Supervisor: Inside Sales Specialist

Employee Status: Full-Time, Non-Exempt, Hourly

Food Connects is an equal-opportunity workplace and will not discriminate on the basis of disability or other legally protected categories. If an employee has a disability that makes it difficult to perform their job duties, they are encouraged to notify us to discuss reasonable accommodations. 

About Food Connects

Food Connects is a dynamic and quickly growing nonprofit organization based in Brattleboro, VT that delivers regionally produced food and educational and consulting services aimed at transforming regional food systems. Founded in 2013, Food Connects (FC) is a catalyst for food systems change by connecting the next generation with their food, regional farmers with new markets, and school chefs with regional food. 

The Food Connects Food Hub delivers source-identified, regional food from over 130 farms and value-added vendors to over 280 wholesale customers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts. Currently, we have vehicles on the road for pickups and deliveries 5 days per week. The Food Hub is experiencing rapid growth and will expand operations, infrastructure, and delivery schedule over the coming year.

Position Summary

The Food Hub Sales Administrative Coordinator works within the Business Development Department, providing the Sales Team with vital backend support, assisting them with various administrative tasks, and providing excellent customer service to Food Hub customers. This person must have consistently exceptional organizational,problem-solving, and record-keeping skills with a high level of attention to detail.  

Core Competencies

• Customer Orientation
• Initiative
• Results Orientation
• Thoroughness
• Task Management
• Balancing Team and Individual Needs

Primary Duties and Responsibilities

Customer Engagement Responsibilities

• Provides administrative backend support to the Sales Team. 
• Assists Sales Team with time-sensitive customer outreach &  the accurate and timely compilation of Food Hub orders. 
• Provides excellent customer service; always reachable (during business hours) by a customer in need, through both email and phone.
• Offers prompt conflict resolution to customers, issues credits and alerts sales and operations of issues as needed. 
• Resolves order issues in such a way that benefits both FC and the customers.
• Provides coverage as needed while other members of the Sales Team are on the road.
• Assists the Sales Team with responding to new customer inquiries and inputting customer information into NetSuite.
• Coordinates with vendors and customers on promotions and helps to organize in-store promotions and demonstrations.
• Assists Business Development Team with other tasks as assigned.

Sales Strategy Responsibilities

• Helps the team to maintain database of customer notes and developments in a clear, concise and consistent fashion.
• Participates in team product samplings to evaluate potential new products and vendors for the Food Connects catalog. 
• Promotes sales growth by enhancing existing relationships with customers & understanding the varied needs of our diverse customer base.
• Develops sales plans, strategies and monthly promos in collaboration with Business Development Team
• Helps identify target customers and markets, as well as products and categories.
• Provide Sales Data/Reports to the Business Development Team, Executive Director, and other internal and external partners, as needed.
• Maintains up-to-date knowledge regarding current marketplace trends and local seasonal availability.  

Additional Responsibilities

• Maintains positive relationships and communications between vendors and customers. 
• Attend regular one-on-one check-ins with supervisor.
• Engage in annual self-review. 
• Participate in annual peer-review processes for employees as required.
• Fill in for other staff when needed.
• Assist with recruiting, hiring, and training new employees, as needed
• Occasional paid off-hours meetings and events (with plenty of advance notice).
• Other duties as needed to assist Food Connects in fulfilling its mission.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Food Connects will make reasonable accommodations to enable individuals to perform the essential functions of their work to the degree we can do so.

Schedule:

In general, the position is expected to work a 40-hour week, with work hours falling between Monday-Friday, 7:00 am-5:00 pm. The Sales Team will stagger times to ensure full coverage during standard business hours. The schedule may look like:

• Monday:7:30AM-4:00PM
• Tues: 9:00AM-5:00PM
• Weds: 7:30AM-4:00PM 
• Thurs: 9:00AM-5:00PM 
• Fri: 8:00AM-3:00PM 

Work Conditions: 

• This position is based in the Food Connects Food Hub facility in Brattleboro, VT. 
• This position will require in-office work up to 3 days/week, with remote work an option for the remaining days.
• Occasional paid off-hours responsibilities, meetings, and events (with plenty of advance notice).
• Some federal holidays (those that fall on Mondays), may require at least part-time work. Adequate advance notice will be provided.

Physical Demands

This position entails extensive use of a laptop computer, sitting or standing at a desk workstation.

Qualifications

Required Qualifications 

• 1 to 2 years’ experience in one or more of the following types of roles. Some professional experience in the food industry strongly preferred. 
  • Sales
  • General administration
  • Project management
  • Other applicable lived experience
• Strong technical skills with computers, spreadsheets, emails, and digital business management tools such as: G-suite, Excel, Slack, Asana, and customer relationship management (CRM) software.
• Excellent communication skills, both written and verbal: in person, over the phone, email, text. 
• Excellent customer service skills. 
• Strong organizational skills and natural proclivity for keeping detailed records. 
• Enthusiastic ability to work in a dynamic, fast-paced environment.
• Comfortable with change and growth in an evolving business, creative problem solver and ability to jump in where needed to optimize operations.
• Cheerful, professional presence.
• Ability to learn and incorporate new tools and technology into work plan. 
• Reliable cell phone. 
• Reliable transportation for getting to headquarters in Brattleboro, VT.
• Valid driver’s license.  
• At least 3 professional references. 

Preferred Qualifications 

• Knowledge of veggies, fruits, dairy, meats, value-added products and other locally-produced foods. 
• Knowledge of food producers and retailers in Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western MA.
• General knowledge of the sustainable food and agriculture sector. 
• Strong data analysis / business intelligence skills. 
• Experience in small business management and/or business development, especially in the food sector.
• Familiarity with the geographical area of our delivery services (Vermont, New Hampshire, and Western Massachusetts)
• Experience with E-commerce and enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for food sales and distribution.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations.
• ServSafe Certified.

Compensation

• This is a full-time, non-exempt position, expected 40 hours/week. 
• Hourly, beginning at $20.00 per hour. Negotiable depending on experience.
• The following benefits are offered: 
  • Paid time off: vacation, sick, personal, and holiday leave
  • 15% employee discount on food purchases.
  • After 90-day introductory period:
  • Short-term disability insurance
  • Life insurance
  • Access to vision and dental insurance
  • 2% employer retirement contribution, no employee contribution required