The Neil Jones Food Company is an industry leader, processing superior quality fresh-packed, vine-ripened California tomatoes and Pacific Northwest fruit. Headquartered in Vancouver, Washington, NJFC has been providing our nation’s discerning foodservice, retail, industrial and institutional customers with the finest quality canned and pouched products for over 50 years. NJFC operates three production facilities: Northwest Packing in Vancouver, WA.; San Benito Foods, in Hollister, CA; and Toma-Tek in Firebaugh, CA.
We are looking for a Global Sales Manager –Tomato Ingredients. This position is responsible for leading and managing all aspects of the sales function within the Industrial Tomato Ingredients category, with primary emphasis on tomato-based products including tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato puree, tomato concentrates, tomato sauces, and custom tomato ingredient solutions. This role is responsible for developing and executing strategic sales plans that drive revenue growth, increase market share, and expand the company's presence across targeted industrial food manufacturing channels.
The Global Sales Manager prepares and maintains an active target account list for regular review, identifying and prioritizing prospective customers for NJFC's tomato ingredient portfolio. This includes evaluating sales potential, proximity to first sale, resource requirements, key decision makers, competitive positioning, market opportunities, pricing strategies, and overall account development plans.
This position is accountable for retaining and growing existing customer relationships while aggressively pursuing new business opportunities within the industrial tomato processing segment. Customer targets include (but not limited to) prepared foods, sauces, salsa, soups and BBQ sauces. The Global Sales Manager will drive increases in sales volume, revenue, and profitability through strategic account management, market development, and customer-focused solutions.
Success in this role will be measured by the ability to expand tomato ingredient sales, strengthen long-term customer partnerships, identify and penetrate new market channels, and consistently deliver profitable revenue growth aligned with the company's strategic objectives at our corporate headquarters in Vancouver, WA
For additional information, please see our “About Us” video, Our Story - Neil Jones Food Company
Key Responsibilities:
- Plans, coordinates, and manage inventory control for tomato ingredients, including tomato paste, diced tomatoes, tomato puree, tomato concentrates, sauces, and custom tomato solutions, ensuring adequate supply to meet customer demand and order fulfillment requirements.
- Partners with plant operations, quality assurance, and production teams to ensure all tomato products consistently meet customer specifications, food safety requirements, and quality standards.
- Maintain effective communication with internal and external stakeholders to foster strong collaborative relationships and support business growth within the tomato ingredient market.
- Collaborates closely with the sales team to share market intelligence, provide product and industry training, and maximize the value of NJFC's customer, broker, and industry relationships.
- Develop sales forecasts, operating budgets, and demand projections for the tomato ingredients business.
Qualifications, Knowledge, Skills, Abilities
- Extensive knowledge of industrial tomato ingredient sales, including tomato paste, tomato puree, diced tomatoes, tomato concentrates, sauces, and value-added tomato products, with demonstrated success in prospecting, closing, and growing high-volume industrial food manufacturing accounts.
- Extensive knowledge of industrial tomato ingredient sales, including tomato paste, tomato puree. Diced tomatoes, tomato concentrates, sauces, and value-added tomato products, with demonstrated
- Thorough understanding of national and international logistics, transportation, warehousing, and distribution systems supporting tomato ingredient supply chains.
- In-depth knowledge of customer requirement discovery, market development, food safety compliance, quality assurance standards, and processing specifications related to industrial tomato products.
- Proven ability to work independently while delivering exceptional customer service, maintaining accountability, and achieving aggressive sales and growth objectives.
- Strong business acumen with a demonstrated track record of negotiating and building strategic partnerships with senior-level decision-makers at national and multinational food manufacturing organizations.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, coupled with strong organizational abilities to effectively prioritize opportunities and manage multiple customer projects simultaneously.
- Exceptional attention to detail, ensuring accuracy and timeliness in pricing, contracts, forecasts, inventory planning, reporting, and customer communications.
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint, with the ability to develop professional business analyses, presentations, forecasts, and strategic account plans.
- Proven ability to develop and maintain analytical tools and business metrics that evaluate market conditions, raw material costs, processing economics, freight costs, and profitability within the tomato ingredients category.
- Self-motivated, highly driven, and results-oriented, with the persistence required to develop long sales cycles and secure strategic ingredient supply agreements.
- Strong critical thinking and problem-solving skills with the ability to evaluate complex customer, supply chain, and market challenges and implement effective solutions.
- Demonstrated success in developing, training, and managing broker and distributor networks to expand market penetration and drive growth in tomato ingredient sales.
- Skilled at collaborating across multiple functions, including operations, quality assurance, procurement, supply chain, growers, customers, and executive leadership.
