Food Hub Co-op​/Retail Sales Specialist; CSS

Position Title: Food Hub Co-op / Retail Sales Specialist (CSS)

Supervisor: Sales Manager

Employee Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Hourly

We are an equal opportunity workplace and will not discriminate on the basis of disability or other legally protected categories. If an employee has a disability that makes it difficult to perform their job duties, they are encouraged to notify us to discuss reasonable accommodations.

Food Connects is a dynamic nonprofit organization based in Brattleboro, VT that delivers regionally produced food and educational and consulting services aimed at transforming regional food systems. Founded in 2013, Food Connects (FC) is a catalyst for food systems change by connecting the next generation with their food, regional farmers with new markets, and school chefs with regional food.

The Food Connects Food Hub delivers source-identified, regional food from over 150 farms and value-added vendors to over 350 wholesale customers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts. Currently, we have vehicles on the road for pickups and deliveries 5 days per week. The Food Hub bolsters the regional food system by prioritizing mission over profit, returning about 80% of our sales income back to our community.

The Co-op /Retail Sales Specialist (CSS) strengthens and grows the Food Hub through supporting Co-op and large retail accounts. The Co-op Sales Specialist helps coordinate the Food Hub bi-weekly sales cycles; aiming to spend up to 4 days/week on the road visiting existing Co-op and Large Retail customers to build relationships, promote purchasing of regional & local products, and develop new customer leads in support of FC’s expansion goals.

The CSS works with the Food Hub Sales Manager and Business Development Team to continuously evolve and develop seasonal sales strategies and plans, including prioritizing product sales flow based on current inventory, promoting new products and vendors, and promotions on seasonal crops. The CSS partners with customers on in-store promotions, product sales planning and projections, and coordinates in store demonstrations, offering the highest level of customer service.

The CSS works closely with the Business Development Team, Operations Manager and Marketing Team. They participate, as needed, in decision-making on business development and the direction of the food hub as a whole. The CSS reports to the Sales Manager.

• Customer Orientation
  :
  The ability to demonstrate concern for satisfying one’s external and/or internal customers.

• Initiative
  :
  Identifying what needs to be done and doing it before being asked or before the situation requires it.

• Results Orientation
  :
  The ability to focus on the desired result of one’s own or one’s unit’s work, setting challenging goals, focusing effort on the goals, and meeting or exceeding them.

• Thoroughness
  :
  Ensuring that one’s own and others’ work and information are complete and accurate; carefully preparing for meetings and presentations; following up with others to ensure that agreements and commitments have been fulfilled.

• Task Management
  :
  Can prioritize tasks and work toward their completion through tracking details and progress and, when needed, toggling between different projects or assignments.

• Balancing Team and Individual Needs
  :
  Ability to work cohesively within a team environment while independently managing one’s own duties and responsibilities.

• Coordinates the bi-weekly Sales Cycle for Co-op and retail stores.

• Promotes sales growth by enhancing existing relationships with customers and developing new relationships with potential customers. Through these relationships, this role will understand the varied needs of our diverse customer base.

• Spends up to 3-4 days per week on the road visiting new, existing, and potential customers to build relationships, promote products, and gather feedback.

• Participates in “ride-alongs” with vendors to promote their products to new, existing, and potential customers.

• Provides prompt conflict resolution to customers, issues credits and alerts sales…