VP of Marketing and Communications

Ready to change the world? At SFE, we are fueling students to take on their school day one meal at a time, and we need YOU to help bring those healthy, great tasting meals to their plates every day. We are passionate about delicious food, creating a customized experience for each of our districts and schools, bringing innovation to the table and being compassionate leaders to our teams. If you're looking for a career that can truly make an impact on a child's day, we want to meet you!

The Vice President of Marketing and Communications (VP-MC) is responsible for developing and executing a comprehensive marketing and communications strategy that enhances brand equity, drives lead generation, supports revenue growth, and reinforces the company's leadership in the K-12 school nutrition market. This role translates market insights into actionable campaigns, builds strategic partnerships, and leads a high-performing marketing and communications team. The VP-MC will ensure all activities comply with applicable federal and state nutrition guidelines and regulations while engaging key stakeholders including school districts, parents, boards of education, faculty, staff, and the broader community. You will report to the President.


You Will:

• Strategic Leadership

• Develop and implement a cohesive, data-driven marketing and communications strategy aligned with company goals and revenue targets to help Sales and Operations sell and retain business.

• Establish brand positioning, messaging architecture, and a storytelling framework that resonates with diverse stakeholders, including but not limited to district decision makers, parents, children, board members, and internal teams.

• Set measurable goals and KPIs for brand awareness, demand generation, customer acquisition, retention, and advocacy; track, report, and optimize performance.

• Marketing Programs and Campaigns

• Design and execute integrated marketing programs which are sustainable across channels, including content marketing, paid media (digital and programmatic), search and social advertising, email marketing, events, public relations, in-school media, and district communications.

• Lead the creation and optimization of marketing assets (creative, copy, video, infographics, case studies, white papers, and digital experiences) and manage in-house production or external agency partnerships.

• Oversee lead generation and nurture programs, lead scoring, and CRM integration to improve conversion rates and pipeline quality.
• Develop a comprehensive understanding of the target market through strategic travel, in-person engagement with district leaders and stakeholders, and proactive online outreach. Currently focusing on K-12 school districts across the United States, with anticipated expansion to additional regions and facets of the food service industry.
• Lead initiatives to reshape child nutrition by fostering strong, long-term partnerships with clients, school boards, parents, and students, while ensuring full compliance with all applicable federal and state nutrition requirements and guidelines.

• Communications and Public Relations

• Serve as the primary spokesperson for external communications; manage media relations, press releases, crisis communications, executive visibility, and corporate announcements.

• Develop and maintain relationships with key media, industry associations, district leaders, and other stakeholders to elevate brand presence.

• Lead crisis and issue communications planning and execution as needed.

• Brand Management and Creative Direction

• Ensure consistency of brand voice, visual identity, and messaging across all touchpoints and channels.

• Champion compelling storytelling that highlights the company's impact on child nutrition, compliance with nutrition guidelines, and outcomes for students.

• Team Development and Leadership

• Build, coach, and lead a high-performing marketing and communications team; recruit top talent, establish career development plans, and foster a culture of experimentation and accountability.

• Establish clear roles and responsibilities, performance expectations, and professional development opportunities.

• Data, Analytics, and Technology

• champion a data-driven approach; define data requirements, set up dashboards, monitor key metrics, and institute testing protocols (A/B testing, multivariate testing) to optimize campaigns.

• Oversee the use and optimization of marketing technologies (CRM, marketing automation, analytics platforms, CMS, design tools, and project management software).

• Ensure data integrity, privacy, and compliance with applicable regulations.

• Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Partner with Sales, Human Resources, Nutrition Compliance, and Operations to ensure marketing initiatives support go-to-market plans and district success.

• Lead internal communications to align stakeholders across the organization with marketing priorities and outcomes.

• Compliance and Risk Management

• Ensure all marketing and communications activities comply with applicable federal, state, and local regulations, including nutrition guidelines and data privacy standards.

• Maintain an ethical and transparent approach to all external communications and content creation.

• Perform additional duties as assigned to support the effective operation of the Marketing and Communications function.

You Have:

• Minimum 5 years of experience doing at least 4 of the 6 activities above with a proven track record of success

• Comfort with a fast-paced ever-changing environment assisted by directional guidance without a road map.

• A vibrant, fun-loving, no-judgment approach to coming up with ideas.

• A rigorous, data-driven approach to testing ideas.

• Have a design background and can create your own ad creative.

• Have a data background, and can collect, clean, analyze, and act on data.

• Have a storytelling or writing background, and can craft inspiring, remarkable narratives.

• Have a basic tech background and are fluent using the latest digital platforms and tools.

• Can provide a portfolio of work or examples of successful campaigns

• Can discuss your favorite marketing mentors and WHY they inspired you

• Are proficient in InDesign

• 30-50% Travel required

Compensation:

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Key SFE (Southwest Foodservice Excellence) Benefits:

At SFE , we believe great work starts with great people. That's why we offer Monday-Friday, day-shift schedules , competitive pay, and a benefits package designed to support your life - both at work and at home.

Eligible employees enjoy comprehensive medical, dental, and vision coverage , paid time off, a 401(k) with pre-tax and Roth options , employer-contributed Health Savings Accounts , and access to wellness tools like Telemedicine and an Employee Assistance Program . We also offer employee discounts and flexible options when life changes.

If you're looking for stability, work-life balance, and a company that truly invests in its people , SFE may be the perfect fit.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer, Gender/Minority/Veterans/Disabled and participates with E-Verify Employment Eligibility Program