Position: Horticultural Sales Manager
Published: 11/26/24
Status: Full-time salaried position (based on a 40-hour week)
Schedule: Monday-Friday with some weekends as needed
Location: Cokato, MN (with out-of-office anticipated often >50%) Open to remote
Salary: $75,000-$100,000 / year base salary plus uncapped commission plan
Reports To: Sales/Marketing Director
About CFS:
Crop Fertility Services, LLC is an innovative and growing regional agricultural retail business serving the upper Midwest. We provide a wide range of high-quality products and services to growers, gardeners, and agricultural professionals. Our offerings include bulk raw poultry manure, dried manure pellets, farm equipment, dry fertilizers, and bagged products, all available both in-store and online.
While our primary focus has traditionally been on serving farmers, offering services such as semi-hauling, manure and lime spreading, weed control, and agronomy, we are expanding our reach. We are excited to introduce a new line of consumer-packaged goods (CPG) and 1-ton totes, and we are actively seeking a motivated, self-starting individual to help us aggressively grow our presence in Horticulture, Gardening, Lawn Service, Landscaping, and Golf Course markets. This expansion will be driven by our premium OMRI-listed Organic Chicken Manure Pellets, a product we are passionate about bringing to new customers.
Our Culture:
At Crop Fertility Services, LLC, we are passionate about delivering exceptional products and services to our customers while enjoying the journey. We are guided by our core values of teamwork, positivity, problem-solving, and commitment to outstanding customer service, all of which shape our company culture. While we take pride in our work, we also prioritize creating a supportive, positive environment where our employees feel valued, respected, and part of a close-knit family. We believe that a strong, caring workplace fosters both personal and professional growth, making success a shared experience for everyone.
Our Growth:
As we are expanding into new markets, we are looking for a passionate and driven team member to help promote and market our exciting new product line, while building and managing the sales team. We seek an individual who is enthusiastic about growth, thrives on embracing new challenges, and is eager to contribute to our ongoing success. This role requires someone with strong sales skills who can build authentic relationships with customers—without relying on high-pressure tactics or insincere approaches. The ideal candidate will also have the flexibility and willingness to travel, actively engaging with new potential customers to drive our business forward.
Position Summary:
We are seeking a highly motivated and results-driven Sales Manager to lead and drive our growth in new markets. This is a newly created position, and the ideal candidate will be instrumental in making an immediate sales impact while helping to build the structure and processes needed to scale successfully in these markets. Initially, the role will be individual contributor-based without direct reports, but as we gain traction in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul region, we plan to scale the team and add direct reports.
Key responsibilities will include developing targeted sales strategies for each market, identifying the necessary sales enablement tools and resources to ensure success, and establishing processes for long-term growth. The individual will engage with potential customers using a variety of communication methods, including in-person meetings, phone calls, emails, attending industry conferences, and managing trade show booths—to build strong, lasting relationships.
This position requires a passion for selling organic fertilizers and soil inputs within the Horticulture, Gardening, Lawn Service, Landscaping and Golf Course markets. The successful candidate must possess a deep understanding of plants, fertilizers, soil types, pest management, and current horticultural products, as well as their practical applications. Familiarity with the systems and needs of these markets is also essential.
Essential Job Functions:
· Set and achieve realistic sales targets, developing strategic plans to engage efficiently and effectively across diverse markets.
· Cultivate new customer relationships by establishing strong connections within the industry and promoting our products.
· Demonstrate excellent communication skills—verbal, written, and presentation—ensuring clear and impactful delivery.
· Build lasting relationships with customers and industry stakeholders to ensure repeat business and long-term partnerships.
· Maintain regular communication with customers to ensure their expectations are exceeded.
· Approach challenges with resilience, using problem-solving skills to navigate and resolve obstacles effectively.
· Identify market opportunities for different products, staying informed about industry trends to anticipate and adapt to changing needs.
· Commit to continuous learning by engaging with industry-related books, podcasts, and attending relevant conferences.
· Collaborate effectively with internal teams (Operations and Logistics) to ensure timely order fulfillment and optimal customer satisfaction.
· Remain highly motivated and self-driven while maintaining excellent organizational skills and accurate account management.
· Conduct customer interviews to understand preferences, needs, and requirements to tailor solutions.
· Utilize CRM software (Pipedrive) to track customer information, sales activity, and order history.
· Stay informed about billing and collection processes, proactively resolving any collection issues when necessary.
Our Core Values (Requirement)
· Team player
· Customer service
· Problem solver
· Positive
Qualifications:
· A minimum of 3 years of prior experience in horticultural sales. Prefer 5-10 years of applicable experience.
· Prefer bachelor’s degree in Horticulture, Landscape Maintenance, Floriculture, Forestry, Plant and Soil Science, Turf Grass, or Landscape Architecture
OR extensive experience in these or a related industry.
· Possess a valid driver’s license and be insurable on the company’s insurance policy.
· Proficient in Microsoft Office, Google Suite, or similar software
· Demonstrated sales, negotiation, and leadership skills.
· Must be willing and able to travel throughout the US.
· Must be willing to take personal responsibility and uphold our company’s values.
To Apply: please email your cover letter and resume to hiring@cropfertilityservices.com.
