Description

As employees of a farmer-owned cooperative, we come to work every day trying to honor the tireless effort and care these farming families put in every day, all day, 365 days a year. Our farmer-owners tend to think in generations, with some of our farms being run by the same families for over a century. We carry this approach into our business, knowing that each and every one of us makes a difference in allowing these generational traditions to continue, taking pride in knowing that we nourish our friends, neighbors, nation, and even the world with healthy and delicious dairy products. Our products include milk, flavored milk, yogurt, dip, sour cream, cottage cheese, and ice cream mix marketed under the Upstate Farms®, Bison®, Milk for Life®, and Intense Milk® brands.

As a Sales Operations Specialist II you report directly into the Sr. Sales Operations & Channel Manager and will be responsible for collaborating with the Customer Relations and Sales teams to increase sales efficiency, productivity, systems, and process compliance. You will work within trade and multiple sales systems to ensure compliance, accuracy and consistency while looking for efficiencies, automation, and process improvement.

Responsibilities:

• Inventory review and reconciliation – monthly/quarterly adj, aged inv disposition, shipping deviations, customer audit support, customer owned inventory disposition, etc.

• Production planning – schedule involvement, forecast alignment w/Prod PO’s, tracking and reporting, etc.

• Production deviations – product loss or rework support and prioritization

• New customer and/or product launch support – attend biweekly calls, customer setup, item setup support and review for accuracy, customer coding compliance, initial ordering, execution, etc.

• Third-party co-pack manufacturing operations support, and coordination as needed.

• Pricing communication updates to customers.

• Price change needs

• Charge backs

• Ensure accuracy of sales trade management system.

• Ideate and create new reports and tracking tools to measure performance and compliance.

• Production attainment review

• Trade promotion plans

• Support the Customer Development (Sales) team with training, insights, and information to maximize efficiency and productivity within all sales systems.

• Continually review sales processes to ensure compliance and adoption of established business practices and delivering on KPI’s (i.e., order fulfillment).

• Partner with cross functional teams to identify opportunities to improve customer satisfaction in sales processes.

• Technology/EDI

• Implement and manage returns reduction plan with customer strategy, customer development and third-party vendors.

• Schedule and facilitate customer calls as needed.

• Perform other duties as required.

Qualifications:

• Proficient in MS Office Suite (Word, Excel, Power Point, etc.); strong knowledge of Excel.

• Ability to conduct creative analysis and translate into informative results.

• Confident and productive user of raw data.

• Knowledge experience of using financial modelling and analytical tools.

• Ability to work cooperatively in a team environment.

• Excellent organizational skills and ability to manage and follow through on projects and jobs.

• Excellent attention to detail.

• Ability to multi-task and set priorities in a fast-paced environment.

• Strong oral and written communication and negotiation skills.

• The ability to utilize creativity and push beyond the obvious, comfortable going into “unchartered” territory in setting out recommendations and goals.

• Must be a dynamic leader who can push past obstacles and overcome objections.

• Ability to work independently and meet deadlines.

Preferred Skills:

• Knowledge of interrelationship of key functions and their key initiatives (Sales, Marketing, Finance, HR, Supply Chain, Technical and Globe, and IS/IT).

• Demonstrated knowledge of business driving technology solutions (i.e., Nielsen, BW, Source) and internal/external industry insights and trends.

• Knowledge of core Business Processes and Fundamentals (Sales/Distribution, Customer Planning and Managing, Financial Reporting, Training, HR Policies, Integrated Commercial Planning, Management and Leadership Principles).

• Deep understanding of the assigned customer and how to develop demand creation plans.

• Understand the value of listening to customers, gaining insights, and moving objectives forward.

• 5 Years+ of sales operations or customer service experience.

• Minimum of 2 years of Sales Operations experience.

Pay: $60k-$70/yr.*

*The salary range indicated in this posting represents the minimum and maximum of the salary range for this position. Actual salary will vary depending on factors including, but not limited to, budget available, prior experience, knowledge, skill and education as they relate to the position’s qualifications, in addition to internal equity. The posted salary range reflects just one component of our total rewards package. Other components of the total rewards package may include participation in group health and/or dental insurance, retirement plan, wellness program, paid time away from work, and paid holidays.

Upstate Niagara Cooperative, Inc. is committed to equal employment opportunity for all, without regard to race, religion, color, national origin, citizenship, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, veteran status, disability, genetic information, or any other protected characteristic.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Protected Veterans/Individuals with Disabilities

The contractor will not discharge or in any other manner discriminate against employees or applicants because they have inquired about, discussed, or disclosed their own pay or the pay of another employee or applicant. However, employees who have access to the compensation information of other employees or applicants as a part of their essential job functions cannot disclose the pay of other employees or applicants to individuals who do not otherwise have access to compensation information, unless the disclosure is (a) in response to a formal complaint or charge, (b) in furtherance of an investigation, proceeding, hearing, or action, including an investigation conducted by the employer, or (c) consistent with the contractor’s legal duty to furnish information. 41 CFR 60-1.35(c)