Inside Sales Representative in Lakeland, Florida at TREATT NORTH AMERICA

JOB SUMMARY

The Inside Sales Representative supports the growth of Treatt North America’s natural extracts and flavor and fragrance ingredients business by managing inbound sales opportunities and developing new and emerging customer accounts. This role serves as a key link between customers and internal teams, including Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Production, Logistics, Regulatory, and R&D/Laboratory.

This position is responsible for understanding customer needs, introducing relevant Treatt products and capabilities, supporting sample and order activity, and developing smaller customer relationships until they are ready to transition to a Sales Executive. The Inside Sales Representative also provides hands-on support to the Sales team by coordinating and helping resolve day-to-day matters involving inventory, production, demand planning, shipping, documentation, and customer delivery.

DUTIES & RESPONSIBILITIES

Serve as the initial commercial contact for inbound inquiries and new and emerging customer accounts.

• Qualify customer needs and introduce appropriate Treatt natural extracts, flavor ingredients, fragrance ingredients, and related product capabilities.
• Develop smaller customer accounts by building relationships, supporting product and sample activity, and identifying growth opportunities.
• Recognize when an account or opportunity is ready to transition to a Sales Executive and maintain clear communication throughout the transition.
• Conduct discovery conversations to understand customer applications, products, timing, volume, documentation, and delivery requirements.
• Serve as a central liaison among Sales, Customer Service, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Production, Logistics, Regulatory, R&D/Laboratory, and customers.
• Take initial ownership of customer and Sales-team issues involving product availability, inventory, production timing, order status, transportation, shipping, and delivery.
• Research issues, coordinate the appropriate internal resources, and provide timely and accurate updates to customers and Sales Executives.
• Resolve routine commercial and operational matters independently and escalate issues requiring a business or commercial decision to the appropriate Sales Executive or leader.
• Maintain timely and accurate customer, opportunity, sample, and order information in JD Edwards, Salesforce, and other applicable systems.
• Monitor customer orders from entry through delivery, proactively identify potential issues, and communicate updates to customers and internal stakeholders.
• Respond to customer inquiries regarding products, samples, pricing, inventory availability, order status, documentation, shipping, and delivery.
• Coordinate with Production, Supply Chain, Demand Planning, Customer Service, and Logistics to ensure accurate order and shipping information is available.
• Partner with Regulatory to provide requested product certifications and documentation, including applicable Kosher and other customer-required documentation.
• Maintain accurate customer files, commercial documentation, system records, and internal reports.
• Prepare research and reports to support product expansion with existing customers and the development of new customer relationships.
• Maintain relationships with customers’ purchasing organizations and interact with customer R&D teams by submitting materials and following up on sample submissions.
• Provide regular updates on sales activity and customer development and participate in Sales and recurring cross-functional meetings.
• Act in the best interest of Treatt USA and RC Treatt at all times.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

EDUCATION & TRAINING

• Associate degree in business, supply chain, logistics, food science, or a related field, or equivalent relevant professional experience.
• Three or more years of experience in inside sales, customer operations, commercial support, supply chain, procurement, logistics, order management, or a related business-to-business role within a manufacturing or specialty ingredients environment preferred.
• Experience within natural extracts, flavors, fragrances, food or beverage ingredients, specialty ingredients, food manufacturing, or a closely related industry strongly preferred.

KNOWLEDGE & EXPERIENCE

• Working knowledge of business-to-business order fulfillment, inventory, production planning, demand planning, logistics, transportation, and shipping processes.
• Experience operating in a manufacturing, specialty ingredients, food ingredients, natural extracts, flavors, fragrances, or related business environment strongly preferred.
• Experience using ERP and CRM platforms such as JD Edwards, SAP, Salesforce, or similar systems.
• Ability to review inventory, order, production, and shipping information and translate it into clear updates for customers and Sales Executives.
• Strong attention to detail, particularly in product, order, labeling, shipping, and regulatory documentation.
• Ability to coordinate effectively across commercial, technical, and operational teams.
• Commercial curiosity and the ability to ask effective questions, understand customer needs, and identify growth opportunities.
• Strong customer relationship, prioritization, follow-through, and time-management skills.
• Familiarity with basic chemistry terminology or ingredient nomenclature is a plus.
• Experience supporting customers in a regulated or specification-driven product environment is a plus.

SKILLS & ABILITIES

• Strong written and verbal communication skills with a confident and professional customer-facing presence.
• Strong problem-solving skills and the ability to take ownership of issues through resolution.
• Ability to manage multiple customer needs, deadlines, and competing priorities.
• Ability to work independently while maintaining close alignment with Sales and cross-functional partners.
• Ability to build effective working relationships across commercial, technical, and operational teams.
• Comfort working in a fast-moving environment where customer requirements, inventory availability, production plans, and delivery timing may change.
• Sound judgment to determine when an issue can be resolved independently and when escalation or a commercial decision is required.
• Willingness to learn Treatt’s natural extracts and flavor and fragrance ingredient portfolio, product applications, customer requirements, and internal processes.
• Ability to travel on an occasional, ad hoc basis.

WORKING CONDITIONS

• Business office environment with some overnight and international travel required. Cubicle workstation. This position is based in Lakeland, Florida, and requires regular onsite presence to support close collaboration with Sales and cross-functional teams. The normal expectation is a minimum of three days onsite per week following completion of the initial onboarding and training period, subject to business needs.
• Physical Factors: Seeing, Hearing, Standing/Walking, Climbing/Stooping/Kneeling, Lifting/Pulling/Pushing, and Grasping/Feeling