What are the responsibilities and job description for the INSIDE SALES REPRESENTATIVE position at Grain Processing Corporation?
Are you energized by building relationships, uncovering opportunities, and helping customers bring innovative products to life? Grain Processing Corporation, a KENT WORLDWIDE™ company, has an Inside Sales Representative opportunity on our Specialty Ingredients Sales team in Muscatine, Iowa. You’ll play a pivotal role in connecting our unique ingredient solutions with leading brands across the food, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. In this role, you’ll serve as the trusted point of contact for customers—driving sales growth, supporting strategic marketing efforts, and providing exceptional service every step of the way. You’ll engage closely with cross‑functional partners, monitor industry trends, and help shape the future of our specialty products portfolio. If you’re motivated, customer-focused, and curious about the science behind market‑leading ingredients, this is a place where you can truly make an impact.
- This position is designed and intended to be performed in Muscatine, Iowa and offers a comprehensive benefits package, with the opportunity to join a high-performing innovative team!
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES
- Manage the sales and marketing efforts for assigned Specialty Ingredients product lines
- Maintain ongoing communication with customers to understand applications, industry trends, and emerging market opportunities
- Monitor and report competitive activity, including pricing changes, new product introductions, policies, and quality concerns
- Maintain accurate, up-to-date customer and sales information in Kent CRM
- Conduct market surveys and support special projects related to market intelligence and strategic initiatives
- Build and nurture customer relationships through phone, written, and in‑person communication to drive sales and strengthen partnerships
- Cultivate key accounts by engaging with Procurement, R&D, Product Development, Marketing, and other cross‑functional stakeholders who influence purchasing decisions
- Develop and manage contracts and agreements to support customer relationships and gather competitive insights
- Research, identify, and pursue new business opportunities while expanding engagement within existing accounts
- Oversee new customer onboarding for all Specialty Ingredients accounts to ensure a seamless setup process
- Serve as a liaison between Sales and Customer Service to support pricing, product information, and service needs
- Perform other duties as assigned
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, & QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS
- Bachelor of Science degree in a relevant field required
- Experience in technical sales or account management, particularly within food, personal care, or pharmaceutical ingredients preferred
- Ability to align work and decision‑making with the company’s long‑term objectives
- Strong understanding of market dynamics and ability to connect product value with customer needs
- Demonstrated capability to assess, analyze, and structure problems effectively
- High level of honesty, integrity, and ethical business conduct
- Ability to work independently and thrive within an assigned sales territory
- Results‑oriented with a strong drive to achieve goals and deliver performance outcomes
- Excellent verbal and written communication skills
- Logical, organized, creative, and detail‑oriented approach to work
- Confident and proactive communicator who collaborates well as part of a team
- Ability to develop and execute targeted sales strategies
- Proficiency with standard computer applications and sales-support technologies
TRAVEL
- Some travel (<10%) may be required to customers, training, or company events