K-12 Specialist

This position’s primary responsibility is to conduct in person appointments to sell and market products to all school distributors and school districts. It also includes working on coding and recapping of school bids with the Bid Manager so that pertinent information can be obtained from the manufacturers. Position works with and educates other Affinity Group West sales representatives about the K-12 school products. Responsible for inputting all daily activity into CRM and planning against all top priority customers and manufacturers.

Who We Are

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Responsibilities

• Plan and schedule in person sales calls against business planning customers in CRM. Weekly and Trimester goal of sales calls, presentations to be met by K-12 Specialist.
• Check and return emails and voice mails daily (all calls to operators must be returned within 48 hours).
• Complete follow-up calls to customers accordingly.
• Follow-up on sales leads (within 48 hours).
• Working in the field on sales appointments, conduct taste testing events and food shows at the district and state SNA level.
• Analyze school bids and strategically create a presentation for director of school district of AGW products according to each bid.
• Build and maintain relationships within the school segment to ensure the sales of our client’s products.
• Continued education in school K- 12 segment preferred.
• Attend industry events as determined by K-12 Director and market sales management.
  
  

Competencies & Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) in related field or equivalent is preferred.
• Work Experience. 3-5 years’ experience preferably with a food sales and marketing agency, along with food service management in K-12, or with a national food manufacturer.
• Integrity/Trust/Ethics. Keeps business strategy, pricing, data and issues confidential as required by AG, manufacturer and operator.
• Outstanding time management skills. In this role, you’ll wear many hats, so you’ll need to show you’ve honed your time management skills, but you’re savvy in prioritizing competing priorities even while traveling from location to location. SMART goals executed weekly, monthly, and annually.
• Clear communication skills. Strong skill set in explaining and defining information, issues about many topics to anyone. Comfortable communicating in person, in writing (professionally, no typos), and on the phone. Possess incredibly well-developed listening skills. Listening skills to provide solutions to district customers and manufacturers.
• Self-motivated and driven to succeed. Take initiative in managing your sales territory. Volunteer for new challenges without waiting to be asked. Take ownership of the time you spend with operators and Affinity Group clients and make a difference as their business partner.
• High emotional intelligence. In this role, you’ll interact with a diverse range of Affinity Group clients and business partners, each with unique circumstances. Establish key partner relationships to develop and nurture business success. Proven ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding are keys to success in this role and discovering unknown needs and being a self-motivated are crucial to this role.
• A valid driver's license, reliable transportation, and a flexible schedule. Since this role requires daily travel throughout your territory, you’ll need a clean driving record and the ability to use your vehicle. Some industry events might require overnights during the food trade show season.
• Computer literacy. As part of a remote workforce, we rely on several digital tools to help you execute your work and keep you accountable. Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (required), CRM systems, along with the ability to effectively use virtual presentation tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and other cloud-based solutions.
• Team Player Attitude. Understanding and promoting team dynamic mentality. Operating with a focus on positive interactions for the team, not only good for the individual. Help team members succeed by following best practices and sharing opportunities for growth with the team. Peer mentoring in K12 sales practices and knowledge transfer to team members.
  
  

Typical Work Hours & Physical Requirements

• Typical work week: Mon through Fri (8 A.M. to 6 P.M.)
• Weekend and evening food shows also occur about 20 weekend days or nights annually.
• The position requires the ability to stand for extended periods, with the ability to safely lift case goods and small equipment (20-50 lbs.).
• Travel: Requires daily motor vehicle travel to assigned district and distributor locations. Occasional travel by plane.
• Overnights: 1-3x month.
• Control/manage expenses, submit expense reports monthly.
  
  

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.