Regional Sales Manager - Northern Illinois

Sound Agriculture
Bloomington, IL
Why you should join us:

At Sound Agriculture, we are revolutionizing the way the world grows food. Our innovative technology and solutions empower farmers to maximize nutrient efficiency, reduce environmental impact, and feed the world sustainably. Through a deeper understanding of plant and microbial biology, we are leveraging the natural power of plants to make agriculture more agile and resilient. If you're passionate about cutting-edge science, making a real-world impact, and being part of a team that's dedicated to transforming agriculture, we want you on our team!

Sound is a Series D startup funded by leading investors in food and agriculture including Leaps by Bayer, Syngenta Group Ventures, S2G Ventures, BMO Impact Investment Fund, Chan Zuckerberg Initiative, Fall Line Capital, Cavallo Ventures, FootPrint Coalition and Northpond Ventures.

What we're seeking:

We are hiring a Regional Sales Manager for Northern Illinois to develop and maintain a robust dealer network, driving maximum sales growth within the assigned territory. This role is responsible for all activities to build and maintain effective dealer and retail sales channels to sell our portfolio of nutrient use efficiency products, with specific emphasis on SOURCE and BLUEPRINT.

Ideal candidates for the Regional Sales Manager role are experienced in standard sales tactics, including discovery and objection handling. We're seeking Regional Sales Managers who are engaged with their customers throughout the sales cycle (from account planning, through prospecting to co-selling, to the close of business, and beyond). They are trusted advisors to our dealer network and their staff. The Regional Sales Manager continues to develop existing relationships and emphasizes customer retention.

Our Field Sales team is comprised of ambitious sales professionals committed to our mission. The most successful Regional Sales Managers focus on winning in a respectful, collaborative way, leading with integrity and ownership just as much as talent and effort. Candidates without experience in agricultural sales (inputs, equipment, etc.) will not be considered.

This position is based remotely within the assigned territory and is expected to be out meeting with our dealers in person 3-4 days per week, with occasional overnights as needed throughout the year. The Regional Sales Manager reports to the Director, Field Sales.

Compensation Target

$135,000 to $160,000 on target earnings (base + commission)

Base range is one hundred five thousand to one hundred twenty thousand. Commission range is thirty to forty thousand. Commission targets are uncapped and measured by sales against quota with earnings paid annually.

Sound reserves the ability to adjust the compensation range based on the final candidate's experience, skillset, and geography. In addition to on target earnings, we offer above average equity grants for the industry as we believe that every employee should have a stake in the company's growth. If you're above this compensation target, we encourage you to reach out and discuss the entire package and opportunity before deciding not to pursue this position.

Responsibilities

  • Build and execute plans to achieve sales goals in assigned territory
  • Work with existing dealers in your territory to retain customers (ie farmers) and grow those accounts year-over-year
  • Creatively break into net new dealer accounts in your assigned territory, introducing them to SOURCE and BLUEPRINT
  • Seek to uncover sales opportunities with tenacity and connect customers to a value-added solution
  • Work with sales leadership to build and maintain accurate forecasts and account planning
  • Train Dealers on new products and programs
  • Drive Grower awareness through co-selling, trade shows, and meetings
  • On farm presence and support after the sale to build relationships and maintain customers
  • Manage selling expenses, operational budget, and marketing funds within guidelines
  • Use Salesforce to track activities and capture customer and dealer sentiment
  • Work cross-functionally to resolve customer complaints

Targeted Skills & Experience

  • Track record of exceeding quota at top of sales leaderboard
  • Experience selling new product lines that create a new market, vs. established categories that are mostly stealing market share
  • Demonstrated success in Retail, B2B or Field sales experience, including Account Management and direct agronomic experience
  • Strong business development skills with experience prospecting and bringing in new business
  • Ability to build and deliver presentations to your customers
  • Ability to orchestrate multiple internal resources and extended team members including: Account Executives, Business Development, Sales Agronomy, and Customer Experience/Service.
  • Passionate for agriculture and understanding of the agriculture inputs market
  • Ability to understand business financials and price/volume relationships
  • Ability to build strong relationships in person, over the phone, and by video conferencing
  • Strong working knowledge of Google Suite, Salesforce and/or other CRM systems. Experience in customer support increasing customer satisfaction, adoption, and retention

This role demonstrates our core values by:

  • Tenacity: Keep going! You don't stop working towards your goals, even in the face of adversity. You are the kind of person who'll find a way.
  • Creativity: Using time-tested sales approaches mixed with innovation and personalization to understand the need and align to a value-added solution.
  • Ownership: Driving self and motivating others to achieve hard things; it's more than taking initiative, it's celebrating each win, and pushing for more.
  • Boldness: Building credibility in the marketplace as a trusted partner and thought-leader.

What we offer:

  • Opportunity to work in an incredible team with a drive to build alternative solutions to age old practices that increase farmer ROI
  • 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 for US-based employees)
    • Health Savings Account with monthly employer contribution (for US-based employees on qualifying health plans)
  • 401(k) with 3% company match (for US-based employees)
  • Flexible time off 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 (for US-based employees)
  • Regular events and engagement activities (we actually like hanging out with each other!)
Sound Agriculture does not accept unsolicited resumes from individual recruiters or third party recruiting agencies responding to job postings. We will not respond to unsolicited requests to submit candidates.

Equal Employment Opportunity

We seek a diverse pool of applicants and consider all qualified candidates regardless of race, ancestry, color, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, citizenship, disability, Veteran status, marital status, or any other protected status.

Sound participates in E-Verify and will provide the federal government with your Form I-9 information to confirm that you are authorized to work in the United States. If E-Verify cannot confirm that you are authorized to work, Sound is required to give you written instructions and an opportunity to contact the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) or Social Security Administration (SSA) so you can begin to resolve the issue before Sound takes any action, including terminating your employment.

Posted 2025-12-11

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