Lactalis USA is currently seeking candidates to join our Import Sales team. This position will be remote, based in the West Coast.  

Lactalis, the world leader in dairy, is a family-owned business with more than 85,000 pragmatic and ambitious professionals worldwide, committed to nurturing the future by providing healthy and delicious dairy products that bring people together every day. We produce award-winning dairy products that bring people together every day. We offer an enviable range of dairy brands including Galbani®, Président®, Kraft® Natural Cheese, Cracker Barrel®, Black Diamond®, Parmalat®, Siggi’s®, and Stonyfield Organic® in addition to several brands imported from our affiliates in Europe. 

At Lactalis, our core values of AMBITION, ENGAGEMENT, and SIMPLICITY are at the heart of everything we do. We are dedicated to building a safe, diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace and we know that our candidates come from many different backgrounds, cultures, and experiences. If you’re excited about this role but your past experience doesn’t align perfectly with every qualification in the job posting, we still encourage you to apply and share with us your STORY, your PASSION, and your EXPERTISE!  You may be just the perfect candidate for this or other roles within our company. 

Lactalis is an equal employment opportunity employer. We will not discriminate against applicants with regard to any legally-recognized basis including, but not limited to: veteran status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, marital status, sexual orientation, and physical or mental disabilities. 

From your PASSION to ours

The Manager, Western US Import Sales will manage, develop and lead sales activities of Lactalis import products among our vibrant network of importers, distributors and retailers throughout the US, focusing on the customers based in the Western part of the country He/she will support the existing business, as well identify and develop new opportunities to market diverse new products our worldwide acquisitions bring.

From your EXPERTISE to ours

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty satisfactorily

Essential Duties and Responsibilities include the following. Other duties may be assigned. 

· Deliver the targets for annual sales volumes and contribution levels for the assigned importers/distributors and retailers in the territory. 

· Cultivate trust and nurture long-term business relationships with key decision makers of our customers—Buyers, Merchandising Directors; Purchasing VP’s and Company owners; effectively engage with them to further develop the business with their companies.

· Actively participate in the national trade shows, customer food shows, and regular customer sales calls.

· Look out for new business opportunities in existing specialty cheese & butter categories in the US as well as new products that the Group has or its acquisitions worldwide bring. 

· Work collaboratively with the Import Sales Administration team to prepare and roll out new price lists to customers in a timely and precise manner.

· Actively engage with the marketing team to provide feedback on existing products, new product launches, marketing campaigns, and identify new opportunities in the market. 

· Report weekly and monthly actions to the hierarchy in the team. Execute the trade budget with the assigned customers (importers/distributors and retailers) and support them with tailored and pre-negotiated marketing programs (features/ads, bill-backs, contests, trainings, trips to France that further advance the Group’s goals in the market and help deliver annual targets. 

· Monitor marketing budget expenditures by customer to ensure compliance with the agreed budgets. 

· Work closely with the customers’ Accounts Payable teams to follow up on delayed payments or absent deduction documentations in cases when the communication from our Accounts Receivables team in France is not sufficient.

· Provide world-class customer service to customers when solving product quality issues and credit claims with plants or any other third party involved.

· Work closely with the QA team to address customer requests and requirements in the field.

· Communicate frequently with Director, US Import Sales, and Senior Manager, US Import Sales, to share sensitive market information (product trends, industry mergers, competitive prices and promos) and personal initiatives for immediate feedback and adjustments.

· Frequently interact with our teams in France, Spain and other countries where Lactalis is present to provide broader scope of our activities to our plants and export teams to ensure US market visibility and better understanding on their side.

· Be a reliable resource to the import team and other Lactalis peers anytime they need help or guidance to succeed in reaching or exceeding their goals with the Group; work on synergies (meetings, sales calls, customer information sharing, field information…) to boost successes across Lactalis American Group business units.

· Travel and / or extended or off work hours may be required.

· This description reflects management’s assignment of essential functions, it does not proscribe or restrict the tasks that may be assigned.

· To fulfill these responsibilities, tools such as a computer, phone, and / or allowance(s) may be provided.

· Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform these Essential Duties and Responsibilities.

From your STORY to ours

Qualified applicants will contribute the following:

Education

· Associates degree or equivalent experience required.

· Bachelor’s degree or higher preferred; or equivalent experience to include a minimum of seven (7) years job related experience.

Experience

· 6-8 years of Account Management and Sales experience required.

· Experience in Specialty Food Industry preferred.

Specialized Knowledge

· Knowledge of the specialty food network of retailers, distributors, and brokers in the assigned territory

· Knowledge of the competitive scene in the specialty cheese & butter categories.

Skills / Abilities

· Working knowledge of US retailers. 

· Aptitude to think strategically and translate strategy into operational tactics.

· Entrepreneurial spirit with demonstrated capacity to communicate and work effectively across functional groups. 

· Good project management and presentation skills; strong interpersonal and communication skills.

· Decision-making oriented & able to quickly react to changing environment, dealing with complex situations.

· Passionate about food / cheese business.

· Based in California ideally Bay Area, willing to travel (up to 50%).

· Multi-lingual ability to include French and/or Spanish a plus.

Professional Certifications

· Obtained or working towards American Cheese Society Certified Cheese Professional certification preferred.