Marketing Specialist

The Marketing Specialist is responsible for developing and executing strategic marketing initiatives across our Schools Services Accounts for AVI Foodsystems. This role drives revenue growth, strengthens client relationships, and enhances the guest experience by leading local marketing programs, engagement initiatives, retail strategies, promotions, merchandising, communications, market research, and training in the field. The role also ensures company and marketing standards are consistently executed across all accounts in the territory.


As a key member of the field marketing team, this position partners closely with operations leaders and the Director of Field Marketing to ensure alignment with AVI's corporate standards while tailoring strategies to local customer needs.



Key Performance Indicators (KPIs):

• Year-over-year territory revenue and profitability growth
• Increased meal plan participation and sales
• Increased retail sales performance
• Increased sales and profitability from target initiatives/ programs
• Improved client and customer satisfaction survey scores
• Compliance with brand standards
• Exceeding marketing and overhead budget expectations
• Effective project management with on-time and successful delivery of campaigns

Responsibilities:

Strategic Planning & Execution

• Develop, implement, and measure a comprehensive territory marketing and engagement plans in partnership with operations leadership.
• Support meal plan growth in higher education through targeted campaigns and creative communication strategies.
• Identify and capitalize on retail revenue opportunities by analyzing performance, trends, and customer insights and executing appropriate retail selling strategies.
• Collaborate with operations and marketing teams on solutions to challenges and contribute new ideas to enhance the guest experience

Marketing Programs & Campaigns

• Deliver creative marketing solutions tailored to client needs and customer preferences.
• Implement corporate standards, programs, merchandising, and initiatives to ensure all accounts are meeting minimum company expectations
• Manage digital and print communications, including menu boards, digital signage, promotional signage, newsletters, and email campaigns.

Client & Customer Engagement

• Conduct regular marketing and merchandising audits designed to elevate the customer dining experience, reporting findings and implementing action plans.
• Build strong client partnerships by providing regular updates, measurement and tracking, and marketing reports that demonstrate value of AVI Marketing as a trusted partner.
• Work with operations teams to ensure events and promotions have flawless execution, engage directly with customers, and capture feedback.
• Supports sales and retention efforts in assigned territory

Digital & Social Media Marketing

• Direct content changes for AVI dining websites for assigned accounts, ensuring accurate menus, event updates, and marketing content.
• Oversee social media strategies and calendars are executed at the account level across all applicable platforms.
• Leverage digital engagement analytics to optimize campaigns.

Training & Leadership

• Incorporate AVI's mission, vision and core values into all work
• Take initiative to communicate and collaborate with District Managers and Vice Presidents in territory to ensure marketing messages are funneled up and down the chain
• Conduct training sessions and presentations for operations teams to ensure proper execution of AVI marketing and merchandising standards and programs.
• Provide guidance to unit engagement marketing managers, marketing champions, student interns, or assistants within the territory.
• Collaborate with corporate marketing to cascade company-wide initiatives and standards.

Research & Insights

• Conduct market research and analyze customer data to identify emerging trends, preferences, and competitive opportunities.
• Translate insights and trends into actionable programs and recommendations for operations teams.

Budget Management

• Adopts mindset of measuring marketing activities, initiatives, campaigns, programs, events, and plans and sharing results on a regular basis.
• Support the development and management of account-level marketing budgets.
• Monitor overhead expenditures to ensure staying within budget parameters.
• All other marketing initiatives as assigned by Client, EVPs, VPs, and Director of Field Marketing.

Required Skills & Competencies

• At least 5 to 7 years experience in contract food service, foodservice or hospitality marketing
• Strong marketing and project management skills with the ability to manage multiple priorities and deadlines
• Creative thinker with a passion for delivering innovative marketing solutions
• Excellent written, verbal, and presentation communication skills
• Customer focused mindset with strong leadership and interpersonal skills
• Ability to thrive in fast paced environment and adapt quickly to change
• Strong attention to detail and organizational skills
• Strong client relationship-building and stakeholder management abilities
• Analytical skills to measure performance, evaluate ROI, and translate data into strategies
• Flexibility to travel within assigned territory must travel at least 50% to 70% of the time.

Software & Tools

• Required: Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, OneDrive), Adobe Acrobat Pro, social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, X, LinkedIn)
• Preferred: Adobe Creative Suite (InDesign, Photoshop, Illustrator, Express)

Benefits:

• A family culture and atmosphere
• Competitive compensation
• Health, dental, vision and life insurance for full-time team members
• 401(k) with generous company match
• Paid vacations and holidays
• Immense training and growth opportunities

We conduct pre-employment drug testing. EOE.