Purpose:  Responsible for the development and management of grower relationships. Execute conventional and organic fresh produce sales by identifying current and future commodity market conditions, negotiating customer pricing and orders, anticipating customer needs, managing sales margins, and expanding new customer base, while providing superior customer service.

Job Responsibilities:

Find and develop commodity sales opportunities by identifying market changes and establishing grower relationships to secure volume in collaboration with division replenishment and sales teams.

o   Collaborate with business partners in the supply chain to establish sourcing forecasting and planning.

o   Provide timely response to grower questions and offer solutions to deal problems.

o   Facilitate grower settlement presentations and negotiate final grower returns.

o   Continuous review and development of supplier relationships through regular communications and supplier visits.

Manage grower performance by ensuring suppliers clearly understand expectations and meet/exceed UNFI expectations for agreed-upon volume, logistics scheduling and quality.

Collaborate with internal UNFI teams within Transportation, Replenishment and Accounts Payable teams to ensure timely grower payments.

Communicate with suppliers to facilitate compliance requirements for supplier approval, organic certification, and food safety.

Responsible for meeting or exceeding established targets for sales, category growth and gross margin within assigned commodity responsibilities.

o   Monitor current and anticipated future market price ceilingsfloors for all assigned commodities.

o   Provide sales, replenishment, and customers with timely and accurate information on product availability, quality, and market price.

o   Negotiate pricing on all needs within commodity responsibilities and manage supplier performance.

o   Suggest substitutions to sales, replenishment, and customers for items that are unavailable or otherwise unacceptable.

o   Respond to customer inquiries and ensure that customer comments, problems, complaints, and requests are resolved and/or forwarded to an appropriate individual(s) in an appropriate and timely manner; escalate, as necessary.

o   Negotiate commodity programs with customers to secure long term sales.

o   Negotiate credit requestsproblem arrivals per policy; monitor history and report results.

o   Facilitate customer meetings and presentations.

Attend and actively participate in trade shows and execute follow up as needed.

Collaborate with sales team in developing strategies and tactics to grow revenue.

Review and understand technology trends and improvements within assigned commodity responsibilities to drive best in class alignments with key suppliers.

Review and compile relevant industry data to understand trends and make category recommendations to drive performance.

Identify, qualify, and make phone solicitations to facilitate meetings with potential new suppliers and evaluate supply opportunities.

Collaborate with Replenishment and Transportation to move rejected product.

Collaborate with the grower settlement department to close open trouble and price–after-sale files.

Conduct grower visits as on regular basis to identify best practices within grower network.

Perform all duties and responsibilities in accordance with HACCP and Safe Quality Food (SQF) policies and procedures, as appropriate for location.

Follow all policies and procedures outlined in the UNFI Recall Plan.

Perform all duties and responsibilities in a highly ethical manner and in accordance with Company policies and procedures.

Perform other duties and projects as assigned by management.

Job Requirements:

·         Associates degree in relevant field or equivalent training and experience.

·         Minimum three (3) years’ experience in produce sales, purchasing, and/or produce category management; organic experience a plus Competent with MS Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, and Word; PowerPoint a plus. Must have a valid driver’s license. Must have current, valid passport.

·         Strong Analytical acumen. Proficient in data collection, evaluation and understanding data to guide best outcomes for category growth and performance.

·         Ability to conceptualize markets and anticipate changes.

·         Ability to effectively close sales.

·         Capable of thriving in a dynamic, sales-driven team environment.

·         Able to develop and maintain effective, positive internal/external working relationships with a diverse group of individuals, a team player.

·         Ability to be comfortable in a highly open, dynamic, and collaborative work environment.

·         Reliable and initiative-taking team player.

• Strong organizational skills with ability to multi-task with ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment and under pressure.
• Ability to set priorities and meet deadlines while accomplishing team objectives.
• Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.

·         Proven customer service standards of excellence and related philosophy.

·         Proactive with excellent follow-through.

·         Strong interpersonal, telephone/oral, and written communication skills.

• Strong critical thinking skills with ability to resolve issues appropriately and in a timely manner.
• Strong computer skills, including MS Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, and Outlook; competent to learn and adapt to new computer applications, system upgrades and other technology, as necessary.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status. UNFI is an Equal Opportunity employer committed to creating an inclusive and respectful environment for all. - M/F/Veteran/Disability. VEVRAA Federal Contractor.