Field Sales Representative
Livingstone Landscaping Ltd. is the largest Landscaping Firm operating in Southwestern Manitoba & Southern Saskatchewan, with our office based in the City of Brandon. We pride ourselves in our exceptional customer service and outstanding team of employees. We offer a rewarding, friendly environment with great health benefits and competitive wages.
Job Title: Field Sales Representative
Reports to: Sales Manager (Primary), General Manager (Secondary)
Wage: Competitive, commensurate with experience; Potential bonus structure
Hours per week: 40+/-
Strategic Importance of this Role to the Company:
The Field Sales Representative is the primary customer contact for contracted accounts. This position clearly communicates contract specifications to production crews and works with production to perform services profitably. This position is responsible for maintaining customer satisfaction and contract renewals. This person would be responsible for selling lawn and landscape management services to meet the property's needs, increase customer satisfaction and gain additional revenue for the company.
You will provide exceptional customer service while interacting with clients, vendors, and employees. Time management and problem-solving skills are essential in managing day-to-day responsibilities.
Your Responsibilities:
- Meet annual profitability and performance goals
- Develop strong positive relationships with assigned accounts based upon clear and frequent communication, mutual trust and ability to meet the customer needs.
- Meet expectations for customer and site visits
- Proactively manage properties by inspecting and locating problems before customers bring them to our attention. Communicate problems/concerns to the customers and then successfully resolve the problems/concerns in the specified timeframe
- Document conversations with clients and meet all commitments made to customers, as agreed upon
- Create daily/weekly schedules and ensure that the crews have the documentation, client expectations, materials, and equipment needed to service each account
- Oversee the activity of crews and work closely with them on quality, safety, and customer service.
- Assure all contracted services are of the highest quality and completed promptly. Ensure to communicate to the appropriate parties any problem areas and work to find an immediate solution
- Ensure daily paperwork is accurate, approved and forwarded to your manager
- Ensure materials for jobs are ordered in advance and available for the crews when needed
- Assure the properties meet customer expectations in terms of appearance and beauty
- Maintain job costs per guidelines and stay on top of job costs, adjusting as appropriate
- Report immediately to the Sales Manager any jobs deviating from budgets of time, schedule, cost or any other factor so adjustments can be made
- Escalate job or customer issues to the Sales Manager when unable to resolve issues
- Meet or exceed established sales goals for contracted work
- Prepare and present proposals and renewals entirely and professionally. Work with Accounting to ensure pricing falls within company-acceptable guidelines
- Ensure all estimates are prepared and approved as needed before sending to customers
- Respond to all inquiries and requests for bids promptly
- Assist in measuring properties and the contract renewal process
- Maintain records and tracking of all proposals in progress and timely follow-ups to maximize closing of business opportunities
- Maintain a record of all customer interactions and communication in the company CRM system
- Work closely with administrative support to make sure all contract administration and billing is timely and accurate
- Ensure compliance with the company standards and recommend improved work methods and standards as appropriate
- Support and assist the Operations Manager in the training of production staff to ensure services are delivered in a manner consistent with contract specifications and company standards
- Represent the company at various events, organizations and associations to build relationships that lead to new business.
- Participate in various industry associations to increase knowledge of the marketplace, sales opportunities, competition, selling techniques and best practices
- Acquire and maintain a thorough knowledge of industry trends to identify and act upon opportunities for expanded services
- Maintain customer files, paperwork, reports, and other documentation
- Be aware of billing and collection status on all projects/customers. Advise on collections or credits and work with production and customers to get any collection issues resolved for work sold
- Other duties as required
Expectations:
- Keep the scheduling board up-to-date, ensuring that the work is performed as expected and that crews are staffed appropriately
- Have a complete understanding of all contractual obligations and customer preferences and effectively communicate to the production staff
- Maintain constant awareness of customer expectations, production and quality and communicate any deficiencies to the production
- Support production in maintaining a safe, accident-free workplace
- Monitor the performance of the work crews and work with management on any needs for training, discipline, and process improvement. Support and assist as needed
- Support and participate in the development, implementation and refinement of departmental best practices in all areas of field operations and safety
- Effectively communicate with crews regarding production costs. Work with management to develop strategies and ensure pricing will maintain or exceed targeted profit margins
- Perform property inspections following company expectations
- Proactively identify potential problems within production and find resolution to minimize needs and enhance overall quality of service
- Seen and bring to the customer's attention opportunities for enhancements and project upgrades that are consistent with customer preferences and promote revenue growth for the company
- Manage personal effectiveness (competency, trust, communication, prioritization, time management, etc.)
