Senior Agribusiness Sales Manager

About Ingredion:

Join Ingredion, where innovation impacts lives worldwide! Without even realizing it, you have experienced our work in your favorite chocolate, your pet’s food, the paper you write on, and your everyday snacks. As a global powerhouse across more than 60 industries, we harness the potential of natural ingredients to transform lives. Whether you are just starting your career or bringing years of experience, there is a place for you here to make a real difference. Be part of our team that values a wide range of perspectives and is committed to shaping a better world with every product we create.

Location : Westchester Ill

Reports to : Director Agribusiness Sales

Ingredion is hiring a Senior Manager, Agribusiness responsible for leading a team of Agri-Sales Managers and Specialists, positioning Ingredion’s products into the highest value markets, and driving continuous improvement initiatives.  This candidate will manage over $100 Million of Corn Gluten Meal and Corn Gluten Feed sales with a focus on pricing discipline, freight optimization, customer relationship management and developing new sales and market opportunities. 

As a Senior Manager, your responsibilities will include:

• Lead a sales team with a focus on balancing supply & demand, optimizing the ratio of spot vs. contract sales, pricing negotiations,  development and distribution of weekly list pricing, tracking claims, communicating trends for improvement opportunities, as well prospecting to find new customer opportunities and establishing sound customers relationships.
• Establish price strategies for corn gluten feed, corn gluten meal and across the US/Canada region to maintain pricing discipline to maximize netbacks, reduce risk, optimize freight costs, and improve customer mix
• Position Ingredion’s agri-products for sale into the petfood industry and other high value markets including development of quality initiatives, managing plant approvals and relationships with key stakeholders
• Manage commercial relationships with major Petfood customers such as Nestle Purina, Mars, JM Smucker and Post Holdings
• Develop and implement continuous improvement initiatives across US/Can network
• Coordinate agri-products contract flows into Ingredion’s hedging programs
• Build and maintain strong working relationships with both internal and external customers that will help facilitate effective communication of customer and business needs
• Effectively communicating and collaborating with Order Coordination, Customer Service, Manufacturing Teams, Peers, Management and Stakeholders within other departments for cohesive teamwork and execution of tasks.
• Manage up to 4 direct reports, while coaching employees to improve our sales performance against the market and  preparing them for advancement opportunities.
• Utilize market knowledge to develop short and long-term strategies. Market analysis would include supply & demand forecast as well as understanding market trends, alternate feedstuffs, competitors and world supply and demand.

The Senior Manager position is well-suited for you if you have
 

• A passion for commodity markets and sales
• Strong customer focus
• Strong time and people management skills
• Strong analytical skills
• An ability to work both independently and as part of a team
• A strong attention to detail
• An owner’s mindset who is always looking for new opportunities and improvement
• A positive attitude and willingness to learn

Qualified candidates will have:

• Minimum of 7 years or relevant industry experience.
• Proven track record in Sales and Management roles
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Analytical skills and the ability to interpret data from a variety of sources.
• Demonstrated ability to organize, schedule and successfully manage multiple priorities.
• Ability to effectively interface with people from diverse backgrounds and across functional groups.
• Proven proficiency in Microsoft Software Programs, (i.e., Excel, Word, Office 365).
• A University degree in Business, Economics, Agribusiness or related field.  Masters degree or MBA a plus
• SAP Experience a plus
• Agricultural Background and merchandising experience is a plus

We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. Ingredion seeks to provide a work environment that is free from harassment and discrimination. We will not tolerate