Managing Payments and Credit

• Take responsibility for customer accounts operating within agreed credit terms.
• Address overdue accounts promptly and professionally.
• Support initiatives that improve payment methods and cash collection.
• Work closely with internal teams regarding payment and credit control matters.
• Minimise aged debt and protect profitability.

Order and Delivery Management

• Manage the customer journey from order placement through to delivery and payment.
• Liaise with relevant operational teams regarding orders and deliveries.
• Maintain a strong understanding of customer ordering patterns and requirements.
• Ensure consistently high standards of customer service.

Complaint Resolution

• Respond quickly and effectively to customer complaints and issues.
• Coordinate with relevant departments to investigate and resolve concerns.
• Maintain regular communication with customers throughout the resolution process.

Commercial Acumen

• Understand the relationship between volume, pricing, and profitability.
• Identify opportunities to improve margins through product mix and commercial efficiency.
• Monitor market conditions and industry developments.
• Support pricing discussions with confidence and commercial awareness.
• Operate within agreed pricing and commercial frameworks.

Product Knowledge

• Develop strong product knowledge, including applications, specifications, and benefits.
• Maintain awareness of competitor products and market positioning.
• Work with technical colleagues to support customer enquiries and product performance discussions.

Team Collaboration

• Work collaboratively with colleagues across sales, operations, transport, technical, and support functions.
• Share market intelligence and customer insights with the wider team.
• Contribute positively to overall business growth objectives.

Additional Responsibilities

• Represent the business professionally at all times.
• Maintain a full UK driving licence.
• Organise working patterns and travel schedules to meet territory requirements.
• Attend meetings, training, and development activities as required.
• Undertake additional duties appropriate to the level of the role.

Person Specification

Essential

Experience

• Proven field sales experience managing a defined territory or account base.
• Demonstrable success in winning new business and growing revenue.
• Experience negotiating prices and commercial terms with business customers.
• Track record of delivering price increases and protecting margins.
• Experience managing customer accounts within agreed credit terms.

Knowledge

• Strong commercial understanding of sales, pricing, margin, and profitability.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office applications, including Excel.
• Experience using CRM systems or customer databases.

Skills & Attributes

• Highly self-motivated with a strong new business mentality.
• Excellent relationship-building and consultative sales skills.
• Strong planning, organisation, and territory management capabilities.
• Comfortable handling challenging commercial discussions.
• Able to work independently and manage priorities effectively.
• Accurate and dependable in maintaining records and reporting.

Other

• Full UK driving licence.
• Willingness to travel extensively across the Midlands, Wales, and South West England.
• Based in the Midlands, or able to relocate to support effective territory coverage.

Desirable

Experience

• Experience within flour milling, bakery, food ingredients, food manufacturing, or related sectors.
• Experience selling to wholesalers, distributors, manufacturers, or independent businesses.
• Experience developing promotions and customer marketing initiatives.
• Experience introducing specialist or bespoke products into existing accounts.

Knowledge

• Understanding of commodity markets and cost drivers.
• Knowledge of food ingredients, specifications, and product applications.
• Awareness of competitor products and market trends.
• Existing contacts within the Midlands, Wales, or Southwest England markets.

Skills

• Ability to discuss technical product performance and applications with customers.