Job Description & Person Specification Sales Assistant based at Wash Farm, Buckfastleigh

Job Title: Sales Assistant

Working Hours: 40 hours per week. You will need to be very flexible, prepared to work weekends and unsocial hours through the summer and be available for UK travel. Benefits: 31 days holiday pro rata (including bank holidays), healthy benefits such as reduced boxes and grade out fruit and veg, profit share scheme after 12 months service and pension scheme after 6 months service. Salary: £16,000 plus performance-related bonus

Contract: 7 month contract

Based at: Wash Barn, Buckfastleigh, Devon, TQ11 0JU

Reporting to: Shows and Events Manager

Summary and purpose: Riverford is the largest independent producer of organic veg boxes in the UK. We grow, pack and distribute organic veg boxes along with meat boxes and other organic food to the doorsteps of customers across the UK. Growing and packing takes place at four farms, each of which has a network of franchisees making deliveries, growing sales and looking after customers locally. Riverford is founded on a strong belief in the benefits and pleasures of fresh seasonal organic food, and a commitment to a fair deal for suppliers, customers and staff. Having decided to expand our show and event calendar, we need a team of energetic, confident and well organised individuals, ideally with events and sales experience to help

us ensure the success of the 2014 show calendar. Your brief will be to develop Riverford’s increasingly successful calendar of show and event activity throughout the South West, building our reputation, signing up new customers and consolidating our relationship with existing ones. Key responsibilities and accountabilities: Shows and Events: Work with our Shows and Event team.

a) To assist the Event Manager in implementing an annual calendar of shows and events across the South West.

b) To support at larger shows across the country where needed

c) To sign up new customers for a Riverford Delivery and then load these onto our database

Provide administrational support to the Events Co-ordinator. Set up the Riverford stand at events, staff it and manage it to attract and sign up a high number of new customers with good quality displays, offers and activities. Manage the use of show equipment;

o Maintenance of the show equipment o Making sure that you have the relevant equipment for the right event type o Loading and un-loading the van and managing stock levels

To work with the Events Co-ordinator in ordering fresh produce and extra items needed for the event, ensuring you have good representation of the products we provide. Regular weekend working, particularly during peak times such as Easter, Bank Holiday weekends and the show season (April – October) Provide feedback on the events performance to the Show and Event Manager.

Farm Events: Support the Shows and Events Manager and Event Co-ordinator to market farm events and take responsibility for customer experience. Get involved at farm events by attracting and signing up new customers, generate sales, consolidate existing relationships and enhance our brand reputation. Riverford Cooks events: Support the Riverford Cook Manager in attending Riverford Cooks activities where necessary. To assist in developing new activities to attract and engage customers: Work with the marketing team to develop ways to attract and engage our customers, building on experiences gained out in the field and elsewhere within Riverford. This is likely to include:

- ‘open van’ activity with associated leafleting - Open markets in busy town centre’s - Going into businesses to sign up customers at Healthy Eating Days, Environmental

Days, etc Other: Evaluate all events to inform future investment of resource (number and quality of new customers, cost per acquisition etc). To remain competitive it is important we are responsive and react quickly. Things will constantly change and it is essential that you are flexible and understand that the above list is a guideline and that you will be expected to expand on this list, use your initiative, challenge the status quo and come up with ideas on how things can be done better or more effectively.

Person Specification:

Key Competencies Essential

Experience Previous experience in a sales or events role

Skills and Ability Clear written and verbal communication skills, on paper, on the telephone and face to face

Excellent project planning and organisational skills

Able to cope with the physical demands of moving and setting up stands and show equipment

Excellent sales skills

UK driving licence

Comfortable working on own initiative and independently.

Analytical

Attitude Willing and able to travel within the UK and be flexible on working hours as there will be evening and weekend work involved.

Enthusiastic, energetic, creative and motivating.

Motivated by sales

Qualifications and Training

Good IT competency – able to use database, spreadsheet and word processing packages

Personal Qualities Enthusiastic and outgoing; able to enthuse, support, give confidence

Strong interest in food and farming

Comfortable with a wide range of audiences