The Role
Drives profitable growth for specialty ingredients by developing customer relationships, identifying new business, managing strategic accounts, and closing sales in the food, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries. The role requires market analysis, CRM use, account planning, cross-functional collaboration, trade association participation, and frequent customer travel throughout the Grain Belt region.
Summary Generated by Built In
Are you passionate about building relationships, uncovering new opportunities, and helping customers bring innovative products to market? Join the Grain Processing Corporation team, a KENT WORLDWIDE™ family company, as a Sales Executive within the Specialty Ingredients segment of our business. In this role, you'll be responsible for driving profitable growth through the development, management, and expansion of customer relationships within the food, pharmaceutical, and personal care industries by connecting customers with high-quality ingredient solutions. This is an exciting opportunity for a motivated sales professional to expand strategic partnerships, develop new business, and make a meaningful impact in a dynamic, customer-focused organization. If you thrive on collaboration, problem-solving, and delivering results, we'd love to hear from you.
PRIMARY DUTIES & RESPONSIBILIES
- Market, promote, and sell GPC Specialty Ingredients products to customers within the food, personal care, and pharmaceutical industries.
- Develop, manage, and strengthen strategic customer relationships that are critical to the growth and success of the Specialty Ingredients business.
- Monitor and report on customer activities, competitive intelligence, emerging applications, industry developments, and market trends to support business strategy.
- Leverage and maintain the Company's CRM system to accurately track leads, opportunities, sales activities, and customer interactions.
- Deliver exceptional customer service by collaborating cross-functionally with Procurement, Operations, Research & Development, Technical Services, and other internal stakeholders.
- Identify, develop, and close new business opportunities to drive revenue growth within the food, personal care, and pharmaceutical sectors.
- Analyze and prioritize key current and prospective accounts, developing and executing strategies to expand market share and customer engagement.
- Maintain active membership in relevant trade associations and represent the Company through participation in industry events and activities.
- Develop and maintain comprehensive knowledge of products, applications, market dynamics, and industry trends.
- Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.
EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, AND QUALIFICATIONS
- Bachelor’s degree in food science, agriculture, business, milling science, grain science, or a related field preferred.
- 7-10 years of B2B sales, business development, technical sales, or account management experience within food ingredients, corn wet-milling, or related industries is required.
- Experience developing and executing strategic account growth plans and closing new business opportunities.
- Experience utilizing CRM systems, sales forecasting tools, and pipeline management processes.
- Strong understanding of corn wet-milling operations, grain-based ingredients, food manufacturing, or ingredient applications necessary.
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain high-value customer relationships at multiple organizational levels.
- Action-oriented and results-driven with a proven track record of achieving sales and profitability objectives.
- Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
- Strategic thinker with the ability to analyze market trends, identify opportunities, and solve complex business challenges.
- Commitment to continuous learning, professional development, and industry engagement.
TRAVEL & LOCATION
- An ideal candidate would be located within driving distance of our customers and prospects in the Grain Belt region of the United States
- Travel is varied but required (50%+) as needed to successfully conduct the affairs of the position. It can include day trips as well as overnight travel for meeting with current and prospective customers, business meetings, training, seminars, conferences, and tradeshows.
This employer is required to notify all applicants of their rights pursuant to federal employment laws. For further information, please review the Know Your Rights notice from the Department of Labor.
Skills Required
- Bachelor's degree in food science, agriculture, business, milling science, grain science, or a related field
- 7-10 years of B2B sales, business development, technical sales, or account management experience in food ingredients, corn wet-milling, or related industries
- Experience developing and executing strategic account growth plans
- Experience closing new business opportunities
- Experience using CRM systems, sales forecasting tools, and pipeline management processes
- Strong understanding of corn wet-milling operations, grain-based ingredients, food manufacturing, or ingredient applications
- Demonstrated ability to build and maintain high-value customer relationships at multiple organizational levels
- Proven track record of achieving sales and profitability objectives
- Exceptional communication, presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills
- Ability to analyze market trends, identify opportunities, and solve complex business challenges
- Ability to travel more than 50% as needed
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The Company
What We Do
KENT Corporation (now KENT WORLDWIDE) is a family-owned, diversified parent company whose operating businesses span corn wet milling, animal feed and nutrition, pet care, and food and beverage products. It manufactures and markets agricultural specialty ingredients and consumer products for food, industrial, food-service, and pet-care markets. The corporation also provides management and administrative services to its operating companies, which serve customers in the United States, Canada, and worldwide.
