Customer Service Manager

DLF Seeds Australia - Careers; Albany (OR); On-site; USD 90,000 - 115,000; Full time

Job summary

DLF USA Inc. in Albany, Oregon is seeking a Customer Service Manager to lead a high-performing team and drive customer experience, operational effectiveness, and systems excellence.

You will partner with Sales, Planning, Production, Inventory, and Procurement to ensure supply and service targets are met and continuously improved. The role requires 5+ years in customer service or related leadership roles, experience with ERP/CRM systems, and a strong track record in process optimization.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in customer service, supply chain, customer operations, or related leadership roles within a manufacturing, agriculture, or operational environment.
• Previous people leadership experience with demonstrated success leading and developing teams.
• Strong understanding of customer service processes, inventory principles, and operational workflows.
• Experience using ERP systems (Navision, SAP, Oracle, Business Central, or equivalent).
• Experience with CRM platforms and customer service systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational capability with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and reporting tools; Power BI experience desirable.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop a high-performing customer service team, creating a collaborative and customer-focused environment.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop team members to ensure capability aligns with current and future business needs.
• Establish performance expectations and objectives, providing coaching, mentoring, and ongoing feedback.
• Conduct regular performance discussions and development planning activities.
• Recognize and celebrate achievements while fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Promote a positive team culture that supports engagement, adaptability, and operational excellence.
• Ensure resources are appropriately structured and aligned to seasonal and operational demands.
• Develop and champion customer experience strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve customer journeys and overall customer satisfaction.
• Utilize the Net Promoter Score (NPS) process and associated metrics, identifying trends and improvement opportunities.
• Monitor and analyze customer feedback, satisfaction measures, retention metrics, and loyalty indicators.
• Prepare and communicate customer experience insights and recommendations to leadership teams.
• Develop and maintain customer service standards and operating guidelines to ensure a consistent customer experience.
• Promote customer-centric behaviors and best practices throughout the organization.
• Identify emerging customer experience trends and attend relevant industry events and forums to support continuous learning and innovation.
• Ensure the team provides proactive and effective communication regarding product availability, supply risks, and customer impacts.
• Provide recommendations and feedback to improve operational performance, including participation in seasonal and post-season reviews.
• Ensure processes are in place to deliver products that meet defined quality and specification requirements.
• Monitor inventory levels and work closely with Planning and Procurement teams to ensure supply requirements are understood and actioned.
• Support inventory-related activities including retesting programs, inventory optimization initiatives, and coordination of surplus or out-of-spec inventory activities.
• Ensure freight activities are effectively coordinated and consolidated to optimize cost and customer outcomes.
• Monitor service performance and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and customer outcomes.
• Lead and support the implementation and adoption of systems and technologies across customer service operations.
• Drive effective use of Customer Relationship Management systems, ensuring customer interactions, activities, and insights are accurately captured and leveraged.
• Champion Customer Relationship Management best practices and ensure data quality standards are maintained.
• Provide coaching and training to improve system capability and utilization across the team.
• Lead effective utilization of ERP systems including Navision and future business systems.
• Monitor process performance and system usage to identify opportunities for simplification and improvement.
• Collaborate with functional and technology teams to resolve issues and implement enhancements.
• Work closely with Sales, Planning, Inventory, Production, Procurement, and Logistics teams to align customer requirements with operational execution.
• Participate in operational and planning forums to identify risks, constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives focused on customer service effectiveness and process optimization.
• Support standardization of processes and implementation of best practices across teams and locations.
• Identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and performance.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for operational and leadership teams.
• Support root cause investigations and corrective action activities.

Skills

Leadership

Analytical skills

Communication skills

Organizational skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related discipline

Tools

Navision

SAP

Oracle

Business Central

CRM platforms

Excel

Power BI

Job description

DLF North America is currently recruiting for a Customer Service Manager for our operation located in Albany, Oregon.

DLF Group is the world leader in the development and sale of high-quality grass seeds for the agricultural and (professional) lawn market. By continuously developing new innovative varieties and products, and with a strong focus on quality and reliability, DLF Group offers demonstrable value to the business of their customers and other relationships.

DLF North America SBU, is one of our four Strategic Business Units. DLF employees are characterized by a high level of competency, passion, and commitment. In everything we do we act with respect, trust and integrity.

Come grow with DLF! Join a winning team.

Check us out www.dlf.com (Global) & www.us.dlf.com (USA) & www.ca.dlf.com (CA) & visit our careers page at careers.dlf.com.

About The Job

The Customer Service Manager drives excellence across customer service operations through leadership, structured processes, and continuous improvement. The role leads team development, customer experience programs, and operational execution while ensuring systems and technologies are effectively utilized to support customer and business outcomes.

