Forage Product Manager

De Lacy Executive; East Midlands; On-site; GBP 65,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Bonus

Company vehicle

Pension

Job summary

De Lacy Executive is seeking an ambitious agri-professional to own and grow the forage division within an established feed business. You will shape the range, establish supplier relationships, and act as the recognised forage specialist across trading areas.

Based in the Midlands with regular travel across England and Wales, you will combine technical forage knowledge with commercial leadership to drive growth and profitability, working closely with an existing sales team.

Qualifications

• Strong technical understanding of forage crops, grassland, seed, fertiliser, and associated products.
• Proven ability to make sound business decisions and drive profitability.
• Ability to build credibility with farmers and internal teams.

Responsibilities

• Division Leadership: Take ownership of the forage division, developing and executing plans to drive growth and increase customer spend across forage-related products.
• Technical Expertise: Become the company's leading authority on forage products, providing advice and support on grass seed, forage additives, fertiliser and grazing products.
• Supplier Management: Identify, negotiate and develop relationships with suppliers, ensuring the business offers competitive and high-quality products.
• Commercial Responsibility: Manage product pricing, margins and profitability while contributing to the overall success of the forage operation.
• Sales Development: Work closely with the feed sales team to identify opportunities, convert referrals and maximise value from existing customer relationships.
• Customer Management: Build long-term relationships with farmers through exceptional service, technical support and trusted advice.
• Business Growth: Develop new opportunities within existing accounts while helping establish the business as a leading forage partner across its trading area.

Skills

Forage expertise

Commercial awareness

Relationship builder

Team player

Sales experience

Self-starter

Education

FACTS and BASIS qualifications desirable

Job description

Are you ambitious, commercial and knowledgeable about the forage industry?

This is a rare opportunity for an experienced agri-professional to take ownership of a growing forage operation within an established and highly respected feed business.

Already supplying feed products to a large and loyal dairy farming customer base, the business sees significant potential to become a true one-stop shop for forage products including seed, fertiliser, inoculants and forage additives. They are now seeking the right individual to lead that growth.

You'll be given the autonomy to shape the products on offer, establish supplier relationships, influence commercial strategy and become the recognised forage specialist within the business.

This role would suit someone who enjoys combining technical expertise with commercial responsibility and wants to make a genuine impact on the future direction of a growing agricultural company. Based on the role brief, the successful candidate will effectively establish and run the forage division while acting as the internal and external technical expert.

Working closely with an established feed sales team, you will have access to existing customer relationships while retaining the freedom to develop the forage business strategically and commercially.

Key Responsibilities:

• Division Leadership: Take ownership of the forage division, developing and executing plans to drive growth and increase customer spend across forage-related products.
• Technical Expertise: Become the company's leading authority on forage products, providing advice and support on grass seed, forage additives, fertiliser and grazing products.
• Supplier Management: Identify, negotiate and develop relationships with suppliers, ensuring the business offers competitive and high-quality products.
• Commercial Responsibility: Manage product pricing, margins and profitability while contributing to the overall success of the forage operation.
• Sales Development: Work closely with the feed sales team to identify opportunities, convert referrals and maximise value from existing customer relationships.
• Customer Management: Build long-term relationships with farmers through exceptional service, technical support and trusted advice.
• Business Growth: Develop new opportunities within existing accounts while helping establish the business as a leading forage partner across its trading area.

What We Are Looking For:

• Forage Expertise: A strong technical understanding of forage crops, grassland, seed, fertiliser, silage additives or associated products.
• Commercial Awareness: Someone who can make sound business decisions, negotiate effectively and understand the drivers of profitability.
• Relationship Builder: Able to establish credibility with both customers and internal sales teams.
• Team Player: This role requires collaboration. Success will come through working closely with colleagues, supporting the wider sales effort and contributing to a strong team culture.
• Sales Experience: Experience selling products or services directly to farmers and agricultural businesses.
• Qualifications: FACTS and BASIS qualifications would be highly desirable, although not essential.
• Self-Starter: Confident working independently and taking ownership of a significant area of responsibility.

Location: Ideally based in the Midlands and willing to travel regularly throughout England and Wales.

Remuneration: Competitive salary package, Bonus, Company Vehicle, Pension and excellent long-term career prospects.