Ag Territory Manager at Ziegler Caterpillar

Ziegler Ag Equipment has an opening for an ambitious sales professional to join our Ag Sales Team. Ag Sales Territory Manager is responsible for developing relationships with farmers in the area. Ziegler Ag Equipment sells and services the full line of Fendt tractors, combines, planters and application equipment. Other brands include Massey Ferguson, RoGator and TerraGator application equipment, CLAAS LEXION, TRION, Jaguar and tractors in select areas, as well as tillage and grain handling equipment. This position offers a base salary with uncapped commission and will be provided a company vehicle as well as the latest business technology

Responsibilities:

• Serves as the first point of contact between the customer and Ziegler Ag Equipment.
• Develops coverage plan and document coverage activities for a better outcome on customer visits
• Collaborates with the Ag Regional Sales Manager during the sales process, encouraging team selling
• Promptly responds to requests of administrative and managerial employees
• Meets and responds to the needs of assigned customers in a professional and timely manner
• Uses other specialists as needed such as product specialists, manufacturer reps, management, etc
• Develops good rapport with customers, maintaining a good balance of personal and business friendship
• Presents self as a professional, neat, clean Ziegler representative
• Accurately maintains customer information lists and sales activities through CRM software
• Prepares sales contracts for obtained orders and submits those orders for processing
• Adheres to defined schedules for required paperwork and reports. Maintains level of expense consistent with corporate requirements
• Plans ahead for call activity and strategy
• Plans and executes a pricing strategy consistent with company policy
• Works in a cooperative manner with management and other employees on an inter- and intra-departmental basis
• Follows up on leads and other inquiries
• Prospects and reaches out to “new” customers on a regular basis
• Creates and presents material to encourage the customer’s decision-making process
• Effectively use demonstrations – plans, qualifies, formalizes the demo presentation and follows up with written recap and quote
• Emphasizes product features based on analyses of customers' needs, and on technical knowledge of product capabilities
• Controls the sales interview with appropriate questions to determine needs and listens effectively to meet those needs
• Promptly responds to customer requests
• Continually works to find product or service solutions for customer’s unique needs
• Researches competitive product information, developing knowledge of competitive products and sellers
• Resolves customer issues both within and out of the direct sales process
• Maintains strong relationships with many key accounts to ensure their continued business with Ziegler
• Promotes corresponding and additional products and services to customers according to their needs

Qualifications:

• High School diploma or GED required; Bachelor’s degree in business or agriculture-related field
• 2+ years of successful sales experience selling ag equipment or working with related equipment required
• Strong mechanical aptitude
• Strong agricultural background
• Excellent communication skills – written and verbal
• Personal characteristics: Self-Motivated, Customer Focus, Learning Orientation, Consideration for others / Empathy, Self-Confidence, Teamwork
• Clean driving record is a must
• Able to drive equipment for demonstration purposes

Travel:

Up to 50% travel within a Designated Territory