Sales Operations Trainee

Seaboard Foods; Mission (KS); On-site; USD 45,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical, vision & dental benefits

401K with company match

Paid Time Off & Company Holidays

Wellness Program

Tuition reimbursement

Employee pork purchase program

Job summary

Seaboard Foods invites driven individuals to join the Sales Operations Trainee program at our Merriam, Kansas office. You will rotate through sales channels, product management, supply chain and business intelligence, learning product specs, logistics, and plant operations.

The program emphasizes leadership and data-driven decision making to prepare you for a future sales role within Seaboard Foods. Upon successful completion, you will be positioned for a responsible sales role, leveraging

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience required.
• Technical minded, numbers-oriented and logistics driven.
• Enjoys problem solving and works well in a rapidly changing environment.
• Ability to facilitate, encourage, coach and lead a team to reach goals.
• Good critical thinking and judgement to reach best solutions.
• Clear, effective written and verbal communication.

Responsibilities

• Familiarize with each sales channel and identify profitability opportunities.
• Understand product specifications and differentiating features.
• Develop negotiation skills for favorable terms, including commodity markets.
• Use data and analytics to improve sales practices.
• Monitor sales data to identify trends and improve financial performance.
• Coordinate with Supply Chain, Sales, PM, and BI teams for timely delivery.
• Understand plant operations, logistics, and scheduling.
• Learn independently using available resources.

Skills

Critical thinking

Problem solving

Communication skills

Analytical skills

Leadership / facilitation

Numbers-oriented

Education

Bachelor's degree (4-year university)

Industrial Engineering / Supply Chain / Finance

Associate degree or equivalent + experience

Tools

Excel

SQL

Tableau

AS400

Job description

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a candidate who exhibits strong critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills to join our dynamic team as a Sales Operations Trainee in our Merriam, Kansas office. In this role, you will embark on a comprehensive training program with Seaboard Foods’ sales channels, Product Management, Supply Chain, and Business Intelligence departments. You will delve into learning about our products, processing plant operations, and logistics. The program includes management, departmental, and leadership training to equip you for a future sales role within Seaboard Foods. Upon successful completion of the training, you will be well-prepared to take on a responsible sales position in the organization, leveraging your critical thinking and analytical abilities to drive success.

YOUR OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for a candidate who exhibits strong critical thinking, analysis, and problem-solving skills to join our dynamic team as a Sales Operations Trainee in our Merriam, Kansas office. In this role, you will embark on a comprehensive training program with Seaboard Foods’ sales channels, Product Management, Supply Chain, and Business Intelligence departments. You will delve into learning about our products, processing plant operations, and logistics. The program includes management, departmental, and leadership training to equip you for a future sales role within Seaboard Foods. Upon successful completion of the training, you will be well-prepared to take on a responsible sales position in the organization, leveraging your critical thinking and analytical abilities to drive success.

About Us

At Seaboard Foods, we create the most sought-after pork. A top U.S. pork producer/processor and leading exporter to 30+ countries, we are committed to bringing excellence to the table, seeking a better way to produce wholesome pork and connect every step between our farms and family tables. More than 5,400 employees in five states work on our farms, feed mills, and processing plant to produce Prairie Fresh® pork, ensuring the well-being of our animals, the environment, our employees, and the communities we call home. We are a Fortune 500 employer, recently nominated by the Business Journal as one of the “Best Places to Work”, representing our dynamic culture, where our employees can contribute and understand why they matter.

Responsibilities

• Familiarize yourself with each sales channel (Further Processor, Export, Retail, Food Service) within the organization and pinpoint opportunities to maximize profitability by refining sales strategies.
• Gain a deep understanding of product specifications and identify the unique features that differentiate Seaboard’s products from competitors.
• Develop and refine negotiation skills to effectively communicate, advocate for, and secure favorable terms in business interactions, contracts, and agreements, including an understanding of commodity markets.
• Use data & analytics to improve sales practices and inform decisions.
• Monitor & analyze company and industry sales data to identify trends, patterns, and opportunities to increase Seaboard’s financial performance.
• Coordinate with, and understand the interconnected roles of Supply Chain, Sales, Product Management, and Business Intelligence to ensure timely, accurate, and intelligent sale and delivery of products.
• Comprehend operational constraints and production trade-offs, and determine appropriate actions that further the objectives of the organization.
• Understand plant processing including operations, fabrication, shipping, food safety, logistics, and scheduling.
• Able to learn independently utilizing available resources.

CORE COMPETENCIES FOR SUCCESS IN ALL ROLES:

instills trust, communicates effectively, action-oriented, ensures accountability, and drives results.

CRITICAL COMPETENCIES:

Situational Adaptability, Critical Thinking

Qualifications

Required:

• Bachelor's degree from a four-year university or college, an Associate degree or equivalent from two-year college or technical school preferred; or two to four years demonstrated experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Technical minded, numbers-oriented and logistics driven
• Enjoys problem solving and works well in a rapidly changing environment
• Ability to facilitate, encourage, coach and lead a team to reach set goals
• Good critical thinking and judgement skills to reach the best possible solution to a problem
• Ability to communicate effectively with and create content that is easily interpreted by a diverse group of people such as employees, supervisors, and senior management

Preferred

• Proficiency in data analysis tools such as Excel, SQL, or Tableau.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills, with the ability to work effectively in a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to take initiative and work independently.
• Knowledge of Supply Chain Management Principles and practices.
• Bachelor's degree in Industrial Engineering, Supply Chain Management, Finance, or related disciplines.
• Experience using Artificial Intelligence tools (Chat GPT, Copilot, Prompting, etc…)
• Experience using AS400 or a similar ERP system.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The physical and work demands listed here represent those an employee should possess to successfully perform the job's essential functions. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

• Primarily an office environment with some need to work in the field.

WHY SEABOARD FOODS?

• Medical, vision & dental benefits upon hire
• 401K with company match
• Paid Time Off & Company Holidays
• Wellness Program
• Tuition reimbursement
• Employee pork purchase program

For a complete list of our benefits please visit our career site:

https://www.seaboardfoods.com/careers/why-sbf/

Seaboard Foods is an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, gender identity, protected veterans’ status, status as a disabled individual, or any other status protected by law.