Working closely with Sales, Planning, Production, Inventory, and other functional teams, the Customer Service Manager ensures customer requirements are met while supporting scalable and standardized business practices aligned with future organizational growth.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

Team Leadership & Development

• Lead and develop a high-performing customer service team, creating a collaborative and customer-focused environment.
• Recruit, onboard, and develop team members to ensure capability aligns with current and future business needs.
• Establish performance expectations and objectives, providing coaching, mentoring, and ongoing feedback.
• Conduct regular performance discussions and development planning activities.
• Recognize and celebrate achievements while fostering accountability and continuous improvement.
• Promote a positive team culture that supports engagement, adaptability, and operational excellence.
• Ensure resources are appropriately structured and aligned to seasonal and operational demands.

Customer Experience

• Develop and champion customer experience strategies aligned with business objectives.
• Partner with cross-functional teams to improve customer journeys and overall customer satisfaction.
• Utilize the Net Promoter Score (NPS) process and associated metrics, identifying trends and improvement opportunities.
• Monitor and analyze customer feedback, satisfaction measures, retention metrics, and loyalty indicators.
• Prepare and communicate customer experience insights and recommendations to leadership teams.
• Develop and maintain customer service standards and operating guidelines to ensure a consistent customer experience.
• Promote customer-centric behaviors and best practices throughout the organization.
• Identify emerging customer experience trends and attend relevant industry events and forums to support continuous learning and innovation.

Operational Effectiveness

• Ensure the team provides proactive and effective communication regarding product availability, supply risks, and customer impacts.
• Provide recommendations and feedback to improve operational performance, including participation in seasonal and post-season reviews.
• Ensure processes are in place to deliver products that meet defined quality and specification requirements.
• Monitor inventory levels and work closely with Planning and Procurement teams to ensure supply requirements are understood and actioned.
• Support inventory-related activities including retesting programs, inventory optimization initiatives, and coordination of surplus or out-of-spec inventory activities.
• Ensure freight activities are effectively coordinated and consolidated to optimize cost and customer outcomes.
• Monitor service performance and identify opportunities to improve operational efficiency and customer outcomes.

Systems & Process Leadership

• Lead and support the implementation and adoption of systems and technologies across customer service operations.
• Drive effective use of Customer Relationship Management systems, ensuring customer interactions, activities, and insights are accurately captured and leveraged.
• Champion Customer Relationship Management best practices and ensure data quality standards are maintained.
• Provide coaching and training to improve system capability and utilization across the team.
• Lead effective utilization of ERP systems including Navision and future business systems.
• Monitor process performance and system usage to identify opportunities for simplification and improvement.
• Collaborate with functional and technology teams to resolve issues and implement enhancements.

Cross-Functional Collaboration & Continuous Improvement

• Work closely with Sales, Planning, Inventory, Production, Procurement, and Logistics teams to align customer requirements with operational execution.
• Participate in operational and planning forums to identify risks, constraints, and improvement opportunities.
• Lead or support continuous improvement initiatives focused on customer service effectiveness and process optimization.
• Support standardization of processes and implementation of best practices across teams and locations.
• Identify opportunities to improve accuracy, efficiency, and performance.
• Prepare reports and recommendations for operational and leadership teams.
• Support root cause investigations and corrective action activities.

Other Duties

• Participate in team meetings and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Perform other duties as assigned by the manager.

Qualifications

• 5+ years of experience in customer service, supply chain, customer operations, or related leadership roles within a manufacturing, agriculture, or operational environment.
• Previous people leadership experience with demonstrated success leading and developing teams.
• Strong understanding of customer service processes, inventory principles, and operational workflows.
• Experience using ERP systems (Navision, SAP, Oracle, Business Central, or equivalent).
• Experience with CRM platforms and customer service systems.
• Strong analytical, problem-solving, and communication skills.
• Strong organizational capability with demonstrated ability to manage competing priorities.
• Proficient with Microsoft Excel and reporting tools; Power BI experience desirable.

Preferred

• Bachelor's degree in Business, Supply Chain, Operations Management, or related discipline.
• Experience within agriculture, seed, or manufacturing industries.
• Experience leading customer experience initiatives and performance metrics programs.

Compensation And Benefits

DLF USA Inc. offers a compensation plan that includes a base salary, benefits that include medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, retirement savings plan with company contribution, paid holidays, vacation, and personal days. Compensation will be based on experience.

Why work for DLF?

We do good things! Grass is more than just a pretty sight – it helps fight climate change by trapping carbon and preventing soil erosion, making it a vital ally in preserving the environment. Grass acts as a natural filter, purifying water and improving air quality, while also providing essential habitats for diverse wildlife, showcasing its crucial role in supporting biodiversity and sustaining ecosystems. Grass feeds animals. Grass produces oxygen. Just a few reasons.... and many more! Check us out!

We thank all applicants who apply for this position but advise only those applicants selected for an interview will be contacted. DLF is an equal opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. Accommodations for job applicants with disabilities will be provided upon request during the recruitment, assessment, selection, and placement process. Alternate format available upon request.