Job Description
Posting Start Date:  7/8/25
Offer ID:  1125
Unit:  Vilmorin-Mikado
Job Title:  Sales representative
Job Location:  Salinas
Contract type:  Permanent
Job Description: 

Function

Main Goal

The Sales Representative is responsible for establishing and maintaining grower accounts within the Salinas Region. This role involves identifying market trends, understanding grower needs, and collaborating with Product Development to trial and promote proprietary leafy and brassica vegetable varieties. The Sales Representative plays a key role in driving regional sales growth, supporting product development, and ensuring customer satisfaction.

Job description

I. Department: Sales – Santa Maria, CA Region
II. Position Title: Sales Representative
III. Reports To: Sales Manager

IV. Key Responsibilities

1. Sales & Account Management
•    Introduce, trial, and evaluate proprietary leafy and brassica varieties.
•    Build and maintain strong relationships with growers; expand the customer base in the Salinas Region.
•    Collaborate with the Warehouse Manager to ensure timely seed deliveries; assist with deliveries when necessary.
•    Proactively manage customer complaints and claims, ensuring proper documentation in the WIN system.
•    Support sales initiatives such as payment terms, early cash collection incentives, rebates, and promotional offers (subject to management approval).
•    Communicate supply-related issues (e.g., shortages, delays, quality concerns) and propose contingency plans.

2. Sales Effectiveness & Regional Leadership
•    Maintain high forecast accuracy using the Futuremaster planning tool; performance tracked via KPIs.
•    Implement Purchase Order Agreements (POAs) with dealers in coordination with Legal.
•    Utilize the company CRM system to track: 

    • Customer contacts and activities
    • Market potential and trends
    • Trial results and product performance
    • Invoice status and traceability of free seed

•    Provide leadership and mentorship within the regional sales team.
•    Develop and review quarterly action plans with the Sub Manager

3. Accounts Receivable Support
•    Assist Finance and Accounting with collections and customer credit/payment terms

4. Product Development & R&D Collaboration
•    Contribute to commercial and pre-commercial trialing programs through evaluations and grower feedback.
•    Prepare and review trial reports; provide input on variety slotting for optimal performance.
•    Monitor and report on advanced genetics and R&D trials.
•    Keep Research informed of market trends and assist in locating trial sites.


5. Sales Forecasting
•    Submit bi-annual forecasts (February & June) by variety/month for S&OP planning.
•    Provide monthly updates on gross sales projections and explain variances.
•    Manage end-of-lifecycle variety sales and surplus inventory action plans.


6. Operational Excellence
•    Fully implement and utilize the CRM tool for visit reports, customer mapping, and crop knowledge documentation.


7. Marketing & Promotion
•    Understand and communicate target market needs and opportunities.
•    Identify and promote bundled services (e.g., seed coating, pelleting, chemical treatments).
•    Contribute to long-term strategic planning and product launch initiatives.
•    Participate in promotional activities such as field days, product videos, newsletters, and website content.

8. Market Intelligence
•    Monitor grower-level market trends, regional shifts, and innovations.
•    Report competitor activity including pricing, product launches, and market share


V. Additional Duties
•    Forward all legal contracts to the head office for managerial approval.
•    Support Product Development in organizing open days and demonstration platforms.
•    Promote and maintain a safe work environment.
•    Assist in training new employees across departments (Sales, LPP, Warehouse).

What we expect of you

  • Maintain excellent attendance and punctuality.
  • Adhere to office procedures and professional standards.
  • Demonstrate strong organizational and time management skills.
  • Communicate effectively, both verbally and in writing.
  • Work independently with minimal supervision and high accuracy.
  • Exhibit initiative, motivation, and a positive attitude.

Skills

Required Skills & Competencies

  • Strong interpersonal and communication skills
  • Strategic thinking and problem-solving ability
  • Customer service orientation
  • Deep crop and portfolio knowledge (or willingness to develop)
  • Negotiation and relationship-building skills
  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively

Qualifications

  • Associate’s degree or higher in an agriculture-related field (or equivalent experience)
  • Knowledge of Salinas Valley grower trends preferred
  • Familiarity with lettuce industry, variety slotting, and seed industry preferred
  • Minimum 3 years of experience in an agriculture-related business preferred
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, internet, and email
  • Valid driver’s license and clean driving record
  • Spanish language proficiency is a plus
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Information at a Glance
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Vilmorin-Mikado is a Franco-Japanese seed producer that has specialized in creating, producing, and selling vegetable seeds for professionals since 1743. As a responsible partner in the vegetable food chain, Vilmorin-Mikado is committed to helping better nourish people everywhere. Our wide range of unique, original seeds is distributed on five continents in more than 100 countries. Vilmorin-Mikado has more than 1,000 employees and recorded sales of €230 million in 2022-2023, of which 15% was entirely devoted to research. World leader in carrots and witloof chicory, Vilmorin-Mikado is also a major player in salads, tomatoes, sweet peppers, kabocha squashes, daikon radishes and bunching onions. Nearly three centuries ago, Vilmorin-Mikado's founders began our Tree Seeds work, which actively contributes to rebuilding sustainable forests.

Limagrain is a global company with deep local roots. Our parent company is an agricultural cooperative based in the Limagne-Val d’Allier plain, in the heart of Central France’s Auvergne region, while we are an international seed and agri-food group with some 9,600 employees working in 53 countries. As the 4th largest seed company in the world, we achieved sales of 2.522 billion euros in 2023-2024, with additional sales of 729 million euros from activities carried out in collaboration with our strategic partners.
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