K-12 Specialist

BROAD FUNCTION AND SCOPE OF POSITION:  
This position’s primary responsibility is to conduct in person appointments to sell and market products to all school distributors and school districts. It also includes working on coding and recapping of school bids with the Bid Manager so that pertinent information can be obtained from the manufacturers. Position works with and educates other Affinity Group West sales representatives about the K-12 school products.  Responsible for inputting all daily activity into CRM and planning against all top priority customers and manufacturers.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES:
Sales Planning & Execution

• Plan and schedule in-person sales calls with key business planning customers using CRM, ensuring weekly and trimester call and presentation goals are achieved.
• Conduct field sales activities, including customer appointments, taste testing events, and food shows at district and state SNA levels.

Customer Communication & Responsiveness

• Monitor and respond to emails and voicemails daily, ensuring all customer and operator inquiries are addressed within 48 hours.
• Conduct timely follow-up calls with customers and sales leads to maintain engagement and drive sales opportunities.

Bid Management & Strategic Selling

• Analyze school bids and develop customized, strategic presentations for school district decision-makers that align with bid requirements and showcase company products.

Relationship Management & Business Development

• Build and maintain strong relationships within the K-12 school segment, including school districts and distribution partners, to drive ongoing sales growth.

Professional Development & Industry Engagement

• Continuously expand knowledge of the K-12 segment, including market trends, product offerings, and customer needs.
• Attend industry events, trade shows, and meetings as directed by K-12 leadership and sales management to strengthen market presence and expertise.

EDUCATION, EXPERIENCE, KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES:

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) in related field or equivalent is preferred.
• Work Experience. 3-5 years’ experience preferably with a food sales and marketing agency, along with food service management in K-12, or with a national food manufacturer.
• Integrity/Trust/Ethics. Keeps business strategy, pricing, data and issues confidential as required by AG, manufacturer and operator.
• Outstanding time management skills. In this role, you’ll wear many hats, so you’ll need to show you’ve honed your time management skills, but you’re savvy in prioritizing competing priorities even while traveling from location to location. SMART goals executed weekly, monthly, and annually.
• Clear communication skills. Strong skill set in explaining and defining information, issues about many topics to anyone. Comfortable communicating in person, in writing (professionally, no typos), and on the phone. Possess incredibly well-developed listening skills. Listening skills to provide solutions to district customers and manufacturers.
• Self-motivated and driven to succeed . Take initiative in managing your sales territory. Volunteer for new challenges without waiting to be asked. Take ownership of the time you spend with operators and Affinity Group clients and make a difference as their business partner.
• High emotional intelligence. In this role, you’ll interact with a diverse range of Affinity Group clients and business partners, each with unique circumstances. Establish key partner relationships to develop and nurture business success. Proven ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding are keys to success in this role and discovering unknown needs and being a self-motivated are crucial to this role.
• A valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and a flexible schedule. Since this role requires daily travel throughout your territory, you’ll need a clean driving record and the ability to use your vehicle. Some industry events might require overnights during the food trade show season.
• Computer literacy. As part of a remote workforce, we rely on several digital tools to help you execute your work and keep you accountable. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (required), CRM systems, along with the ability to effectively use virtual presentation tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other cloud-based solutions.

Team Player Attitude. Understanding and promoting team dynamic mentality. Operating with a focus on positive interactions for the team, not only good for the individual. Help team members succeed by following best practices and sharing opportunities for growth with the team. Peer mentoring in K12 sales practices and knowledge transfer to team members

COMPETENCIES:

• Relationship building- Salespeople in Account Development build effective long-term professional interactions with others based on trust: trust that they will always work toward the best interest of those involved and that they are sufficiently competent to provide positive results.
• Active listening- They enhance mutual understanding in communicating with others by expressing genuine interest in, and providing full attention to, the content and meaning of others’ messages.
• Information seeking- They are driven by an underlying curiosity and desire to know more about things, people, or issues. This involves going beyond routine questions and includes digging or pressing for exact information; resolving discrepancies by asking a series of questions; or conducting less-focused environmental scanning for opportunities or miscellaneous information that may be used in the future.
• Influence and persuasion- Salespeople in Account Development are effective in persuading, convincing, influencing, or impressing others in order to get them to support a specific agenda, make a specific type of impression, or take a specific course of action.
• Negotiating- They identify key bargaining points for all parties and work effectively toward win-win solutions.

 

• Composure and Resiliency- They are able to deal effectively with pressure, maintain focus and intensity, and remain optimistic and persistent, even under adversity. They have the ability and propensity to recover quickly from setbacks, rejections, and conflicts and to maintain self-control in the face of hostility or provocation.
• Organizational savvy- They gather and accurately assess information related to the organization’s formal and informal communication channels and power relationships.
• Time management- They focus on completing all work tasks in a timely manner while remaining responsive enough to react to competing demands and shifting priorities. They are able to manage multiple responsibilities while being organized, keeping on top of important time-sensitive tasks, and performing all work accurately.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS AND WORKING CONDITIONS:

• The typical work week: Monday through Friday
• During the food trade show season, the position requires the ability to stand for extended periods, with the ability to safely lift case goods (up to 50lbs.).  
• Travel: Position requires daily motor vehicle travel to assigned locations.

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.