
Sales Development Manager, Foodservice
- New Jersey
- $103,200-137,600 per year
- Permanent
- Full-time
- Support the development and execute the strategy to increase penetration in the foodservice channel
- Generate and leverage consumer/guest, channel, and customer insights to identify and obtain foodservice targets, including operators and manufacturers, with strategic fit to Ingredion
- Research target operators to identify unmet customer needs and opportunities needs, and collaborate with Ingredion Culinology, Technical and Innovation teams to develop solutions to address these needs and opportunities
- Evaluate customer products to identify new application, replacement, and or upgrade opportunities for Ingredion’s solutions to increase penetration
- Drive customer innovation engagement, including training, solution demos, and capability reviews, to articulate the value proposition of Ingredion solutions to generate sales opportunities & pipeline
- Plan and lead Ingredion participation in key foodservice operator manufacturer industry events, including the National Restaurant Show to generate sales leads, and build a robust network & customer base
- Establish & manage foodservice account relationships and customer contacts in key functions, including Culinology, Innovation/R&D, Product/Menu Development and Procurement, to facilitate penetration
- Manage key foodservice operators, and manufacturers, working across functions to drive solution development, project delivery, and product supply to address customer needs
- Develop and execute sales strategies and plans to deliver net sales, volume and gross profit targets for the foodservice channel
- Develop strong sales opportunity pipeline with pull and push model and prospect customers in collaboration with the sales team members
- Execute Sales Administration, including managing customer contacts and accounts, sales opportunity pipeline, sample requests and call reports in Salesforce (SFDC)
- Develop robust Account Plans and Joint Business Plans, where relevant, to drive strategic initiatives for growth with key customers
- Map and build partnerships and alliances with key players within the foodservice ecosystem, including contract manufacturers, and product development companies, to facilitate penetration and growth
- Define how, and leverage key Ingredion innovation accelerators, including Catalyst, and capabilities to accelerate customer innovation to build a robust pipeline for growth
- Design and execute events, e.g. product development “clinics” to position Ingredion as the preferred innovation partner
- Bachelor’s degree, ideally in food science, foodservice management, and or culinary arts
- Minimum 5-year experience experience in “culinary/prototype-forward” commercial roles in foodservice, including in sales, account management, business development, and customer development
- Established relationships and network in key foodservice operator functions, including R&D/Innovation, Culinology, Product/Menu Development and Procurement
- Experience managing a book of business for a foodservice manufacturer, interfacing with foodservice operators
- Deep passion for customers with entrepreneurial mindset and market orientation
- Can-do attitude and drive for results: continually drive for personal and organisational results
- Consultative and value selling skills, selling specialties and or technical solutions
- Ability to build internal and external relationships and work across functions and in a matrixed organisation to deliver on customer needs/commitments
- Business analytics skills with experience using data to identify and tap opportunities, and articulate compelling value propositions
- Solid financial acumen with ability to interpret financial metrics and maximize business performance
- Willingness and ability to learn and apply knowledge about functional food & beverage ingredients and manufacturing processes to create shared value with customers
- Innovative, curious, creative thinker and active listener with outstanding written & verbal communication skills
- Ability to travel extensively