Sales Associate

Company Overview

Synergy Flavors, part of the Carbery Group, is a leading international supplier of ingredients to the global food and beverage industry. We are committed to developing high‑quality taste solutions that inspire innovation and elevate everyday experiences.

The Sales Associate is a commercial role responsible for managing and growing assigned corporate accounts, developing new business opportunities, and driving customer engagement to support revenue growth. This role serves as a key link between customers and internal teams, ensuring a high level of responsiveness while identifying opportunities to grow revenue, strengthen customer relationships, and support the commercial objectives of the business.

The Sales Associate role serves as the primary development pipeline for future Account Managers, providing hands‑on experience in customer relationship management, business development, account growth, and commercial strategy.

• Customer & Account Support:
  • Serve as a primary point of contact for inbound customer inquiries, sample requests, pricing requests, and commercial support needs.
  • Build and maintain strong customer relationships through proactive communication and follow‑up.
  • Coordinate with Customer Service, R&D, Operations, and other internal teams to ensure timely execution of customer projects and resolution of customer issues.
  • Manage assigned customer relationships to drive retention, identify growth opportunities, and mitigate risks to existing business.
  • Represent Synergy professionally and act as a trusted business partner to customers.
• Opportunity & Pipeline Development:
  • Identify, qualify, and develop new business opportunities within existing and prospective accounts.
  • Generate and follow up on leads received through marketing activities, trade shows, customer referrals, website inquiries, and other commercial channels.
  • Develop and execute customer growth plans for assigned Corporate Accounts to drive revenue growth and account expansion.
  • Manage assigned opportunities through the sales cycle and partner with Account Managers on larger or strategic opportunities.
  • Maintain awareness of market trends, competitive activity, and customer needs to identify growth opportunities.
• Inside Sales & Commercial Operations:
  • Manage inbound commercial activity, including customer requests, quotations, pricing inquiries, samples, and project follow‑up.
  • Prepare quotations and support commercial negotiations within established guidelines.
  • Track customer projects, opportunities, and account activity through CRM systems.
  • Maintain accurate sales forecasts, opportunity pipelines, and customer records.
  • Participate in account planning, commercial reviews, and sales strategy discussions to support revenue growth and customer development.
  • Collaborate with Finance, Customer Service, and Operations to resolve issues impacting customer satisfaction or business growth.
  • Limited travel may be required to support customer meetings, trade shows, business development activities, and commercial initiatives.

• Bachelor’s degree strongly preferred (equivalent relevant business experience will be considered).
• 1‑2 years of experience in sales, customer service, account management, or a related commercial role.
• Strong communication and relationship‑building skills.
• Demonstrated ability to identify customer needs and develop business opportunities.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast‑paced environment.
• Strong organizational and problem‑solving skills.
• Experience with CRM systems and Microsoft Office applications.

• Customer Focus
• Commercial Mindset
• Relationship Management
• Communication Skills
• Accountability
• Collaboration
• Business Development
• Results Orientation

• Number of opportunities successfully transitioned to Account Managers.
• Revenue growth within assigned accounts.
• New opportunity generation.
• Pipeline development and conversion.
• Customer retention and account growth.
• Customer responsiveness and service levels.
• CRM compliance and data quality.

Salary Range: $66,000 to $89,000. The actual compensation offered will depend on factors such as geography, skills, experience, and education.

Department:
Sales
•

Location:

Wauconda, Illinois
• Work Arrangement:
Hybrid
• Reporting To:
Sales Director

Carbery Group is proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to fostering a supportive work environment. We employ 1,000 people in 8 countries and strive to include diverse perspectives and talents across all functions.