Inside Sales Specialist (Bilingual)

Position Summary: 

Reporting to the Director of Sales, the role will function as a liaison between Griffith Foods Canada, its current customers, and potential new customers.  To manage and grow profitable sales for the assigned business territory (primarily, but not limited to, transactional accounts) by retaining existing business and by uncovering new opportunities to include Griffith products in a customer’s finished goods. To make a positive contribution, enabling Griffith to continue to grow and operate in an effective, efficient, and profitable manner. 

Responsibilities:

• Builds relationships with key customer contacts, at all levels and in multiple functional areas, to develop an understanding of their business, their goals, and their business needs
• Prepares and executes action plans to maintain/defend/grow existing core business, identify new business opportunities, and to grow total sales & profitability of business for the assigned territory
• Collaborates closely with internal stake holders including Research & Development, Marketing, Culinary, Sensory, Finance, Customer Service, and Manufacturing Operations to meet and address customer needs, and to troubleshoot any customer issues
• Manages pricing negotiations with internal stakeholders and external customers
• When justified by the merits of a new opportunity, initiates new product development, or identifies new uses for the existing products being purchased.  Manages all such projects through all stages of the selling funnel (from establishing parameters through to the first sale)
• Prepares for and conducts client meetings, client presentations, plant trials, plant tours, and sensory evaluation requests that may be required
• Provides weekly, monthly, quarterly, and annual reports of customer activities, sales data, business analysis, and other matters relevant to inside sales
• Maintains/updates sales forecasts for territory and actively participates in the monthly forecast review process.
• As may be required, represents Griffith Foods Canada at trade shows, conferences, conventions, sales meetings, and training courses 
• Participates in special projects, other duties or tasks that may be assigned as required.
• Maintains accurate and up-to-date customer files
• Investigates and reports on competitive activity 

Qualifications:

• Completion of University Degree program (preferably in Business Administration and/or Food Science) - required
• Minimum 3 years of food industry related experience - required
• Knowledge and fluency in both English and French - required
• Multi-tasking and project management skills - required
• Understanding of the Forecasting process
• Knowledge of business acumen and building strong customer relationships
• Proficiency in MS Office suite of applications