to help them understand the value proposition of collaborating with a primary ingredient manufacturer with unmatched capabilities. This position requires travel across the US, as face-time with the customer is essential to growing relationships and business.
DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Make it easier for our customers to develop and deliver high quality, nutritious products
- Identify product and brand specific opportunities for the broad range of our ingredients.
- Build relationships at key accounts to establish ourselves as industry partners for each market they serve
- Work closely with Sales Manager and the Business Development Team (where appropriate) to develop strategies to drive growth with both existing clients and new prospects and execute on these strategies with frequent communications and face-to-face meetings
- Hands-on facilitation of gathering key info from customers on new projects and opportunities and working with Sales Leadership, Key Account Managers and Key Account Specialists to gain approval and buy-in, and execute a plan to bring the project to fruition
- Works closely with Key Account Managers, Key Account Specialists and Account Services Coordinators on improving service for all assigned accounts
- Work with all relevant internal teams to ensure the highest quality of service on assigned accounts and prospects
- Assist the efforts of Sales Support and Sales Ops with requesting and gathering key customer info on projected demand volumes and timing when needed
- Works with Sales Manager to set account-specific goals.
JOB EXPERIENCE:
- 5+ years of direct industry sales experience highly preferred.
- Strong network of brand and industry partners
- Prior experience in business development or sales with demonstrated skills in developing strong customer relationships, implementing sales plans, solving complex problems, and delivering measurable sales results
KNOWLEDGE & SKILLS:
- Well versed in problem solving with keen ability to identify customer/client pains and provide potential solutions through our products and services.
- Ability to utilize both analytical data and conceptual ideation to help identify potential business solutions and/or product offerings to our customers.
- Excellent listening, verbal, and written communication skills.
- Project Management skills with ability to drive multiple projects simultaneously.
- A self-starter with an entrepreneurial approach.
- Skilled in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and E-mail
EDUCATION:
- Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration or related business discipline.
Disclaimer
The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this job. They are not intended to be an exhaustive list of all responsibilities, duties and technical skills required of personnel so classified.