Account Specialist - Floral

Job Overview

Support overall sales growth plan by increasing sales while providing enhanced customer service to customers. Responsible for handling floral and/or non-floral for assigned accounts by anticipating customer needs, managing sales margins, entering customer orders, and expanding new customer base.

• Responsible for meeting or exceeding established targets for sales and gross margin with assigned customer list.
• Provide strategies and creative solutions for assigned accounts.
• Maintain existing customers and revenue; develop and grow customer business, partnerships, and relationships. Identify, qualify, and make phone solicitations of potential new customers.
• Provide division sales leadership with feedback from customers on Sales Team effectiveness.
• Solicit and process customer orders.
• Visit customer accounts as necessary to enhance relationships, build/develop businesses, and resolve customer problems.
• Ensure customers receive timely and accurate information on product availability, quality, and price.
• Suggest substitutions to customers for items ordered that are unavailable or otherwise unacceptable; encourage customers to purchase maximum amounts of products conducive to their business.
• Respond to customer phone inquiries and assist with customer problems, complaints, and requests for resolution.
• Process and control credit requests per Company policy; enter credits into the Sales system; monitor history and report results.
• Coordinate Sales activities with Quality Control, Transportation, Accounting, and Purchasing to guarantee full customer satisfaction.
• Assist in training and mentoring new and/or junior staff members.
• Perform duties following HACCP and Safe Quality Food (SQF) policies and procedures, as appropriate for location.
• Lead and serve as a role model for others in the organization by consistent demonstration of high ethical standards.
• Perform other relevant job duties as required.

• Associate’s degree or equivalent training and experience.

• 3 years in a food distribution or sales environment preferred.

• Knowledge of the perishable and organic food industry preferred.
• Competent with MS Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, and Word;
  PowerPoint.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Proven negotiation skills as demonstrated by previous work experience.
• Able to develop and maintain effective, positive internal/external working relationships with a diverse group of individuals.
• Comfortable in an open, dynamic, and collaborative work environment.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to multi-task. Ability to work independently and exercise good judgment.
• Proven customer service standards.
• Able to resolve issues appropriately and promptly.
• Good judgment is required for this position as there may be times when direct supervision may not be immediately available.

• This position is classified as remote where the associate will perform remote work from their primary residence. Remote associates are welcome to work from the office but are not required to do so. While remote associates are not required to work from an office on a regular basis, they may be required to come to the office or other UNFI locations for necessary business reasons or if directed to do so by their manager.

• Most work is performed in a temperature-controlled office environment.
• Incumbent may sit for long periods of time at a desk or computer terminal.
• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to sit; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; and talk or hear.
• Incumbents may use calculators, keyboards, telephones, and other office equipment during a normal workday.
• Stooping, bending, twisting, and reaching may be required in the completion of job duties.

• Mid-Senior level

• Full-time

• Other

• Food and Beverage Services