Job Title: Regional Foods Specialist

Supervisor: Business Development Manager

Job Type: Full-Time, Hourly Pay, Not Exempt from Overtime

Food Connects is an equal opportunity workplace that does 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 engage in a discussion about reasonable accommodations. 

About Food Connects

Food Connects is a nonprofit organization based in Brattleboro, VT. We distribute regional foods through our Food Hub, provide educational and consulting services to bring producers to market, and inspire kids to love local foods through our Farm to School Program.

We partner with producers and customers across Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts to transform the local food system. We’re growing quickly and are looking to expand our fun and quirky team.

What You’ll Do

As a Regional Foods Specialist, your priority is to expand the Food Hub’s customer base and strengthen current customer relations. You’ll help coordinate weekly sales cycles and aim to spend 20% of each week on the road visiting potential and current customers. You’ll join our Business Development Team to build our sales strategy. You’ll also work with Operations and Marketing as a partner in our Food Hub’s growth.

Job Responsibilities

Build Relationships with Customers

• Helps coordinate the twice-weekly Sales Cycle.
• Enhance existing customer relationships and develop new relationships with potential customers.
• Spends 1day per week on the road visiting new, existing, and potential customers.
• Participates in “ride-alongs” with vendors to promote their products to new, existing, and potential customers. 
• Provides prompt conflict resolution to customers and resolves order issues in conjunction with other Food Hub departments.
• Coordinates with vendors and customers on new product promotions.
• Assists the Marketing Team in developing regular marketing and promotional materials.
• Collaborates with other sales staff to respond to new customer inquiries.

Strategizing Sales

• Collaborates with sales and procurement team to increase sales and promote new products.
• Works with the Business Development Team to find new products and vendors.
• Participates in developing sales plans, strategies and monthly promos.
• Identifies target customers and markets, as well as products and categories.
• Reports on progress toward sales goals.
• Supports other sales staff in achieving their own goals.
• Maintains database of customer notes and developments in a clear, concise and consistent fashion.
• Stays up-to-date regarding current marketplace trends and regional & local seasonal availability.  

Additional Responsibilities

• Helps recruit, hire, and train new team members, as needed.
• Tracks and reports travel information such as mileage and lodging in a timely fashion.
• Attend regular one-on-one check-ins with supervisor.
• Engage in annual self-review, and participate in annual peer-review processes for employees as required.
• Occasional paid off-hours meetings and events (with plenty of advance notice).
• Other duties as needed to assist Food Connects in fulfilling its mission.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

This position is expected to work a 40-hour week, with work hours falling between Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-5:00 pm. The Sales Team will stagger times to ensure full coverage during standard business hours. The schedule may look like:

• Monday:7:30AM-3:30PM
• Tues: 8:00AM-4:30PM
• Weds: 8:00AM-4:00PM
• Thurs: 8:00AM-4:30PM
• Fri: 8:00AM-3:00PM 

This position sets communication norms with their customers, and may feel the need to field occasional evening/weekend calls.

Work Conditions

• This position is based at Food Connects’ Food Hub facility in Brattleboro, VT.
• This position offers a hybrid remote model, requiring in-office work at least 3 day/week, with remote work an option for the remaining days.
• This  position spends ~20% of their time traveling to visit customer accounts.
• Occasional paid off-hours responsibilities, meetings, and events (with plenty of advance notice).
• Monday federal holidays may require at least part-time work. Adequate advance notice will be provided.

Physical Demands

• This position entails extensive use of a laptop computer, sitting or standing at a desk workstation.
• Ability to drive continuously for a full workday. 

Qualifications

Required Qualifications 

• 1 to 2 years’ experience in one or more of the following types of roles. Some professional experience in the food industry strongly preferred.
  • Sales
  • Buying/purchasing
  • Partnership management/customer relations
  • Project management
  • Other applicable lived experience
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal: in person, over the phone, email, text.
• Excellent customer service skills.
• Strong organizational skills and natural proclivity for keeping detailed records.
• Enthusiastic ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable with change and growth in an evolving business, creative problem solver and ability to jump in where needed to optimize operations.
• Cheerful, professional presence.
• Strong knowledge of veggies, fruits, dairy, meats, value-added products and other locally-produced foods.
• Strong technical skills with computers, spreadsheets, emails, and digital business management tools such as: G-suite, Excel, Slack, Asana, and customer relationship management (CRM) software.
• Reliable cell phone.
• Reliable transportation for getting to headquarters in Brattleboro, VT.
• Valid driver’s license and reliable vehicle.
  • Food Connects offers a company-owned vehicle that can be used for road sales.  

• At least 3 professional references

   

Preferred Qualifications 

• Existing relationships with/knowledge of food producers and retailers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western MA.
• General knowledge of the sustainable food and agriculture sector.
• Strong data analysis / business intelligence skills. Experience in small business management and/or business development, especially in the food sector.
• Familiarity with the geographical area of our delivery services (Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts).
• Experience with E-commerce and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for food sales and distribution.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations.

• ServSafe Certified.

   

Compensation

• This is a full-time, non-exempt position, expected 40 hour/week.
• Hourly, beginning at $22.00 per hour. Negotiable depending on experience.
• The following benefits are offered after a 90-day introductory period:
  • Paid time off: vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
  • Short-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Access to vision and dental insurance
  • 15% employee discount on food purchases.
  • 2% employer retirement contribution, no employee contribution required.