Bakery Specialist

HOURS: As needed to meet the requirements of the Company.

REPORTS TO: Vice President, Contract Sales

This is a salary position.

SUMMARY: Provide technical assistance, insight and product information to Sales and customers regarding the baking industry.  With the highest ethical standards, represent the Company's integrity to customers and meet the sales and profitability objectives of the Company.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the following. Other duties may be assigned.

1. Educate and assist Sales and Customers with information on existing and new products, procedures, programs, market trends.  Company services, as well as providing consulting services to help customers increase profitability in the technical area of Retail Bakery.

2. Promote confidence in products by timely addressing questions and concerns from Sales and customers.

3. Maintain contact with key retail accounts.

4. Monitor sales, margins and pricing.

5. Prospect and develop new customers.

   1. Research information to develop leads for new customers.  Develop and maintain a prospect list.

   2. Call on prospect customers.  Prepare and develop product presentations.

   3. Identify features, advantages and benefits to the customer of buying from SYSCO.

6. Advise Sales and customers on products.  Troubleshoot in areas of extensive product knowledge.  Display and demonstrate product features.

7. Attend and participate in general sales meetings, district meetings, food shows, and special events to perform duties and aid business growth.

8. Write retail ads and put together programs.

9. Adhere to Company standards, procedures, policies, credit and collection policies.

QUALIFICATION REQUIREMENTS: To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily.  The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.  Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

1. Must reside in assigned territory.

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE: High school diploma or general education degree (GED).  Food service and/or sales experience preferred in the area of bakery products.

LANGUAGE SKILLS: Ability to read and interpret documents such as safety rules, operating and maintenance instructions, and procedure manuals.  Ability to write routine reports and correspondence.  Ability to speak effectively before groups of customers or associates of organization.

MATHEMATICAL SKILLS: Ability to calculate figures and amounts such as discounts, interest, commissions, proportions, percentages, area, circumference, and volume.

REASONING ABILITY: Ability to solve practical problems and deal with a variety of concrete variables in situations where only limited standardization exists.  Ability to interpret a variety of instructions furnished in written, oral, diagram, or schedule form.

CERTIFICATES, LICENSES, REGISTRATIONS: Maintain a Driver's License meeting Company expectations: No OWI within the last three years, no multiple OWI within the past 10 years, or no more than two moving violations within the past year.  Must have reliable transportation with designated liability insurance coverage.  Complete a SYSCO approved defensive driving program.

COMPETENCIES:

1. Persuasiveness, sales ability, and customer service orientation skills.

2. Initiative and tenacity skills in a fast paced sales environment where rejection is constant.

3. Communication, planning, organizational, and decision making skills.

4. Thorough knowledge of scratch baking business.

5. Continually learn new job related information.

6. Read, understand, and comply with all Company standards.

7. Operate Laptop computer.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS: The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an associate to successfully perform the essential functions of this job.  The associate is regularly required to drive, stand, walk, sit, talk, hear, use hands to handle or feel objects, tools and controls, stoop, kneel, crouch, reach with hands and arms and finger dexterity to operate a computer, calculator or other equipment; occasionally taste and smell.  The associate must regularly lift and/or move up to 30 pounds; occasionally lift up to 75 pounds.  Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus.

WORK ENVIRONMENT: The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an associate encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.  The associate is regularly exposed to wet, humid conditions, outdoor weather with varying climate conditions, extreme cold or heat, and other challenges associated with travel.  The noise level is moderate.