Job description

THE COMPANY
Since 1996, High Mowing Organic Seeds has been leading the way in making high quality organic seed commercially available. We offer over 500 varieties of organic open-pollinated and hybrid vegetable, flower and herb seeds to farmers, gardeners and retailers. Our variety trialing program screens and evaluates hundreds of varieties annually and finds the best for diversified vegetable production. All of our seed is professionally cleaned, germination, vigor and pathology tested to ensure only the highest quality. We are a quickly growing, independent company, located in Northern Vermont, and selling seeds to farmers and gardeners across the US and Canada.

THE POSITION
This position oversees all sales activities, creates the strategic marketing plan for the year and ensures sales targets are set appropriately and met for sales through the web site and catalog. The applicant should have experience in commercial vegetable growing and familiarity with organic agriculture, as well as experience in sales, marketing, project management, and managing a team of people.

Duties
Sales

• Work with President and GM to develop sales strategy to hit catalog sales targets, including how to best use newsletter, mailings, calls and other marketing activities to support sales activities
• Oversee sales outreach to growers, including attendance at trade shows/conferences, visits to growers, and calls to customers/prospects
• Work closely with Trials Manager to ensure successful marketing of field days and grower walks, distribution of trials data, and sending of samples to selected growers
• Supervise sales team and facilitate weekly sales meetings.
• Conduct reviews with team members in November & March.

Catalog design & production

• Oversee all aspects of catalog production
• Serve as project manager coordinating work of graphic design, printer/mail house, and HMS staff
• Secure all copy and photos, special interest stories for the catalog
• Manage budget for catalog and determine catalog circulation

Marketing

• Develop, with the General Manager, the annual marketing plan each spring (plan covers June 1 – May 31 the following year)
• Ensure continuity of the High Mowing Seeds brand and key messages and oversee creation of all marketing copy and materials from web, to mailings, to press releases, etc.
• Set up trade show and conference schedule and ensure follow up with trade show contacts
• Coordinate staffing of local events (e.g. NOFA conferences) where seeds can be sold to customers
• Work to get HMS as presenter at key conferences and events
• Review web statistics and plan web marketing strategies to increase web sales and profitability
• Provide content to web site and editing of content as needed
• Work on strategy and implementation of new  web features
• Oversee all PR activities and pitch stories to key publications
• Develop strategy and schedule of  promotions – web based and print - and track effectiveness
• Develop partnerships with other companies for cross-promotion
• Manage marketing budget and focus efforts on grassroots marketing efforts and local/regional and highly targeted partnerships
• Archive and keep track of all press (web & hard copy)

Product Development Process

• Provide input on decisions from the sales and marketing perspective.
• Review sales in categories for potential adds and look at sales of proposed drops to make sure our sales data supports the ideas we are pursuing.
• Ensure proper close out for dropped items and communication to customers about appropriate subs

Qualifications

• At least 3 years working in a significant role on an organic vegetable farm
• Strong leadership and people skills
• Experience managing people and budgets
• Experience using Excel for compiling data, doing analysis and creating projections
• Good organizational skills and ability to manage multiple priorities and projects
• Team player
• Strong computer skills and ability to learn a new software program quickly
• Knowledge of the seed industry is a plus

Compensation

this position is:

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline