Sales Graduate - Sales

This vacancy has now expired, and is not accepting any new applications.

Role types
Grad Scheme
Role description

The Sales Function at Heinz is looking to hire candidates with the potential of becoming the future leaders of the sales function and Organisation. Heinz believes it is critical to have a robust leadership pipeline and that graduates joining their sales programme have the ability, hunger, ambition and passion to achieve. It is also essential that they are commercially astute, therefore some previous work experience is highly desirable.

Sales plays a crucial role within Heinz. If the company is not performing, the sales function bears the brunt. As a result, the sales department is boisterous, loud, serious, focussed and professional. All those who wish to succeed are expected to get on and operate on their own steam. They should have an entrepreneurial spirit and be happy to get stuck in.
 
Heinz operate a unified Sales division that operates across three channels:

• Retail (60%)  - Supermarkets ( ie Tesco, Asda etc)
• Convenience and Impulse (C&I) division (25%)  - Wholesalers and high street operators
• Food Services (15%)  - Restaurants and pubs (out of home)


Together they generate approximately £1Billion of revenue in the UK are Ireland.

Sales is not just about selling; for the graduates it will be about managing accounts and categories. It will be about keeping the market share up – currently, Heinz products “are the market” e.g. Ketchup – and it is about ensuring this continues.

Most of the 300-strong sales department is based at Head Office in Hayes Park, and following an initial field based assignment, the graduates will spend large proportion of the scheme there. They can expect though extensive travel to customer sites and once a month will be going on a store callage.

Sales Graduate Role

The two year programme will see graduates undertake a variety of roles across the Sales function  including spending time with the Heinz independent field team to gain a good understanding of our products and customers.

Examples of roles include Category analyst, Key Account Executive and National Account Executive. Subject to performance and results, graduates can see themselves managing a Customer’s Marketing budget (planning and execution) or providing their National Account Manager with reports on how the categories and products are performing.

A successful graduate will not need to be spoon fed – it is fine to ask questions, but graduates are given responsibility and they have to be able to hit the ground running and make things happen. It is not a 9-5 role, graduates will be expected to work hard and build their profile.

First rule of sales is listening – being able to listen is a must.

 

Training & Support

On joining Heinz, Sales graduates together with graduates from across other functions will come together in a one week induction programme that includes factory site visits and presentations from senior Managers in the business. This will allow them to gain an understanding into the Organisation as well as each of the functions and how they fit into the operation. Following the initial training week, they will start their roles within the Sales function.

During the first three months the graduates will take part in a sales induction and learn many of the sales techniques needed to succeed. They will spend time in the field, learning how to go in store and how to make a sales call. Ongoing support will include development in areas such as presentation skills and negotiation skills.

Graduates will be in ‘real jobs’ and be given a large amount of responsibility. It will be up to the individual to shine and make use of all of the opportunities provided as the approach will not be to ‘spoon-feed’ information. Mentors will be appointed for the full duration of the scheme to support them further in this journey.

They will also get a considerable amount of exposure to Dave Woodward and Senior Management who will take an active role in identifying potential leadership.

Throughout the scheme, the sales graduates will join graduates from other functions in group workshops to further the development of core interpersonal skills and support the business and specific sales-skills gained.

At the end of the 2 year programme, individuals will be placed in roles that take into account their performance and achievement throughout the scheme together with personal interests as well as the business needs. For real high-flyers there is the potential to be poached off the scheme after 18 months.


Background

Requirements
• Culture fit/Social skills are the most important aspect
• Degree: Minimum 2:1 in any discipline
• A Levels: A’s and B’s a preference (300 UCAS points minimum)
• Work experience such as an internship or placement year

Preferred Skills
• Commercial acumen and hunger to succeed
• Ambition and a self-starter attitude who is able to hit the ground running
• Down to earth and personable
• Effective at building relationships is essential for this customer-facing role
• Leadership skills
• IT literate – PowerPoint/Excel
• Good numerical competence


 

This vacancy has now expired, and is not accepting any new applications.

Sales Graduate