** Account Manager (Chocolate/Confectionary/ingredients) $160K + Uncap Comms**

As an Account Manager, your primary objective is to serve customers within your designated territory. You will achieve this by increasing sales, understanding and fulfilling customer needs, and establishing and maintaining valuable client relationships.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities:

• Demonstrate excellent communication and influencing skills with key stakeholders, including executives and C-level personnel.
• Service existing customer accounts and identify new opportunities through prospecting, research, and planning.
• Maintain a strong presence at customer accounts to build lasting, value-driven relationships with decision-makers.
• Concentrate sales efforts on the most profitable sectors by analyzing existing accounts and staying abreast of market trends to expand the customer and product base.
• Keep management informed through CRM updates, call reports, and monthly sales analyses.
• Collaborate closely with R&D and marketing to create and deliver professional presentations that meet customer expectations.
• Understand customer needs and objectives, seeking opportunities for alignment and partnership.
• Stay updated on professional and technical knowledge, as well as food industry trends, by attending workshops, reviewing publications, networking, and participating in professional societies.
• Serve as a liaison between customers and internal teams to ensure customer requirements are met.
• Execute go-to-market strategies for new and existing products and customers.
• Independently manage the entire sales cycle, from prospecting to closing deals.
• Develop an annual sales and expense budget to achieve territory goals.
• Utilize available technology and Customer Relationship Management software in daily activities.
• Represent the company at industry meetings and conventions to promote our products.
• Communicate and implement all cooperative-initiated price changes to assigned customers within the specified timeline.

Skills/Qualifications:

• Proven work experience in roles such as Account Manager, Key Account Manager, Sales Account Manager, Junior Account Manager, or similar.
• Strong customer service skills with a track record of meeting sales goals.
• Proficiency in closing deals, managing territories, and prospecting for new opportunities.
• Excellent negotiation and presentation skills.
• Ability to build and maintain client relationships.
• Self-confidence and motivation for sales.
• Minimum of 5 years of experience in food ingredient sales.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office programs.
• Strong technical knowledge in R&D or ingredient applications.
• Bachelor's degree in Food Science, Business, or a related field.
• Willingness and ability to travel as needed.
• This is a home-based position with a home office location.