Agriculture Sales Professional

Return; Ames (IA); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

Return is seeking a Sales Pro with a Purpose in the Ames/Mason City, Iowa area. This hybrid role requires building a robust sales lead network, managing customer relationships, and communicating new products to a growing base of agriculture-focused customers.

You will travel regionally within Central/North Iowa and support sales forecasting, training, and territory planning while upholding our planet-friendly mission.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years in sales in lawn and garden sectors.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Experience as a Sales Agronomist desirable.
• Proficient with CRM systems and office suites.

Responsibilities

• Build and maintain a productive and growing sales lead network.
• Communicate with customers and leads.
• Manage healthy customer relationships through ongoing communication.
• Communicate new products to prospects and customers.
• Maintain sales reports, calls, orders, sales, lost business, customer or vendor relationship issues.
• Provide periodic territory sales forecasts.
• Assist with organizational skills, account strategies, territory planning and administrative responsibilities.
• Develop and increase sales revenue to meet targets.
• Become actively involved in sales orientation and training.
• Act as a knowledgeable expert to customers.
• Coordinate and assist in leading sales meetings and site selection.
• Attend trade shows and participate in training conferences.
• Check on competitive activity and develop new accounts.
• Troubleshoot product issues and handle customer questions.

Skills

Sales experience

Lawn & Garden

CRM proficiency

Negotiation

Communication

Time management

Interpersonal skills

Driver's license

Analytical skills

Tech savvy

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Marketing or Sales

Tools

Salesforce

Microsoft Office

Google Suite

Job description

Sales Pro with a Purpose

We’re looking for someone who is passionate about cultivating an interest in a more responsible way to grow.

More than just identifying new markets and leads, pitching prospects, and connecting customers to the right products, we need someone who is engaged with our mission to play a small role in the global effort to restore and regenerate our planet.

Someone with enough experience in the Agriculture, Lawn & Garden, Horticulture, Soil Media, and/or Fertilizer Industry to know they want to help change it.

We’re not your average ag company. Return is on a mission to change the way farming is done. If you’re a relationship-driven sales pro with deep ag roots, we want to talk.

This is a hybrid role. The candidate must live in or near the Ames or Mason City, Iowa area and be able to travel within the Central/North Iowa territory.

ABOUT RETURN

Return is a leader in Good-for-the-Earth Growing Supplies that cares deeply about our people, planet, and soil. We provide a viable alternative to synthetic growing products that encourage soil regeneration to help grow healthier food, people, and planet.

RESPONSIBILITIES

Our Sales Pro responsibilities include:

• Build and maintain a productive and growing sales lead network.
• Communicate with customers and leads.
• Manage healthy customer relationships through ongoing communication.
• Communicate new products to prospects and customers.
• Maintain sales reports, calls, orders, sales, lost business, customer or vendor relationship issues.
• Provide periodic territory sales forecasts.
• Assist Sales Manager with organizational skills, account strategies, territory planning and administrative responsibilities.
• Develop and increase sales revenue to meet targets.
• Become actively involved sales orientation and sales training.
• Act as a knowledgeable expert to customers.
• Assist with sales exhibit planning.
• Attend trade shows.
• Participate in education and training conferences on selling and marketing programs.
• Coordinate and assist in leading sales meetings to include site selection and agenda preparation.
• Check on competitive activity and develop new methods of attaining new accounts.
• Troubleshoot problems regarding products provided.\
• Answer questions from customers and handle complaints.
• Regional travel will be required between Minnesota, Iowa, and Wisconsin, as well as for periodic trade shows.

Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential job functions.

CHARACTERISTICS

Our ideal sales pro is:

• A tech-savvy, team player
• Accountable
• Decisive
• Thorough
• A Communications Professional
• Customer Focused
• Cool Under Pressure
• An efficient Time Manager
• Results Driven
• Diversity and Inclusion Minded
• Always Learning

BACKGROUND / SKILLS / ABILITIES

• At least three years of sales experience in lawn and garden, horticulture, soil media, compost and/or fertilizer; five years of experience preferred.
• Experience as a Sales Agronomist highly desirable.
• Strong knowledge of all aspects of the sales cycle from prospecting to closing the deal.
• Proficient with Salesforce or other CRM.
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Google Suite, or similar software.
• Excellent analytical and problem-solving skills.
• Valid driver’s license.
• Good IT and diagnostic skills.
• Excellent interpersonal and customer service skills.
• Excellent sales and negotiation skills.
• Excellent organizational skills and attention to detail.
• Able to function well in a high-paced and at times stressful environment.
• Willing to uphold our company values.
• Elevates team members and fosters growth through collaboration and encouragement.
• Innovates old tasks and and improves procedures.
• Takes personal responsibility and possesses a curious mindset.
• Takes initiative to proactively communicate.
• Dedication to upholding our ongoing efforts to leave the planet better than we found it.

EDUCATION

• Bachelor's degree in Marketing, Sales, Business, or related field, or equivalent combination of education and experience.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The Sales Professional may work in outside weather conditions including extreme heat and cold. This role is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, a loud work environment, fumes or airborne particles, potentially toxic chemicals and vibration.

LOCATION & AVAILABILITY

This role requires availability to work within the North and Central Iowa regions. Candidates must be based In or near Ames or Mason City, Iowa and able to travel throughout the territory and work on-site as needed.

EEO Statement

Return is an equal opportunity employer. We dig in to cultivate a healthy environment, at work and beyond, where all people can bloom—regardless of similarities, differences, or what's growing in their garden. We’re rooted in the idea that a diverse workforce, made up of various perspectives, will help us grow as individuals, and as a team. We hope you’ll share your unique variety to help breathe new life into our selves, soil, food and planet.