Dir, Sales and Technical Services - Valent BioSciences LLC

About Us:

Valent BioSciences LLC is a worldwide leader in the research, development, manufacturing, and commercialization of biorational products for the agriculture, public health, and forestry markets. We have more than 60 years of experience bringing biorational products to market, and our products are used in sustainable operations in 95 countries around the world. Biorational products maximize plant quality, productivity, and sustainability.

As a wholly owned subsidiary of Sumitomo Chemical, Valent BioSciences LLC operates with the Sumitomo Spirit mindset, which means to benefit both self and others, recognizing that private and public interests are one and the same. It's about contributing to society, as well as making a profit.

Description of Job: The US Biostimulant Director of Sales & Technical Services will lead and manage the Technical Sales Team, Commercial Agronomy Field Team, and Strategic/National Account Manager to achieve annual sales targets and drive business growth. This role is pivotal in executing strategic plans for market expansion, brand development, and sales enhancement. The successful candidate will oversee the development of a high-performing team, manage key accounts, and refine go-to-market strategies to accelerate growth.

Principal Responsibilities:

• Lead/ Manage the Technical Sales Team, Commercial Agronomy Field Team, and the Strategic/National Account Manager for successful achievement of budgeted sales for the year.
• Execute plans for growth of the business over the medium-term, including management of accounts, channel relationship management, and territory development.
• Primary focus is on brand development and sales.
• Expand business by developing alternative channels for a new, high growth business.
• Develop and lead a strong talented team with a good work ethic, focus on field work, and working collaboratively with the support teams. Business planning and results monitoring.
• Product Knowledge and training for sales team to effectively work with influencers, distribution, retail, extension service, and growers.
• Monthly Demand Forecast Management.
• Effectively works with cross functional teams including supply chain, finance, and production to ensure optimal service to customers; exploring and recommending opportunities to improve policies and procedures to better meet department/company objectives.
• Expand the relevant markets and launch new products.
• Provide team focus and determine resource allocation.
• Refine/develop innovative go-to-market strategies that will accelerate growth.
• Build trust and collaborate internally and externally.
• Lead and manage two high-performing Regional Business Managers and three Sustainable Solutions leads.
• Develop the team, set budgets, conduct performance reviews, set annual goals, and provide career guidance, and development.
• Develop and maintain relationships with key accounts, priority commercial customers, partners, and the industry at large. Represent the company in a manner that enforces our premium value position and promotes the company's reputation as an industry leader.
• Senior leader with a strategic mindset. Expand beyond our "core" customers/products and drive market share growth by educating our customers on our value proposition.
• Develop and manage goals, budgets, MRPs, SRPs, LBEs, and objectives to obtain company goals and objectives and lead to growth.
• Design and implement business plans and strategies to promote the attainment of goals, including market status, channel strategy, and opportunities for growth.
• Gather, analyze, and interpret external and internal data and write reports.
• Assess the commercial operations strategy within the US Biostimulant market and overall company performance against objectives.
• Ensure adherence to legal rules and guidelines.
• Oversee price schedules and customer rebates and incentives, working closely with Marketing, Finance, and the Customer Service Departments.
• Evaluate and establish strong business relationships with channel partners, affiliates, government agencies, non-governmental entities, Key Opinion Leaders (KOLs), and influencers to meet business expectations.
• Work with Marketing & Strategy to evaluate customer preference analytics to determine focus of sales efforts.
• Represent company at trade, professional, and scientific association meetings to increase Valent BioSciences' brand awareness. Serve as a member of these types or organizations where appropriate and the opportunity exists.
• Support Valent BioSciences Integrated Business Planning (IBP) process.
• Lead team in forecasting efforts for LBEs, IBP, and year end projections.
• Support internal customer complaint response and coordinate reply/outcome to the customer.
• Monitor activities of competitor products and potential competitors in the marketplace, recommend actions.

Skills:

• Entrepreneurial and be a Self-Starter. The candidate will possess the skill set to manage and lead teams in evolving new segments.
• Works collaboratively to foster a team-based environment to drive achievement of company and department objectives.
• Customer Driven, Business Acumen with experience in building business and relationships with new customers.
• Be able to build and execute a plan that supports the vision for the business which motivates customers and the sales team.
• Experience in building a talented sales team/ technical service team with the right person right job approach.
• Effective communication skills, both oral and written.
• Demonstrated problem solving experience and skills.
• Focus on "value addition" selling. Understanding customer needs and matching product strength.
• Be able to build good technical knowledge of the product line to be able to provide guidance to the sales team.
• Analytical skills on the management side but also conversant with evolving trends in Agriculture.
• Decisive operational execution with "Big Picture" thinking.
• Ethical and compliant.

Experience:

• 10-15 years' experience in business management.
• Team management.
• Organizational and leadership skills.
• Communication and interpersonal abilities.
• Diverse business processes and strategy development.
• Proven track record of leadership in agricultural biostimulant solutions.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to build relationships and influence stakeholders at all levels of the organization.
• Strategic thinker with the ability to balance long-term vision with practical, results-oriented short-term execution.
• Demonstrated project management skills, with the ability to prioritize and manage multiple initiatives simultaneously.
• Demonstrated experience of 10 or more years of building business, especially new segments
• Demonstrated experience and in depth knowledge of 10 years or more of US agricultural Go-To Market options, strategies, distribution channels, and retail.
• Knowledge of crop production and the soil microbiome segments is preferred.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office (PowerPoint, Excel, and Word) and Salesforce (a plus) applications.

Education: Bachelor's degree in agriculture, Crop Production Sciences and / or Business

Location: Valent BioSciences, LLC headquarters in Libertyville, IL.

Travel: 50% throughout the USA and possibly some international travel

What We Offer:

You'll enjoy competitive compensation, consisting of base pay plus an incentive program available to all full-time employees, and a comprehensive benefits package including high-quality healthcare options, 401k matching, life and disability insurance, generous time off (with time off to volunteer) and much more! Additionally, we offer several Flexible Work Arrangements to support a healthy work-life balance.

We work together to power our sustainable future. Here's what drives us: Valent BioSciences, LLC has a strong commitment to both sustainability and corporate social responsibility (CSR). In fact, being a responsible corporate citizen has been ingrained in our culture since the company's founding. Today, it remains at the forefront of everything we do.

• Valent BioSciences LLC is an Equal Opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation and/or identity, national origin, citizenship, immigration status, disabilities, or protected veteran status.

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