Location:
Candidate can be based in the following cities: Kansas City, St. Louis Park or Chicago
General Purpose:
Accomplished sales leader to drive business development, lead sales team, and expand sales footprint in foodservice & food manufacturing channels. Lead the strategic planning, direction, and goal setting for area of sales responsibility in collaboration with senior leadership. Responsible for d eveloping and implementing strategic sales initiatives to achieve revenue growth, expand market share, and build strong relationships with market and foodservice partners. Improve profitability through volume growth, margin optimization, and cost savings initiatives through the effective leadership of others. Accountable for the sales performance and results of large, strategically important accounts, an extremely large market, and/or for diverse disciplines or departments within division.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
Strategic Leadership
Develop and execute a strategic vision and comprehensive foodservice & food manufacturing sales strategy to achieve sales targets and growth objectives
Align foodservice sales strategies with overall business goals and initiatives across multiple product portfolios
Analyze market trends, customer insights, and competitive landscape to identify growth opportunities
Collaborate with division and senior leadership to align sales strategies with overall company goals
Business Development / Market Growth
Identify and cultivate relationships with key foodservice & food manufacturing accounts
Proactively pursue new business opportunities to expand DFA's presence in the foodservice channel
Lead demand generation that leverages marketplace insights for overall profitable growth
Develop and implement strategies to establish new markets and grow existing accounts
Create representation strategy for the company at industry events, trade shows, and customer meetings
Team Leadership and Development
Provide leadership, guidance, and support to the sales team to drive performance and foster professional growth
Lead, mentor, and manage a high-performing sales team
Establish clear performance goals and accountability measures for the sales team
Align organizational structure to strategic goals and align skill sets to desired outcomes
Customer Relationship Management
Build and maintain strong relationships with key foodservice & food manufacturing customers, including distributors, operators, and chain accounts
Negotiate contracts and agreements to maximize revenue and profitability.
Act as a strategic partner to customers by understanding their needs and offering tailored solutions
Engage R&D to develop and present application focused solutions
Sales Operations
Oversee the sales pipeline, forecasting, and budgeting processes to ensure accurate and timely reporting
Monitor and analyze sales performance, providing insights and recommendations for improvement
Collaborate with marketing, finance, operations, and product development teams to support sales initiatives and ensure customer satisfaction
The requirements herein are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employee, but is not a complete list of responsibilities, duties, and skills required. Other duties may be assigned as required.
Minimum Qualifications:
Education and Experience
B.S. Degree, preferable with a Management or Sales/Marketing emphasis
MBA preferred
15+ years of dairy, ingredient and/or foodservice sales leadership experience in a progressive sales organization
Proven career advancement in sales of dairy ingredients and food products
Knowledge of dairy products
Certification and/or License - None
Necessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Proven track record of growing profitable sales results at a senior sales level and in a competitive market
Strong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and manage a team effectively
Excellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skills
Deep understanding of foodservice distribution channels, industry trends, and customer needs
Knowledge of commercial business, marketplace, and consumer
Strong executive presence and the ability to quickly gain the confidence of colleagues, enhanced by a strong sense of team and outstanding people skills
Strong leadership abilities
Exceptional communication skills
Ability to solve complex customer demands and problems
Self-driven and committed to hands on work habits
Ability to initiate and adapt to change
Ability to balance heavy work load and manage multiple tasks
Must have the ability and capability to advance to a senior level in the organization
High level of proficiency with sales planning, both short-term and strategic planning
Experience developing and managing strategic customer relationships
Ability to plan, coordinate, and direct the work of others
Product and application knowledge, particularly in cheese and dairy proteins
Team leader, able to convince others to enthusiastically support new initiatives
Able to read, write, and speak English
Travel:
50%-75% (up to 2 weeks per month)
An Equal Opportunity Employer
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