- Exceptional interpersonal skills with the ability to quickly establish credibility, trust, and long-term partnerships with customers, brokers, suppliers, and industry stakeholders.
- Bachelor’s degree in business management, Sales and Marketing, Finance, Food Science, Food Technology or related field.
- 10 years’ related experience in industrial food product sales or a combination of equivalent education, training, and professional experience that demonstrates the ability to successfully perform the key responsibilities of this position.
- Travel up to 75% of the time (visiting current and potential customers) February through June. Then as needed to support customer and company needs
- Must maintain a valid driver’s license with a driving record that meets minimum company standards and have a reliable vehicle.
- Requires standing, sitting, walking and climbing stairs.
- Ability to lift up to 30 lbs.
WORK ENVIRONMENT
- This position offers a hybrid work model, with both remote work and in-office flexibility available. While some of the role may be performed remotely, travel to the company’s office, customer sites, and manufacturing facilities is expected.
- Work environments may include office, warehouse, and industrial manufacturing plant settings, where there may be exposure to heat, dust, chemicals, and industrial noise. Appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE) will be provided when required.
Benefits:
- Medical, Dental, & Vision coverage
- 401(k) match with Traditional & Roth options available
- Company paid Life and AD&D insurance
- 10 paid vacation days, 9 paid holidays, and separate sick time
- Employee Assistance Program
- Numerous other voluntary insurance products available
- Convenient location, 2 miles west of downtown Vancouver
- Free parking
Applicants have rights under Federal Employment Laws
Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA)
Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
Employee Polygraph Protection Act (EPPA)
The Neil Jones Food Company participates in E-Verify
E-Verify Participation
If You Have the Right to Work, Don't Let Anyone Take It Away
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in business management, sales and marketing, finance, food science, food technology, or a related field
- 10 years of related experience in industrial food product sales, or equivalent education, training, and professional experience
- Extensive knowledge of industrial tomato ingredient sales and demonstrated success prospecting, closing, and growing high-volume industrial food manufacturing accounts
- Thorough understanding of national and international logistics, transportation, warehousing, and distribution systems
- Knowledge of customer requirement discovery, market development, food safety compliance, quality assurance standards, and industrial tomato processing specifications
- Proven ability to work independently, provide exceptional customer service, maintain accountability, and achieve aggressive sales objectives
- Business acumen and experience negotiating and building strategic partnerships with senior decision-makers at national and multinational food manufacturers
- Excellent written and verbal communication, organization, and ability to manage multiple customer projects
- Advanced proficiency in Microsoft Office, including Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
- Ability to develop analytical tools and metrics evaluating market conditions, raw material costs, processing economics, freight costs, and profitability
- Demonstrated success developing, training, and managing broker and distributor networks
- Ability to collaborate across operations, quality assurance, procurement, supply chain, growers, customers, and executive leadership
- Valid driver's license, driving record meeting company standards, and reliable vehicle
- Ability to travel up to 75% during February through June and as needed thereafter
- Ability to stand, sit, walk, and climb stairs, and lift up to 30 pounds
What We Do
The Neil Jones Food Company is a US food processor producing the finest quality conventional and organic California tomatoes, custom sauce blends, Pacific Northwest pears, cherries, plums, cranberry sauces and juice concentrates. We are a privately owned, family-run corporation based in Vancouver, WA, comprised of three processing facilities, all of which operate on the tradition of excellence and high quality standards. Northwest Packing Company is located alongside our Corporate office in Vancouver, WA. Here we process a wide variety of canned fruit, tomatoes, and fruit juice concentrates. Our San Benito Foods cannery in Hollister, CA produces fresh-packed, California tomato products, sourced from the very best San Joaquin valley & Santa Clara valley farms. As a foodservice supplier, we fresh-pack our California tomatoes in #10 cans. Tomatek, located in Firebaugh, CA, is our state-of-the-art production facility that produces fresh-packed, California tomato products in #10 equivalent hot fill pouches and industrial bins and drums. We are an important supplier to the retail, foodservice and industrial segments of the food industry, exporting globally. In addition to shipping directly from our processing facilities, we replenish over 18 forwarding warehouses across North America to enhance service to our customer base. Product packaging includes cans in all key sizes, 55 gallon drums, pails, 300 gallon bins, and various hot fill pouches. We are under continuous USDA inspection, are Kosher & Halal certified, hold CCOF & USDA Organic and Food Alliance certifications, and are EDI capable. Our company has a culture that is open, respectful and professional. We are resilient and focused. We are diverse and down-to-earth. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We are an Equal Opportunity & Fair Chance Employer, and we participate in E-Verify.
