District Sales Manager

Sun Gro Horticulture is one of the most prominent North American horticultural companies, employing over 800 staff and serving customers worldwide. Since its humble beginnings in 1929, it has become the leading supplier of soilless growing mixes to North America’s top 100 greenhouse and nursery growers, shipping over 70,000 truckloads of product annually. Sun Gro products are made to exacting standards and conform to high product quality and performance criteria.

Sun Gro Horticulture recognizes that its success is due to the strength of its employees. The primary goal of Sun Gro® is to promote individual employees’ sense of accomplishment and contribution so that employees enjoy their association with Sun Gro Horticulture. The Company invests in its employees so that they are the most knowledgeable in the industry, and undertakes great efforts to nurture loyalty to, and teamwork at, Sun Gro.

Sun Gro Horticulture seeking a dynamic Sales Manager to drive sales efforts for professional and retail horticulture spaces. The role involves achieving sales targets, implementing marketing strategies, and managing distributor and account objectives. The ideal candidate will be excited to sell in a growing region.

GENERAL SUMMARY:

• To plan, organize, and control the total selling effort within the assigned territory.
• Achieve area sales budget objectives and plans as assigned.
• Ensure distribution objectives are attained as assigned on a consistent basis for professional and retail product line to gain market share.
• Establish territory, distributor, and account objectives and develop plans for their accomplishments.
• Control and monitor sales expense budgets conforming to the expense plan guidelines and policies.

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

• Responsible for delivering combined product sales of either professional and retail peat moss and mixes according to approved sales and marketing plans.
• Responsible for implementing/controlling approved sales/marketing programs and procedures.
• Achieve new account and distribution objectives as assigned.
• Canvas the market to gain insight and adjust to ever changing conditions to ensure Sun Gro is positioned properly.
• Maintain CRM data by capturing all sales activities and account notes accurately and timely.
• Maintain a profile of your territory to understand competitors, potential customers, distributors, and other business conditions.
• Communication with your supervisor(s) about all factors or activities which affect your territory directly or indirectly and various company departments.
• Participate in regional meetings to plan and analyze business activities.
• Properly handles all customer requests, problems, or special situations relating to our product's performance.
• Exercise proper care in handling all company materials and equipment so that the appearance and condition is such that it will create a favorable impression at all times.
• Control territory expense budgets as assigned. Timely submission of sales reports & expense reports as required to meet monthly deadline.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

• Organizational Ability - Capability to:
  • Plan, organize, and monitor activities according to priorities.
  • Establish schedules, deadlines, or quotas.
  • Coordinate resources toward fulfillment of desired objectives.
  • Develop results-oriented conclusions.
• Communications/Interpersonal Skills. Ability to:
  • Listen effectively.
  • Describe or explain information, concepts, ideas, or instructions to others.
  • Interface effectively with customers, the public, and co-workers.
• Decision-making Ability
  • Analyze impact of decisions before executing them.
  • Make and implement decisions compatible with organizational goals.
  • Support decisions with appropriate evidence and rationale.
  • The ability to make accurate assessments on market conditions and trends and convey these in a professional manner.
  • Perform with absolute honesty and diplomacy managing multiple distributors in the territory.

EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:
Educational background in horticulture or equivalent experience preferred.
Individual that has a passion for Horticulture and has worked in a lawn or garden, or plant nursery.
Horticulture/Ag Certification would be a plus, this would include skills learned at the State/County or furthering of their education courses.
Greenhouse/Nursery Production background a plus.
Experience with Independent Garden Centers and or Hort experience within a Hardware Store.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS:

• Ability and willingness to travel in order to cover territory needs and team activities.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

• Remote with 50% travel
• Territory will cover Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, and Mississippi
• Salary Range: $75,000 + bonus structure