Account Manager (R7130)

Job Title: Account Manager (Scotland Ruminants Sales)

Location: Home / field based

Contract: Permanent

Hours: Full-time (37.5 hours per week)

Salary: Competitive

Reporting to: Sales Manager

Job Req: R7129

Your role

As Account Manager you will be responsible for selling the total feed business offering and achieving the Budgeted Volume and margin targets set by the business. The Total Feed Portfolio covers compound feed, blends, dry straights, liquids, moist feeds, and our forage products, namely seed, additive and fertiliser. These products could be sold across the dairy, beef and sheep sectors, or,in short, the ruminant customer base and prospect pool.

Working alongside the Sales Manager and other sales related specialists, you will prospect for new business and ultimately growth in market share across the region to deliver the company strategic plan.

Your responsibilities

Selling Skills and Customer/Prospect Management

• Through the implementation of principles of account management develop individual customer and prospect relationships
• Through the use of the 7 steps of selling establish the business needs of our customer/prospects, then using the proposal document make a business proposal
• Update/maintain the company CRM system to identify sales opportunities, record market/competitor information and manage the sales territory

Business Development

• Working closely with you line manager identify areas of opportunity to grow the total feed business offering and increase market share in all areas of the ruminant market
• Through product knowledge and by working with the Technical Manager and Product Managers add value to our product offering and up-sell/range sell to all customers/prospects
• Produce an individual business plan to demonstrate market share growth and direction

Budget and Performance Achievements

• Achieve budgeted volume and added value targets set my your line manager for Compound and Blend sales in line with the Sales Remuneration
• Sell the total feed business offering in addition to compound and blends, target sales of Straights and forage products
• Manage debtor days and achieve the targets set by your line manager

Training

• Use all the techniques for both customer retention and business development, which have been trained within the business
• Keep abreast of development through technical briefs, campaigns and product knowledge
• Through discussions with your Sales / Technical Manager continually improve selling skills, technical knowledge and negotiation skills

Administration/Documentation

• Complete accurately and on time all company requirements: new account forms, credit/debit notes, expenses etc
• Complaints: record and make recommendations on the settlement of complaints within agreed guidelines and achieve resolution within targeted response time
• Pricing: negotiate all pricing within agreed guidelines and submit prices through the Sales Information System (SIS) in a timely manner and ensure all contracts are completed and recorded
• Credit Control: ensure all accounts are trading within agreed terms and target direct debit payments to reduce debtor days

Operational

• Optimise delivery options, through increased 24 hour delivery, dual dates, and minimise late orders
• Implement variable haulage rates to maximise operational efficiency and manage customer expectations

Health and Safety

• To ensure that you work to a safety first culture and to provide a safe working environment, protecting all visitors to the premises and meet all legal requirements.

Your profile

Essential:

• University/College level education
• Significant relevant work experience in field sales and customer service
• Proximity and ability to service the Scotland sales territory
• Proven ability to close sales
• Entrepreneurial attitude and willingness to “go to market”
• Communication skills
• Strategic thinking capabilities
• Proactive / results driven
• IT literate
• Understanding and knowledge of the UK agricultural market

Desirable:

• Industry knowledge based on experience
• SAP C4C experience

Benefits

• Employee Assistance Programme (offering support on a range of topics).
• No two days are the same offering variety in your role.
• Options to enhance your pension after 12 months service (increased employer contributions).
• Opportunities to grow personally and develop within the business
• Cycle to work scheme.
• B&Q Trade card offering 10% discounts in-store and online.

About ForFarmers

Do you ever stop to wonder where your Sunday morning poached egg came from? Or the milk in your cafè latte? Or what about the sausage and bacon served with full English? It will come as no surprise to you that the animals which produce these products need to eat themselves too. And that’s where ForFarmers comes into the equation.

ForFarmers produces feed for cattle, pigs and poultry in both conventional and organic livestock farming. And that probably sounds a great deal simpler than it actually is. Make no mistake: an awful lot of knowledge, research and innovation has gone into one of those seemingly simple-looking chunks of animal feed. And these are the kind of things we, as a company, invest a great deal in.

Proud values:

PASSIONATE

Working for ForFarmers is more than a job; it's a passion. The farming business is what makes us tick. We do everything we can to future-proof the sector, and this ambition shines through in our behaviour and our way of working. We push back boundaries and go the extra mile for our customers, suppliers and colleagues.

RESPONSIBLE

Our actions have an impact. We help farmers work in a sustainable way so that together we can safeguard the continuity of the farming business. The same principle applies to our day-to-day operations: we take good care of our customers and other stakeholders, and always aim for the best, most efficient and most sustainable result.

OPEN-MINDED

Keeping an open mind enables us to support farmers in the rapidly changing agricultural sector. We are able to adapt to the needs and working methods of the industry and are always on the lookout for new opportunities. We are clear about our intentions and expectations and prefer to listen than to speak.

UNITED

Addressing the challenges with which the agricultural industry is faced requires a joint effort and mutual trust. We join forces with colleagues and customers and work as one team towards our shared goals. In many cases we take the lead but we are also able to follow if that produces better results.

DELIVERING

We have a natural ambition to get things done, regardless of how difficult the job is. We do what we say and say what we do. We are respectful, honest and direct at all times. It is the sign of a ForFarmers employee.

Applications

We value diversity in our workplace and welcome enquiries from everyone. Please make us aware if your need any reasonable adjustments to participate in this process.

We encourage you to submit your application as early as possible and not wait until the published closing date as this can vary.