The Company
The Morning Star Company and its affiliates operate four tomato processing facilities, leading the California industry with almost 40% of the California crop, plus tomato transplanting, growing, harvesting and trucking operations, with employment of over 500 year-round and over 2,000 seasonal colleagues with annual sales of over $1 billion. The company is known worldwide for its innovation and integrity.

The Morning Star Company is the largest independent producer of bulk tomato ingredient products (tomato paste and diced tomatoes) in the world. We also provide retail and food service markets with tomato products and specialty sauces in cans and pouches.

Our company is organized under our philosophy of Mission Focused Self-Management™. We operate as colleagues without titles or an appointed hierarchy of authority. Authority relative to other colleagues’ activities is lateral, with our Mission as our guiding principle of action, and respect, influence and success built based on each colleague’s integrity, competency, effort, persistence and straightforward persuasiveness. Although we have grown significantly, we intend to maintain a culture of individual responsibility and Mission Focused Self-Management™.

Mission and Position
The Morning Star Sales Mission is “To build relationships which result in ‘at-will’ sales opportunities” - To establish a relationship with and attract offers from every customer and negotiate mutually sustainable agreements with select customers. We desire to increase the product supply penetration of dried tomato pomace, as an ingredient for both human and pet food products, and also Sun Dried Tomatoes as both an ingredient and as finished food product, with the goal of being each customer’s, “Supplier of Choice.” When conditions warrant, we should drive to be their sole supplier.

Building Relationships: relationships are built and grown over time. Trust is the basis of all relationships and when trust is compromised relationships falter. It is imperative that in building customer relationships we understand the critical nature of what each customer truly values in a good relationship. Some customers need more attention than others, while some prefer interaction by email. Understand there is no substitute for face time with a customer and seeking to understand their needs and their company’s needs at an intimate level. If we are to ultimately have the ability to sell “at will” a deep understanding of the business is a must.

Principal Leadership Characteristics

• Works independently, with broadly defined work objectives.
• Strong work ethic with a passion to make a difference.
• While being an independent, confident individual who respects others can be effective in coordinating activities with colleagues, as required to accomplish one’s Mission.
• Honest, forthright and trustworthy--not political.
• Results Oriented: Persistent in getting results, but patient.
• Driven to succeed and get things done – competitive.
• Has a bias for being decisive and taking action when called for, but balances risk and reward rationally.
• Creative – willing to challenge existing ways of doing business

Location and Travel: This role will require frequent and easy access to our sites. Travel outside of California will be concentrated in the Midwestern US.

Compensation: Salary for this role will be between $70,000 and $125,000, DOE.

Benefits: Morning Star offers a top-tier, comprehensive health plan, including medical, dental, and vision, and we pay the full monthly premiums for the Colleague and all eligible family members (upon qualification subject to the terms and conditions of the plan which is subject to change). The company also contributes to Colleagues' Health Savings Accounts. Year-round Colleagues are eligible to enroll in our 401K plan, with 4% match. All benefits plans are subject to change.