Sales Development Manager
Okanagan Specialty Fruits
Summary
The Sales Development Manager is responsible for managing brokers and strategic key accounts across all channels: retail, food service, wholesale/distributor, K-12, hospitality, and convenience. By executing the strategic sales plan, this role drives profitable growth through strong business relationships and a deep understanding of key account needs.
Job description
Position Responsibilities
- Lead external communication with assigned key strategic accounts through business reviews, joint business planning, and forecasting to enhance sales performance and continuous product portfolio growth.
- Collaborate with the sales team to support and deliver go-to-market strategies, while providing solutions for issues pertinent to business success.
- Manage customer pricing in line with budget targets.
- Accountable for account forecasts and estimated growth plans and develop mutual key performance indicators with customers to achieve sales success.
- Collaborate with the marketing team in building, implementing, and executing promotional calendars and other promotional activities to increase sales movement and generated revenue.
- Maintain a thorough working knowledge of all programs and a complete awareness and understanding of the industry as it pertains to competition, markets, products, pricing and trends.
- Build and maintain strong relationships with customers, brokers, and various stakeholders by proactively responding to special requests and managing day-to-day key issues and challenges.
- Effectively track in CRM and communicate all follow up customers' activities for sales team members, assuring the Director of Sales is up to date on status on all activities.
- Use a variety of data sources, such as internal sales reports, Nielsen data and market trends to collaboratively develop and suggest avenues for growth with business partners.
- Actively participate in all Sales team meetings and reporting.
- Attend relevant sales functions activities, such as exhibits, trade shows, and other events as requested.
- Work closely with all internal team members, brokers and external customers to ensure high customer satisfaction.
Requirements
- 4-year college degree in business, ag-business, ag-marketing or related field
- 5+ years' experience in produce sales and account management functions
- Experience working in a collaborative atmosphere with various departments
- Strong sales acumen with strategic, holistic approach to category management, sales forecasting, and key account development
- Strong comprehensive knowledge of all channels within the industry
- Knowledge of school K-12 business, DoD contracts and overall USDA school programs
- Understanding of value-added produce products
- Strong computer skills including Microsoft Office Suite (Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Excel)
- CRM software experience highly preferred
- Creative thinking with ability to resolve problems and conflicts with customers
- Excellent organizational skills, ability to multi-task and work under tight deadlines with strong attention to detail
- Self-motivated team player with strong interpersonal skills
- Exceptional written and verbal communication skills
- Ability to leverage past and current professional relationships to achieve sales targets
- Ability to travel by air, train, car as situation dictates
Company overview
Okanagan Specialty Fruits Inc. (OSF) is a pioneering agricultural biotechnology company founded in 1996 by apple and cherry growers Neal and Louisa Carter. Based in Summerland, British Columbia, Canada, OSF specializes in developing novel tree fruit varieties through advanced bioengineering techniques. The company's flagship product is the Arctic® apple, the world's first non-browning apple variety that maintains orchard-fresh appearance and flavor for up to 28 days after slicing. Using RNA-interference (RNAi) technology, OSF has successfully turned off the polyphenol oxidase (PPO) genes responsible for enzymatic browning in apples. This innovation addresses significant food waste issues, as approximately 40% of apples are discarded due to superficial browning. OSF operates as a vertically integrated company managing all aspects from orchard development and genetic research to processing, marketing, and distribution. The company was acquired by Third Security, LLC in 2020 and continues to expand its product portfolio while maintaining a strong focus on sustainability, food security, and consumer education about biotechnology in agriculture.