Sales Representative - Food West

Position Title: Sales Representative – Food

Position Summary

We are excited to announce a Sales Representative opportunity within Vantage’s Food business unit, a pivotal role on our high‑performing sales team. We are seeking a driven, strategic, and customer‑focused professional with strong sales or commercial experience who can make an immediate impact on our business and deliver exceptional value to our customers.

This role is remote, with a preference for candidates located near a major airport due to the extensive travel required. The ideal candidate will bring demonstrated commercial excellence, a track record of value creation, and the agility to thrive in a dynamic, customer‑centric environment.

Position Scope

This role is accountable for achieving sales and gross margin targets across assigned accounts. You will play a key part in shaping account strategies and contributing to broader business objectives and financial performance. This is a highly rewarding opportunity with strong growth potential and a clear, visible impact on both internal stakeholders and external business partners. The position requires a commitment to extended hours when needed, the ability to perform effectively under pressure, and the capacity to excel in a fast‑paced environment.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Key duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Manage the full sales cycle, including prospecting, lead generation, opportunity development, and closing to achieve targeted outcomes.

• Serve as the Voice of the Customer by understanding customer priorities, building trusted relationships, and proactively driving issue resolution.

• Analyze market data to deliver actionable insights that support business objectives and strategic decision‑making.

• Engage actively in the Vantage Commercial Excellence Program by developing account strategies, preparing pre‑call plans, completing post‑call reports, and effectively managing the opportunity pipeline using CRM tools.

• Provide timely and relevant feedback to Leadership, including call reports, forecasts of current and new business activity, market intelligence, and competitive insights.

• Partner with cross-functional teams by communicating product performance updates, identifying new product opportunities, and sharing competitive intelligence, including pricing trends.

• Support Accounting and Customer Service teams with collection activities and issue resolution as needed.

Note: The duties listed above are not exhaustive and may be updated or refined periodically to meet evolving business needs.

Education & Experience

• Education: A Bachelor’s degree in Engineering, Business or similar technical field is preferred.

• Experience:  One to five years of experience in a commercial role. Ideally knowledgeable of Food or Chemical production/manufacturing.

Knowledge, Skills, & Talents

We are seeking candidates who demonstrate the following attributes and competencies:

• Strong sales acumen, including the ability to effectively sell, present, and promote products and services using value‑based selling techniques, product demonstrations, and sound marketing strategies and tactics.

• Ability to research, understand, and develop both current and prospective customers, with a focus on opportunity identification and long‑term relationship building.

• Consistent, timely, and proactive communication with customers and internal stakeholders to ensure alignment and optimal service delivery.

• Exceptional planning, interpersonal, organizational, and time‑management skills, with the ability to balance multiple priorities effectively.

• Willingness and ability to travel 25–50% or more, including frequent overnight stays, based on business needs.

• High level of computer proficiency, including diligent use of commonly utilized software to support sales, marketing, and business activities (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite, CRM platforms) and strong internet research capabilities.

• Aptitude for applying logical or scientific reasoning to a wide range of intellectual and practical challenges, with the ability to navigate both abstract and concrete variables.

Pay

The estimated base pay range for this position is: $75,000 - $100,000 annually.  Actual pay will be determined based on education, certifications, experience, qualifications, skills and geographic location.  This position is eligible to participate in a short-term incentive program.

Benefits

Vantage offers a comprehensive benefits package to eligible employees, including:

• Medical, HSA, dental, vision

• FSA (limited purpose, dependent care, and commuter/parking)

• Life and AD&D insurance

• Accident, hospital indemnity and critical illness insurance

• Short- and long-term disability

• EAP, identity theft protection

• Paid time off, Parental Leave

• 401(k) with company match

Equal Employment Opportunity

Vantage is an equal opportunity employer.  Qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, protected veteran status or any other protected category. 

About Vantage

Vantage provides natural solutions to our customers’ technical performance and marketing needs through a unique combination of chemistry, application expertise and service. Underpinned by our broad portfolio of formulations, ingredients and actives that are built on a backbone of sustainable oils, fats and their derivatives, Vantage targets selected markets and applications including personal care, food, surface treatment, agriculture, pharma, and consumer and industrial performance. Vantage is headquartered in Deerfield, IL., operates in 11 countries worldwide and employs more than 1,000 talented professionals focused on delivering exceptional customer experiences with every interaction.

We are a dynamic people-centered organization where you’ll be part of a collaborative global team. Embracing our cultural diversity, we learn from each other to constantly improve, adapt and iterate. We value the voices and talents of our colleagues, empowering them to drive their unique ideas to completion. We’re convinced that exceptionally motivated employees produce outstanding results and we celebrate them by fostering a culture of recognition, development, learning, excellence and shared achievement. Most importantly, we know you’re going to like it here.  For more information visit: vantagegrp.com or LinkedIn/vantage.