Now Hiring - Affinity Group - National Director of K-12 Sales in Buffalo, NY

National Director of K-12 Sales

Who we're looking for:

The Affinity Group is seeking a National Director to lead K-12 Segment Sales across our organization. This position will lead K12 sales initiatives and strategies to maximize business growth. The right candidate will be a “hands-on” leader with the ability to coach, teach, and train others to produce outcomes consistently.

This is a remote-based position and can be based anywhere in the United States.

Who We Are:

Your Bridge to Success

The Affinity Group is one of the fastest-growing food sales and marketing agencies, with a national presence throughout North America and Canada. We represent some of the most recognizable and well-regarded food brands in the industry.

Supported by the corporate sales support team, you’ll be part of a team that drives brand awareness and increases market demand for our clients. Affinity Group brings decades of expertise and a consultative system that is tailored for a localized approach.

Responsibilities:

• Partners with region Affinity Group K-12 Directors to develop, implement and execute K-12 Client Goals and Initiatives through our trimester planning process.

• Acts as primary communication lead with national and super regional client’s K-12 departments.
• Ensures seamless K-12 bid process and commodity strategy throughout the organization
• Oversees K-12 marketing and promotional ideas
• Develops trade show strategies to ensure strong brand representation and excellent execution
• Establishes and maintains relationships with key operator decision makers at all levels
• Attends national conferences and coordinates internal and external client events
• Attends larger state K-12 shows (New York, Florida, Texas, California, etc.)
• Assists in recruitment and talent development of K-12 sales teams as appropriate.

The role might be right for you if you have:

• Bachelor’s degree in business, MBA preferred
• Minimum 10 years’ experience in food industry
• Minimum 5 years in K-12 foodservice sales
• Proven leader: Minimum 2 years in a leadership role, preferably over large teams
• Previous experience within K-12 foodservice and/or K-12 cafeteria operations management is preferred
• SNS certification preferred
• Established relationships with key accounts preferred
• Demonstrated success in achieving business objectives
• Strong communicator at all levels, from employees to executives
• Excellent presentation and negotiation skills
• Influencing and coaching skills
• Experience with leading change management
• Self-Motivated and organized
• Strategic problem solver
• Proficient with Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Teams and Zoom
• Experience with CRM systems

What to expect:

• Schedule: Monday – Friday. Occasional work on weekends as needed.
• Travel: As a national-level leader, this position requires frequent air travel and overnights.
• During the food trade show season, the position may require the ability to stand for extended periods, with the ability to safely lift case goods (20-25 lbs.).

How we make room for you:

• Compensation: Competitive base salary (non-commission).
• Health & Wellness: Medical, dental, and vision insurance plans to care for you and your loved ones.
• Paid Time Off: In addition to company paid holidays to unplug and recharge.
• Telecommuting: Flexibility around remote work.
• Wealth Planning: 401(k) that supports planning for the future.
• Wealth Protection: Life insurance and supplemental insurance to prepare for the unexpected.
• Perks: Plenty of stocked food snacks, samples, and coffee to keep you energized and inspiring you to test drive the brands we represent.
• Food Trade Shows: During food show season, taste some of the finest cuisines prepared by local culinarians and artisans.
• Collaboration: A workplace environment where your “foodie” passion counts! If there’s a better way to build it or do it, your viewpoint matters.
• Empowerment: Opportunity to be trusted and empowered to take charge of your area of responsibility.

Our Culture

Starting in 2014, our team of sales professionals, business development leads, and creative marketing designers came together to disrupt and re-engineer how a sales and marketing agency represents clients within the food, beverage, and retail industry. Our culture is all about being strategic, engaged, passionate, innovative, and driven. We believe our strong focus on developing our people sets us apart from the competition.

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.

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