Description

Safe Food Alliance is a 116-year-old diverse, privately held organization, with roots firmly planted in agriculture and food-related businesses. These endeavors have been around for centuries and will continue to be a vital part of the global economy. Our vision is to promote safer food through leadership, science, collaboration, and curiosity. We currently have a Business Development Specialist position available for the area covering Northern and Central California.

SUMMARY

The Business Development Specialist (BDS) will be primarily responsible for meeting the annual sales goals in the assigned territory. The ideal candidate connects with Safe Food Alliance’s core values of Passion, Trust, Expertise, and Creativity.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Actively engaged in driving sales and promoting services identified as strategically and financially important to Safe Food Alliance.
• Identify and secure sales opportunities through phone calls, sales visits, presentations, team selling, quotes, and proposals. 
• Maintain knowledge of industry trends, competitive conditions, customer needs, and opportunities.
• Using a consultative approach, establish and develop relationships with Food Safety Managers and Senior Management decision-makers.
• Conduct customer presentations utilizing information gained from food safety training, negotiate contract terms, and lead a timely and thorough new customer process.
• Understand customer’s strategic priorities, organization, processes, systems, and business operations. 
• Build relationships and partner with various internal departments such as Laboratory, Certification Body, Training and Consulting, and Marketing to accomplish key strategic initiatives.
• Be highly engaged in the use and leverage of the Safe Food Alliance CRM system (Infusionsoft/Keap) to drive efficiency and strong results. 
• Other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• 3 to 5 years of agricultural or food industry knowledge and successful experience in sales roles for either a laboratory, manufacturer, food company, distributor, or broker. 
• Key personal/professional traits include a dynamic personality, quick learning, positive attitude, and great work ethic. Flexible, organized, and detail-oriented.
• Thrives in an entrepreneurial environment - can be scrappy, creative, and resourceful while maintaining structure and process. 
• Excels at problem-solving and finding win-win solutions.
• Proficient in Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint Presentations, outstanding oral and written communication skills.
• Experience with Salesforce or another CRM preferred.
• 50-70% travel for customer meetings, company meetings, and trade shows.
• Overnight travel is periodically necessary.

DFA of California complies with the CA Fair Employment and Housing Act and the ADA and will consider reasonable accommodation measures for eligible applicants/employees to perform the essential functions of the job.