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 accountsProactively pursue new business opportunities to expand DFA's presence in the foodservice channelLead demand generation that leverages marketplace insights for overall profitable growthDevelop and implement strategies to establish new markets and grow existing accountsCreate representation strategy for the company at industry events, trade shows, and customer meetingsTeam Leadership and Development
Provide leadership, guidance, and support to the sales team to drive performance and foster professional growthLead, mentor, and manage a high-performing sales teamEstablish clear performance goals and accountability measures for the sales teamAlign organizational structure to strategic goals and align skill sets to desired outcomesCustomer Relationship Management
Build and maintain strong relationships with key foodservice & food manufacturing customers, including distributors, operators, and chain accountsNegotiate contracts and agreements to maximize revenue and profitability.Act as a strategic partner to customers by understanding their needs and offering tailored solutionsEngage R&D to develop and present application focused solutionsSales Operations
Oversee the sales pipeline, forecasting, and budgeting processes to ensure accurate and timely reportingMonitor and analyze sales performance, providing insights and recommendations for improvementCollaborate with marketing, finance, operations, and product development teams to support sales initiatives and ensure customer satisfactionThe 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 emphasisMBA preferred15+ years of dairy, ingredient and / or foodservice sales leadership experience in a progressive sales organizationProven career advancement in sales of dairy ingredients and food productsKnowledge of dairy productsCertification and / or License - NoneNecessary Knowledge, Skills and Abilities
Proven track record of growing profitable sales results at a senior sales level and in a competitive marketStrong leadership skills with the ability to inspire and manage a team effectivelyExcellent negotiation, communication, and interpersonal skillsDeep understanding of foodservice distribution channels, industry trends, and customer needsKnowledge of commercial business, marketplace, and consumerStrong executive presence and the ability to quickly gain the confidence of colleagues, enhanced by a strong sense of team and outstanding people skillsStrong leadership abilitiesExceptional communication skillsAbility to solve complex customer demands and problemsSelf-driven and committed to hands on work habitsAbility to initiate and adapt to changeAbility to balance heavy work load and manage multiple tasksMust have the ability and capability to advance to a senior level in the organizationHigh level of proficiency with sales planning, both short-term and strategic planningExperience developing and managing strategic customer relationshipsAbility to plan, coordinate, and direct the work of othersProduct and application knowledge, particularly in cheese and dairy proteinsTeam leader, able to convince others to enthusiastically support new initiativesAble to read, write, and speak EnglishTravel :
50%-75% (up to 2 weeks per month)
An Equal Opportunity Employer
J-18808-Ljbffr