Area Sales Manager

Area Sales Manager
Job Summary

The Sales Manager leads, coaches, and manages a Purina Animal Nutrition Area Sales Team to achieve sales objectives and growth goals across commercial cattle and young animal markets, retail proprietary bagged business, and Fortiva additive businesses.

This role is responsible for developing talent, strengthening retail and producer relationships, and driving profitable growth across a multi-state territory.

Territory includes Colorado, California, Arizona, Oklahoma, Texas, Kansas, Idaho, with influence over key calf ranches in South Dakota, North Dakota, Nebraska, Nevada, and surrounding regions.

Interested candidates must reside within this territory and have access to a major airport.

Key Responsibilities

Sales Leadership


* Recruit, lead, coach, and develop Area Sales Team members to achieve sales, volume, and income targets.


* Meet or exceed area sales and budget expectations.


* Support and manage sales team execution in key accounts and priority markets.


* Drive retail seller growth, including the Farm Production Consultant program, to expand farm-gate engagement and customer acquisition.


* Ensure continuous development of team capabilities to meet evolving market demands.


* Provide ongoing coaching, performance feedback, and proactive management of performance issues.


* Lead talent development through development planning, performance calibration, and succession planning.


* Ensure Joint Business Plans (JBPs) are developed, shared, and executed with assigned customers.

Collaboration and Partnership


* Partner with Marketing, Income Optimization, Supply Chain, and Sales teams to align strategies with local market needs.


* Build and maintain strategic relationships with key customer leaders, including CEOs, GMs, Feed Managers, and location leaders.


* Actively contribute as a member of the Regional Leadership Team.

Business and Strategic Leadership


* Lead development and execution of annual and long-term area business plans.


* Execute integrated marketing strategies, including new distribution, mergers, and acquisitions of dealers or cooperatives.


* Champion performance scorecards and CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce) to track results and ensure accountability.


* Manage and sustain strong partner relationships at the area level.

Job Scope


* Accountable for achieving business unit revenue and sales targets.


* Develop and manage sales expense budgets.


* Direct reports: 7-10; Indirect reports: approximately 3.

Qualifications

Education


* Bachelor's degree in Agriculture, Animal Science, Nutrition, Ag Business, Ag Education, or related field required.


* Advanced degrees (MBA, MS, PhD) preferred but not required.

Required Experience/Knowledge/Skills:


* Bachelor's Degree in ag or related business field (Animal Science/Nutrition, Ag Business, Ag Education).

Not required, but ideal to have Graduate, MBA, or PhD ...