Junior Sales Manager

Are you a recent graduate or early-career professional who is curious, ambitious, and excited to build a career in sales? Do you enjoy talking to people, building relationships, learning about new industries, and turning opportunities into results? If so, this could be a great opportunity to join Meelunie, a global leader in plant-based food ingredients, and build a career in an international B2B environment. About the company Meelunie America is part of Meelunie BV, a global supplier of plant-based food ingredients, including starches and proteins, for a broad range of food applications. With more than 150 years of experience, operations in over 100 countries, and a global team of more than 100 employees, Meelunie is a worldwide leader in plant-based ingredients. As the company continues to grow in North America, we are looking for a motivated Junior Sales Manager to help expand our food-ingredient portfolio and build long-term customer relationships. What You'll Be Doing This is more than a traditional entry-level sales role. You'll have the opportunity to learn the business from the ground up, work directly with customers, and gradually take ownership of your own accounts and product portfolio. Your day-to-day will include: Support new business development by identifying and connecting with food manufacturers, co-packers, and ingredient customers Build your sales skills through daily outreach to prospective customers by phone, email, LinkedIn, and other channels Help move opportunities forward by following up on customer inquiries, sample requests, pricing, quotations, and active sales opportunities Build and maintain customer relationships through regular communication and responsive, professional service Keep customer and opportunity information up to date in the company’s CRM and internal systems Support the sales process from start to finish by preparing quotes, coordinating samples, and assisting with customer documentation and product information Collaborate across the business with suppliers, commercial colleagues, logistics, and supply-chain teams to ensure orders are executed smoothly and customers receive excellent service Develop expertise in Meelunie's food ingredient portfolio, including starches, proteins, sweeteners, and their applications Stay up to date on the food industry by monitoring market trends, ingredient pricing, supply conditions, and competitor activity to identify new business opportunities Gain exposure to sales planning and strategy by assisting with sales forecasts, account planning, sales reports, and internal meetings Get out in the market by traveling approximately 2-3 days per month for customer visits, trade shows, and industry events Grow into greater responsibility over time, with the opportunity to manage your own food-ingredient category and customer portfolio Who We're Looking For You don't need years of experience to be successful here. We're interested in potential, curiosity, and drive. You could be a great fit if you are: Recent graduate or early-career professional with an interest in sales, business development, food ingredients, agriculture, or international trade Bachelor's degree in business, food science, agriculture, supply chain, or a related field preferred Strong communication, organization, and relationship-building skills Self-motivated, curious, results-oriented, and eager to learn Comfortable working independently while collaborating closely with a team Able to manage multiple priorities and follow through on customer requests in a timely manner Proficient in Microsoft Office; experience with ERP or CRM systems is a plus, but not required Bilingual ability, particularly English and Spanish, is a plus but not required Based in, or willing to relocate to, the greater Chicago area Willing and able to travel approximately 2-3 days per month Meelunie offers an entrepreneurial, collaborative, and international work environment with strong opportunities for professional growth. The compensation package includes competitive base pay, a bonus opportunity, comprehensive benefits, and a 401(k) match. #J-18808-Ljbffr