Director Food Service Sales

Position: Director, Foodservice, North America Reports to: Senior Vice President of Global Sales Location: Remote Capable/Waukegan, Illinois, about 40 miles north of Chicago's Loop Salary Range: $160,000 - $175,000 (Compensation is based on education, skills, experience and other job-related factors) Monthly Auto Allowance 401k Plan and up to 4% company matching Health insurance Vision insurance Life insurance Health Reimbursement Arrangement or Health Savings Account Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA) - Health, Dependent Care, and Commuter Paid Holidays Paid Time Off (PTO) Tuition Reimbursement Bereavement Short Term Disability Weekly paychecks Rewards & Recognition Programs Employee Referral Program Employee Assistance Programs (EAP) Annual Bonus Program Position Responsibilities: We are seeking a dynamic and strategic Director of Foodservice to lead our growth initiatives across key foodservice channels including commercial/full-service restaurants, hospitality/hotel and lodging, and non-commercial segments (e.g., education, healthcare, B&I). This role will also oversee broadline distribution management, ensuring optimal product availability, pricing, and promotional execution through national and regional distributors. The ideal candidate will bring deep industry knowledge, strong relationships, and a proven track record of driving revenue and brand presence in the foodservice space. This individual will be responsible for developing and executing sales strategies, building strong relationships with key distributors and operators, and driving revenue growth across national and regional accounts. The ideal candidate will have deep experience in the foodservice industry, a strong understanding of consumer trends, and a passion for delivering exceptional customer experiences. The role will work to lead our account management efforts by prospecting and building out segment and customer mapping. The Foodservice Director will assist in a variety of cross-functional projects providing organizational and administrative support. Key Responsibilities: Deliver/exceed NMV annual Sales Volume & Operating Profit Objectives in Foodservice with focus on Broad Line distributor partnerships. Develop a strategic plan that encompasses multi-year growth plans outlining revenue, profit potential, and go to market strategy. Channel Strategy and Development Develop and execute strategic plans to grow sales in commercial, hospitality, and non-commercial foodservice channels. Identify and prioritize high-potential accounts and segments for targeted growth. Collaborate with marketing and innovation teams to tailor product offerings and messaging for foodservice applications. Broadline Distribution Management Build and maintain strong relationships with key broadline distributors (e.g., Sysco, US Foods, PFG). Manage pricing, trade programs, and promotional calendars to drive distributor engagement and performance. Monitor distributor compliance, inventory levels, and service metrics to ensure consistent execution. Customer Engagement and Sales Execution Lead customer presentations, negotiations, and joint business planning with strategic accounts. Partner with culinary and R&D teams to support menu ideation and product integration.Attend industry trade shows, conferences, and customer events to represent the brand and identify new opportunities. Cross-Functional Leadership Collaborate with operations, finance, and supply chain to ensure alignment on forecasts, capacity, and service expectations. Provide input into innovation pipeline and go-to-market strategies for foodservice-specific products. Serve as the voice of the foodservice customer internally, advocating for their needs and opportunities. Manage and attend vendor shows for Broad Line distributors. Partner with Marketing team to develop efficient marketing support vehicles and selling stories to drive sales growth with existing and new Broad Line distribution partners. Build demand forecasts that are accurate and updated and are reviewed internally for maximum accuracy. Travel 50% or more dependent on customer needs and opportunities. Personal Characteristics: Organization Business Acumen - Demonstrates knowledge of the market and competition; Aligns work with strategic goals. Cost Consciousness - Works within approved budget; Develops and implements cost saving measures. Business Necessity – The employee must be capable of adapting, with minimal or no advanced notice, to changes in how business is conducted, and work is accomplished, with no diminishment in work performance. This may include, but is not limited to, organization structure, finance goals, personnel, work processes, technology, and customer demands. Safety and Security –All employees are responsible for observing safety and security procedures as applicable and reporting potentially unsafe conditions to management. Results Oriented High energy, results-driven, determined, and flexible, with a strong and disciplined work ethic. Sets a quick pace and raises the bar and presses the organization toward higher levels of achievement. Measures and tracks processes and branded content assets against top competitors and the market. Promotes superior performance against stretch goals. Problem Solving - Identifies and resolves problems in a timely manner; Gathers and analyzes information skillfully; Develops alternative solutions; Works well in group problem solving situations. Project Management - Develops project plans; Coordinates projects; Communicates changes and progress; Completes projects on time and budget; Manages project team activities. Technical Skills - Assesses own strengths and weaknesses; Pursues training and development opportunities; Strives to continuously build knowledge and skills; Shares expertise with others. Change Management Embraces a sense of urgency and enthusiasm about the future path and where we are going as a team. Challenges the status quo and can quickly develop and execute improvement plans. Leadership Capability It is important that this individual has the capacity to assume greater responsibilities over time. They must have unquestioned integrity and strong values; non-political and non-bureaucratic. Communication Skills High level of emotional intelligence (EQ). Excellent verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to effectively deliver and reinforce consistent messages Leverages these communication capabilities to interact with, and persuade, peers throughout the organization. Knowledge and Characteristics:

MUSTS:

Strong knowledge and at least five years’ experience working for or with one or more Big 6 Broad Line distributors in North America. Bachelor’s Degree or equivalent in Sales, Marketing or Business, with/or a minimum of 5 years’ related experience demonstrating success in managing and selling in the Food Service channel. Outstanding writing, communication, and presentation skills. Proven ability to meet essential deadlines. Excellent multi-tasking and prioritization skills. Strong interpersonal and communication skills and superior organizational skills. Ability to interact with all levels of the organization. Familiarity with Customer Relationship Management.

WANTS:

Experience in a family or privately held business. #J-18808-Ljbffr CareersInFood.com