Sales & Marketing Specialist (Richmond)

For more than 30 years, Fresh Start Foods has proudly delivered a full range of fresh produce solutions to customers across Canada. As a valued member of the Gordon Food Service (GFS) family of companies, we are honored to be recognized by Forbes as one of Canada’s Best Employers in 2026. We are currently seeking a Full-Time Sales and Marketing Specialist to join our team based out of our Richmond, BC location. This dynamic role bridges field sales execution, strategic account management, and regional marketing initiatives. The specialist will drive growth within the GFS business by working closely with Business Development Specialists and the National Account Manager, acting as the voice of the market for customers and managing marketing collateral and key contracts. Position: Full-Time, Permanent Schedule: Monday to Friday, business hours. Chance to work from home one day per week. Salary: Between $80,000-100,000/year depending on experience, plus annual performance bonus. Duties and Responsibilities Gordon Food Service (GFS) Strategy & Growth Strategic Channel Execution: Drive strategic initiatives within the Gordon Food Service Western Divisions (GFS) channel by working intimately with Category and Merchandising teams to identify and capture new opportunities. Business Development: Support and execute sales targeted recovery and growth plans specifically tailored to expand volume and market share within the Gordon Food Service business. Contract Management: Oversee and manage key monthly/quarterly contracts, ensuring pricing, item specifications, and customer requirements are accurately maintained and communicated. Customer Relationships: Own the relationships with merchandising and category managers within the Western Markets. Marketing & Market Intelligence Market Intelligence Communication: Act as the market expert by translating complex agricultural data—such as weather impacts, regional growing transitions, and fuel/freight spikes—into digestible, customer-facing Market Updates and professional presentation decks. Collateral & Campaign Management: Align with sales leadership on upcoming marketing campaigns to ensure cohesive messaging. Asset & Sample Management: Maintain and manage current product catalogs and oversee the end-to-end customer sample process, including the sourcing and distribution of promotional items. GFS Gordon Ordering: Maintain product data, images, and Fresh Start Foods content within the GFS ordering system. Operational Alignment & Cross-Functional Collaboration Internal Synergy: Work closely on a daily basis with Production, Procurement Pricing Analysis, and Food Safety teams to deeply understand facility capabilities and constraints. Expectation Management: Leverage operational insights to ensure that all sales promises, marketing claims, and customer commitments strictly align with our actual operational capabilities and raw material conditions. Required Skills and Qualifications Must have 3 years of sales experience. Food service/industry knowledge is a strong asset. Must have good written, verbal, organizational, and communication skills and problem-solving capabilities. Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure, challenging environment. Must be a strategic thinker to build relationships, network, and link resources to plan and execute business practices and achieve business goals. Benefits Comprehensive health and dental benefits (including vision, prescription drugs, disability, and extended health coverage) Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) Matching Program Annual Profit Sharing Bonus Weekly paychecks Employee Family Assistance Program Opportunities for career advancement Employee Recognition Programs Company-sponsored events (Family Picnic, Staff Celebration, BBQs) Training opportunities Annual Safety Boot Allowance Program Full-time hours A team-oriented work environment #J-18808-Ljbffr