- Provide and maintain excellent customer service
- Ensure that all field reporting and records are completed accurately and flow effectively between field and office
- Have a working knowledge of the company’s software programs, billing and pricing guidelines, and reports for managing accounts and results
Success Criteria:
- Retain 95% of portfolio, annually
- Produce enhancement sales equal to 25% of the portfolio
- Achieve 15% profitability on all work sold
- Customer satisfaction – achieve 100% on customer surveys, random client contacts and feedback logs
- Apply knowledge and skills to ensure jobs are done utilizing best practices and most efficient/effective methods
- On-time and accurate paperwork
- Punctual, reliable and works overtime as needed (follows through on commitments and tasks)
- Meet personal and professional goals established with management
- Exercise appropriate independent decision-making
- Be a fully participating team member assisting team members as needed
- Represent Livingstone Landscaping Ltd professionally at all times
Critical Drivers:
- Strong Customer Service skills
- Exceptional organizational skills and time management skill
- Energetic self-starter and demonstrates initiative
- Ability to lead and inspire others
- Ability to write and present contracts and proposals
- Keen eye for detail
- Results and action-oriented
- Sales and growth-oriented
- Profit-driven – seeks ways to cut costs, improve efficiency and increase margins
- Upbeat individual
- Effective problem-solving skills, ability to be flexible and adapt to change
- Customer-centred and focused
- Perform and demand excellent quality of work
- Focus on learning and self-development
- Clear and concise communication and interpersonal skills
Specific Job Roles:
- Pricing commercial & condo contracts (work order requests)
- Managing client emails
- Fielding complaints from clients via text, phone, and email
- Processing contracts through all seasons: Commercial, Enhancements, Commercial Snow, and Ice Management
- Involved in reviewing completed paperwork from the division before preparing invoices and billing customers. Report invoice status to accounting regularly.
- Regular communication with Leadership
Daily
- Answer all phone calls, emails and in-person inquiries immediately upon receiving them
- Utilize QuickBooks/LMN for all contract management responsibilities, including contract progress reports and purchase orders for materials
- Maintain outstanding customer service for all in-person encounters
- Comply with all company policies and procedures
Weekly
- Attend weekly sales meeting
- Attend weekly operations scheduling meeting
- Report to the Accounting department on outstanding invoices/billing (set up a regular meeting)
- Ensure all necessary customer correspondence has been completed
- Assist with any special projects assigned
Monthly
- Assist with special projects as needed
Education and/or Experience:
- Familiar with the landscaping industry; an asset but willing to train
- Plant species knowledge required (applicable for job inventory ordering, etc.)
- A minimum of two years’ experience in a customer service role
- A minimum of two years’ experience in a sales role
- Proficient in Microsoft 365 (outlook, word, excel, publisher)
- Valid Class 5F Manitoba driver’s license
- Experience or proficiency in LMN (ie. Golmn.com) an asset
Work Conditions:
Physical Conditions:
The duties of the Field Sales Representative are carried out primarily in an office environment.
- Sits at a desk using a keyboard and office equipment (daily).
- Uses hands, arms, and shoulders when using various types of office equipment (daily).
- Lifts and moves up to 20 lbs. (occasionally).
- Ability to cross uneven ground when doing construction site visits (occasionally).
- Ability to work outside when doing site visits (occasionally).
Psychological/Stress Conditions:
The Field Sales Representative’s position workload and environment do not generally increase employee emotional or stress levels.
- Interruptions and requests from multiple areas (daily).
- Multitasking (daily).
- Proofreading, repetitive movements such as typing (daily).
- Job demands versus time constraints (daily).
- Periods of intense concentration when meeting deadlines and during peak periods (occasionally).
- Participates in group decision-making and projects (occasionally).
Work Conditions:
The Field Sales Representative works independently and in a team environment.
- Works in a shared and consultative manner with other employees (daily).
- Wide variety of tasks requiring the ability to manage multiple unrelated projects and make independent decisions (daily).
- Self-motivated and quality-driven to perform independent projects (daily).
- 32-40 hours per week (sometimes overtime is needed)
Note: This description is not intended to limit the assignment of work or be construed as a complete list of the many duties to be performed by the incumbent. The qualifications are not intended to limit the opportunities for interested candidates but to provide them with an understanding of the level of expertise required in this position.
The conditions described are representative of those that an employee must meet to perform the essential functions of the position successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform basic functions.
To apply please visit: https://livingstoneltd.com/employment and submit your resume