Expected Experience & Required Skills
· Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, sales, or a related field preferred (or equivalent experience).
· 1 to 3 years of sales experience, preferably in foodservice, consumer packaged goods (CPG), or a related industry. Prior experience managing distributor relationships and working with foodservice operators in strongly preferred.
· Experience in direct sales, account management, or business development within the foodservice or hospitality industry is beneficial.
· Ability to analyze sales data, market trends, and financial reports to make informed business decisions. Includes the ability to leverage data to track sales performance, plan effectively, and develop winning strategies.
· Proficiency in building and executing sales plans, including developing joint business plans (JBPs) and forecasting demand.
· Strong business acumen with the ability to differentiate high-value sales opportunities from less profitable ones.
· Exceptional verbal and written communication skills, with the ability to present and sell concepts effectively to both internal and external stakeholders.
· Strong relationship-building skills, with the ability to foster long-term partnerships with distributors, brokers, operators, and key decision-makers.
· Experience in collaboration cross-functionally with marketing, supply chain, finance, and sales operations teams.
· Knowledge of supply chain operations, order-to-cash processes, invoice resolution in a foodservice environment.
· Understanding of pricing structures, rebates, and contracts in a distributor-based sales model.
· Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook), and CRM tools (e.g., Salesforce).
· Ability to adapt selling strategies to virtual platforms (MS Teams, Zoom, Google Meet, FaceTime, etc.).
· Ability to lift up to 50 pounds when needed.
· Valid driver’s license and ability to meet MVR requirements.
· Willingness to travel overnight as needed (frequency varies by territory).