Packaging Manager jobs in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

Position Summary

The Food Packaging Product Manager combines technical knowledge with sales skills. The emphasis is geared toward selling primary packaging materials for both flexible and rigid products. Having a high degree of technical knowledge and expertise in various substrates, applications, graphics, and functionality is an absolute requirement in this role/position. Providing a consultative and solution-based approach to projects/opportunities is a critical skill set along with positioning our core value proposition to our customers.

To ensure clients' needs are met, the Food Specialist works closely with the sales force and a range of departments, such as research & development, marketing/design, purchasing, production, quality control/quality assurance, and senior company managers.

This individual is self-driven and a highly motivated person that possesses a confidence level and skill set for solving problems and driving results.

This position will cover either our West/Southwest region.

Responsibilities

• Provide technical expertise and sales support to the sales rep through direct customer contact
• Educate the sales reps on selling primary packaging materials (both flexible and rigid), sales techniques, and product features and benefits and recommend other sales aids
• May provide consultation on simple and complex projects and is considered to be the top-level contributor/specialist
• Assist Outside Sales Representatives in the preparation of primary packaging material proposals. Prepare proposal templates for all primary packaging materials
• Meeting specific food sales targets and goals, reporting on current activity, forecasts, customer needs, and market conditions to aid the sales force in increasing sales
• Communicate and disseminate information with/from assigned vendors
• Report on current activity, forecasts, customer needs, and market conditions to aid the sales force in increasing sales
• Developing and implementing new food target/prospect customers in your division/region
• Responsible for maintaining and managing local and regional relationships with our preferred food suppliers/vendors along with developing new regional suppliers
• Developing and implementing in-field training for the Shorr sales reps on products, applications, and functionality as it relates to primary packaging materials
• Driving and increasing sales, GTM $, and GTM % in all responsible divisions for primary packaging materials
• Responsible for each division’s individual food goals and objectives for the fiscal year
• Support national and corporate food goals, objectives, and initiatives on a regional level
• Develop and maintain project tracking metrics for all active projects/opportunities and will report bi-weekly updates to the sales manager and division manager
• Will develop and implement regional training sessions for the sales team and support team on primary packaging materials (both flexible and rigid), substrates, applications, new technology, innovative packaging formats/styles, market trends/conditions

Managing and interpreting customer requirements

• Providing pre-sales technical assistance and product education
• Listening to clients and using astute questioning to understand, anticipate and exceed their needs
• Persuading clients that a product or service will best satisfy their needs in terms of quality, price and delivery. Making technical presentations and demonstrating how a product will meet client needs
• Negotiating tender and contract terms, to meet both client and company needs
• Negotiating and closing sales by agreeing on terms and conditions
• Assists sales reps as necessary in the sale of primary packaging materials
• Coordinate customer flexible film and rigid packaging material film trials at the customers' facilities
• Superior oral and written communication skills, as well as attention to detail while developing and presenting formal reviews to senior leaders and/or customers

EDUCATION and/or EXPERIENCE

• Bachelor's degree (B. A. or B. S.) from a four-year College or University
• Technical knowledge and skill set for flexible packaging materials (rollstock, bags, pouches)
• Technical knowledge and skill set on rigid trays, containers, bottles
• Technical knowledge of MAP packaging
• Experience providing product education and training to the sales and support team
• Knowledge of food processing/packaging automation equipment
• Experience sourcing and negotiating with new food packaging vendors
• Sales experience: 2-5 years selling to food processors/manufacturers (primary packaging materials)
• Microsoft Office with emphasis on Outlook, Word, Excel, and PowerPoint