Director, Agricultural Field Sales

Summary

Join Sound Agriculture, a Series D startup revolutionizing food production, as their Director, Field Sales. Lead and develop an existing team of Regional Sales Managers selling nutrient efficiency products, primarily SOURCE and BLUEPRINT, across the Northern Midwest. This remote role requires significant travel (40%+) and focuses on sales team leadership, strategy execution, and cross-functional collaboration. The compensation package includes a competitive base salary, uncapped commission, and above-market equity grants. Sound Agriculture offers a comprehensive benefits package and values a culture of boldness, ownership, creativity, and tenacity.

Requirements

• Considerable experience in sales management including multiple cycles recruiting, hiring, training, and mentoring high-performing sales professionals
• Must have demonstrated success building a team including, goal setting, assessing sales capability, development of others, and sales coaching experience. Managing both high performers and those needing development is essential
• Demonstrated success achieving sales and revenue targets in the crop inputs space
• Demonstrated knowledge of sales methodology, tools, and techniques. A willingness to co-sell with members of the team and lead by example
• Experience introducing and selling product lines in new markets, and collaborating with supporting functions for enhanced sales effectiveness
• Knowledge or training in a specialized, technical, or professional discipline such as Agronomy, Plant Science, Marketing, Agri-business, Business Administration, or related field
• Experience partnering with cross-functional teams, such as Marketing, Product, Agronomy, and Operations, to build and execute objectives that are of significant strategic importance to the company and to enhance sales effectiveness and optimize efficiency using digital tools and data-driven decisions
• Strong working knowledge of Google Workspace, Salesforce, Slack, Zoom, or similar tools
• Comfort working in a fast-paced, dynamic environment with adaptability to change and ambiguity in the agricultural industry
• Proven leadership skills in motivating sales teams and achieving revenue growth
• Strong relationship-building abilities with agricultural dealers and stakeholders
• Expertise in sales strategy development and execution, leading to measurable results
• Effective collaboration and communication skills with cross-functional teams
• Analytical and data-driven decision-making capabilities for continuous improvement
• Adaptability, resilience, and ethical conduct in dynamic and challenging environments

Responsibilities

• Build and develop a best-in-class sales team by recruiting, training, and mentoring high-performing sales professionals, fostering a culture of continuous learning and development
• Manage employee performance by creating clear expectations and coaching individuals on gaps in skills and/or abilities required for success
• Conduct annual performance reviews and quarterly check-ins with sales team members to assess progress towards individual development goals, both professional and personal, providing constructive feedback and guidance for ongoing growth and success
• Perform weekly/bi-weekly 1-on-1s with the members of your team to provide them with support, offer guidance on forecasting, building and managing sales plans, pipeline management, dealer activation, and general coaching
• Conducting regular coaching sessions focused on refining pitch delivery. Perform monthly ride-alongs to visit accounts and customers, offering real-time feedback and guidance to enhance sales performance and ensure alignment with company objectives
• Meet or exceed your team’s sales goals for Sound’s nutrient efficiency business—today two products under the SOURCE brand family and one licensed product from an external partner, but growing as we launch additional products and partnerships
• Provide hands-on support to sales team members by assisting in deal strategy and tactics, and actively participating in closing deals
• Build and manage relationships with key dealers to promote products and services that are in alignment with our mission and sales strategy
• Ensure dealer and customer retention, growth, and increased use of SOURCE on the farm
• Collaborate with Marketing to create content and launch digital and field campaigns to drive awareness for SOURCE across leading corn and soybean growing regions in the US
• Collaborate with Technical Agronomy and Product Management to share feedback from the field, pilot new products, and refine the positioning of our portfolio to ensure that it aligns with our guidance for how to use SOURCE in the field to maximize customer ROI
• Collaborate with Sustainability to align on local sustainability programs and opportunities that could create additional value for our customers and dealers

Preferred Qualifications

Ideally having an established network and ample experience within agriculture reseller networks, especially seed and crop protection sellers, agronomic consultants and ag retail across the sales territories that they would be responsible for

Benefits

• Competitive total rewards package including base compensation, performance bonus structure or uncapped commission plan for sales positions, and above market equity
• Comprehensive health care plans including Medical, Dental and Vision coverage
• Flex Spending Account (Healthcare, Dependent Care & Commuter Benefit)
• Health Savings Account with monthly employer contribution (for employees on qualifying health plans)
• 401(k) with 3% company match
• Flexible vacation policy empowering employees to use time how they need, when they need
• Mental health and wellbeing benefits - including dedicated monthly meeting free Focus Days
• Paid parental leave
• Pet insurance
• Regular events and engagement activities (we actually like hanging out with each other!)