General Summary
The Vice President of Sales is responsible for providing enterprise-wide leadership, strategic direction, and execution of Southern States Cooperative's sales initiatives, with primary emphasis on Agronomy. This role drives profitable revenue growth through the development and implementation of sales strategies, market expansion plans, pricing strategies, incentive compensation programs, and customer-focused go-to-market initiatives. The position leads sales and agronomy teams while fostering cross-functional collaboration, strengthening customer relationships, identifying new market opportunities, and ensuring organizational alignment with the company's strategic objectives.
Essential Job Functions
Develop and execute company-wide sales strategies that drive profitable growth.
Lead the Agronomy business, including Crop Protection, Fertilizer, Seed, and Precision Ag Technology Services.
Establish annual sales goals, KPIs, and performance metrics.
Design and oversee sales incentive and commission programs.
Mentor, develop, and hold leaders accountable for organizational performance.
Identify market trends, customer needs, and competitive opportunities.
Develop pricing, market expansion, and customer retention strategies.
Strengthen relationships with key customers, channel partners, and strategic partners
Support product positioning, sales enablement, competitive analysis, and customer adoption initiatives
Support strategic planning, budgeting, and operational excellence initiatives
Foster collaboration across Agronomy, Energy, Feed, and Farm Supply business units.
Qualifications
Education: Bachelors (BA) degree in business administration or a related field with a preference for a post-graduate degree. An appropriate combination of an education and related experience will be considered.
Experience: A deep understanding of the agricultural supply industry (crop inputs, plant nutrition, food ingredients, etc.) Proven track record of leading effective sales strategies. Ability to work collaboratively with colleagues and staff to create a results-driven, team oriented environment. Strong strategic planning, budgeting and analysis skills in sales, marketing and competitor analysis. Possess a strong implementation skillset with a process mindset
Key Leadership Competencies
Strategic Leadership
Enterprise thinking
Business acumen
Vision and strategy development
Market expansion planning
Change leadership
Sales & Commercial Excellence
Revenue growth management
Sales force effectiveness
Incentive compensation design
Pricing strategy
Customer relationship management
Agronomy & Industry Expertise
Agronomy business leadership
Product portfolio management
Precision agriculture technologies
Agricultural market knowledge
Competitive market analysis
People Leadership
Talent development
Coaching and succession planning
Performance management
Team building and collaboration
Operational & Financial Management
Budget management
Profit and loss accountability
Resource optimization
KPI development and reporting
Continuous improvement
Key Performance Indicators (KPIs)
Sales revenue growth
Gross margin improvement
Agronomy market share growth
Customer retention and acquisition
Sales force productivity
Adoption of strategic products and services
Achievement of budgeted profitability targets
Employee engagement and leadership development outcomes
Growth in key accounts and strategic partnerships
Work Environment
The VP Sales primarily performs essential job functions in an office environment. While traveling may have contact with hazardous materials. Drive/travel and work in adverse weather conditions. May require a valid driver's license. Regular travel will be required within the Southern States market and occasionally elsewhere within the United States.
Physical Activities & Requirements
While performing the essential job functions of this position, the VP Sales is required to:
Continuously sit, finger and handle, utilize eye/hand coordination, and utilize hands in repetitive motion.
Frequently stand, walk, and reach with arms and hands. Pull, push, lift, carry up to 10 pounds unassisted.
Occasionally climb, stoop and kneel. Pull, push, lift, carry up to 50 pounds unassisted.
Must be able to hear and speak to employees, customers and business partners regarding day-to-day operational issues and exchange detailed information and instructions accurately & quickly. When in production, distribution, and/or retail facilities, must be able to hear equipment sounds, pages, radio and speak to co-workers regarding safety issues. Specific vision abilities required by this job include: close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.
Tools & Equipment
Utilize telephone, computer, copier, printer, calculator, writing instrument, spreadsheets and forms.
