What are the responsibilities and job description for the SALES SUPPORT CHEF position at Joseph s Gourmet Pasta Company?
POSITION SUMMARY:
We are looking for a highly skilled and experienced Sales Support Chef to join our team. The ideal candidate will possess a deep understanding of culinary arts, food service operations, and menu development. As a Sales Support Chef, you will be responsible for developing relationships with key foodservice accounts in the US and Canada and selling products aligned with the capabilities of Joseph’s Gourmet Pasta related to pasta, sauces, handhelds, appetizers, and tray meals.
You will work closely with clients to assess their needs, develop customized solutions, presentations, and build long-lasting relationships with their culinary departments. Additionally, you will stay updated with the latest culinary trends and technologies to provide cutting-edge solutions to our clients. The successful candidate will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, a passion for food, willingness to travel, and a proven track record of success in the culinary industry. If you are a creative problem solver with a keen eye for detail and a commitment to excellence, we would love to hear from you.
RESPONSIBILITIES:
Manage and develop a list of key accounts in the restaurant chains segment.
Understand and know the customer – key decision makers, production and equipment limitations etc
Strengthen existing relationships and find opportunities to further penetrate these accounts.
Identifies competitive conversion opportunities within these accounts.
Build long lasting relationships based on trust, business sense and selling solutions.
Prepare and perform product presentations per Joseph’s standards.
Deliver culinary presentations to key accounts to maintain relationships, negotiate and close deals.
Propose product and menu ideas that are relevant for each client.
Review market and menu analysis to determine customer needs and product gaps.
- Joseph’s capabilities
- Align with CEO and Director of Product Development on product category capabilities and priorities and invest in understanding plant and production capabilities to align with sales strategies.
- Performance management
- Develop and maintain a progress tracker and present to Director of Product Development weekly
- Direct sales forecast activities and set performance goals accordingly.
- Day to day account management
- Responsible for all customer follow-up and communication.
- Plan customer visits in conjunction with appropriate sales representative, Director of Product Development and/or CEO.
- Monitor and evaluate competitor activity and products.
- Special projects as assigned by Director of Product Development.
SKILLS AND QUALIFICATIONS:
Must be willing to travel in USA and Canada as needed (50 %)
Excellent organizational and interpersonal skills.
Strong presentation skills. Good with customers & strong capability to build relationships both internal and external (to the organization)
Proficient in Microsoft software programs such as Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
Detailed oriented, with the ability to work independently or as a team. Requires strong communication, presentation skills, and unrelenting personal drive as a ‘closer with strong follow through'.
Proven culinary experience – culinary school, restaurant experience, chef experience, involvement in product development for restaurants, food retail or industrial customers.
EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE
Bachelor’s degree required.
Culinary degree preferred.
Minimum of 5 years of food service sales experience and/or experience in food manufacturing and CPG.
