Good people, working with good people, for our common good.

Sound good?

KeHE-a natural, organic, specialty and fresh food distributor-is all about "good" and is growing, so there's never been a more exciting time to join our team. If you're enthusiastic about working in an environment with a people-first culture and an organization committed to good living, good food and good service, we'd love to talk to you!

Primary Responsibilities:

The Independent Sales Specialist is responsible for all aspects of executing the day-to-day relationship with the stores in an assigned territory. The success and compensation for the position will be based upon the Independent Sales Specialist’s ability to grow sales in each store, increase the number of displays in each store, and maintain excellent relationships with all store management and personnel.

*This role is base commission*

*Some travel- traveling to different stores during the day, no overnight travel*

* Looking for someone located in San Francisco, Bay Area, San Jose or Santa Clara areas*

Essential Functions:

• Present, sell, and execute all promotional activity to maximize sales and achieve minimal residual quantities.
• Assist in planning and executing all display programs as designated and developed by the customer both at store level and corporate headquarter level.
• Promote and sell the organization's products and services within an assigned geographic area, product range, or list of customer accounts to meet or exceed sales targets.
• Provide high quality service to accounts in an assigned territory as required to meet specific store needs and expectations. This includes writing orders, routine display/shelf presentation, and timely processing of returns and damaged product for credit as required by customer. (Account Manager duties may apply to single store operations.)
• Effectively control all credits and process them in a timely manner, write orders to maintain necessary inventory levels with a minimum of out of stocks and where appropriate, merchandise/stock our products in a neat and organized fashion that meets customer and company expectations. (Where applicable schedule, train and manage stockers.)
• Execute new product presentations and drive item development plan for these new items.
• Assess customer needs and persuade customer to include appropriate products in their portfolio.
• Identify lost sales opportunities (i.e. item voids, missing shelf tags, out of stocks at store-level, planogram integrity). Partner with store personnel to ensure all items are cut in and tagged, all items are being ordered and inventory quantities in the customer’s ordering system are accurate.
• Identify, research, and contact customers and build positive relationships that will generate future sales and repeat business. Persuade potential customers to move sales to KeHE.
• Refer new business development sales leads, customer feedback, and information on competitor activity to appropriate contacts within the organization so that they can respond to changing market conditions and customer demands. Persuade perspective customers to connect with business development team and follow up on potential items for them to include in their portfolio.
• Demonstrate fiscal responsibility and accountability for all business in assigned territory.
• Collaborate with store level personnel on details of all events including products to be demonstrated, quantities needed, locations, product education and ensure execution of each event.
• Monitor competitive activities in the territory, communicate activity to supervisory personnel and recommend paths forward to increase company profitability, and follow up on these opportunities.
• Monitor activities with new store sets and resets/remodels including reviewing item file and communicating authorization issues. Monitor all set work for accuracy and on time completion.
• Present and complete all store level surveys as needed by the customer, manufacturer, regional and corporate offices.
• Provide ongoing product education and expertise to the both the consumer and store level personnel regarding specialty, natural, and fresh items/brands we represent. Coordinate and present educational seminars to the store level personnel following as approved by the RSM/Director to support new item introductions, trends, holiday events, ethnic cuisine, etc.
• Complete special assignments and tasks identified by either the customer or KeHE.
• Attend industry shows, meetings and events as required.

Minimum Requirements:

• Minimum three (3) years’ experience in sales (preferably grocery).
• Minimum two (2) of three (3) years grocery experience, management experience preferred.
• Microsoft Office experience required, including Excel, PowerPoint, and Word.
• Ability and willingness to work flexible hours, including some weekends.
• Ability and willingness to local travel up to 75%.
• Demonstrated strength in oral and written communications with people at all organizational levels.
• Strong negotiating, communication and organizational skills as well as interpersonal skills.
• Ability to interact with a diverse group of individuals and contribute to a collaborative work environment – must be a team player.
• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage a variety of tasks simultaneously, focusing on those with the highest business impact, including anticipating problems and taking appropriate preventive action to avoid crises whenever possible.
• Seek continued product knowledge to become a specialty product “expert”. Must be motivated to achieve personal development.
• Valid driver’s license required.

Qualifications/Additional Skills/Aptitude

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. Must be able to carry 10 pounds, lift and/or move up to 75 pounds. The employee is frequently required to sit and drive. The Account Specialist is frequently required to stand, climb and walk. Must be able to travel local up to 75% of the time. While performing the duties of this position, the Account Specialist is subject to both a typical office / store environment and all outside weather conditions. The noise level in the work environments is low to high.Follow and abide by all KeHE Safety work rules and policies and procedures. Including but not limited to working safely, being aware of your surroundings and reporting any unsafe or potentially unsafe working conditions.

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $26,700.00 - $39,160.00 per year

Benefits:

• 401(k)
• Dental insurance
• Health insurance
• Mileage reimbursement
• Paid time off
• Vision insurance

Compensation package:

• Commission pay

Schedule:

• 8 hour shift
• Day shift
• Monday to Friday

Travel requirement:

• Travel

Ability to Relocate:

• San Francisco, CA: Relocate before starting work (Required)

Work Location: In person