Sales Specialist Job: Catering, Fundraising, Foodservice

Summary of Position: The Sales Specialist will be responsible for generating new and repeat sales orders for the restaurant and frozen business and for exceeding sales quotas and customer acquisition metrics within the established territory. The individual will also focus on building meaningful customer relationships by establishing face-to-face meetings that include demonstrations, tastings, and sales presentations.

Reports to: VP of Sales

Position Responsibilities

• Deliver best in class service and products that make HRI unique and set us apart from our competitors.
• Identify improvement opportunities in our services, systems, strategies & products.
• Continuously meet and exceed defined sales KPI's.
• Be an innovator and team player by bringing new ideas to the team.  
• Must build trusting, meaningful relationships with customers through intentional, genuine communication.
• Must demonstrate credibility by delivering accurate and reliable service and products to drive new business opportunities.
• Consistently achieves favorable results by effectively articulating benefits and strengths of the brand.
• Understands the value in analyzing our competitors and gaining expertise in knowing their strategies and offerings to effectively and strategically position HRI products and services that will set us apart from our competition.
• Build trust, develop meaningful relationships & collaboration with customers & HRI teammates by demonstrating credible/reliable service & deliverables of quality products.
• Grow emotional loyalty and connection to the HRI brand by nurturing raving fans throughout the communities we serve.
• Optimizing the health of the restaurants by improving profitability through increased sales and exceptional customer experiences.
• Responsible for building a sales portfolio with schools, business catering, fundraising customers within a designated territory and for exceeding defined sales and margin targets, new account acquisitions and growth with existing accounts.
• Proactively seeks new sales opportunities through cold calling, networking and attendance of community events.
• Prepares & coordinates presentations, demonstrations, tastings and regular customer meetings.
• Manages new and prospective customer base through CRM database.
• Conducts day-to-day activities related to executing and overseeing School, Catering, and Fundraising sales orders with focus on building long-term, value-based customer relationships that enable achievement of sales objectives.
• Regularly meet with new and existing customers to understand their needs and identify ways HRI can meet those needs.
• Analyzes industry data to understand new trends and opportunities.
• Prepares sales orders, status updates, project plans and reports regarding sales, usage, developments, opportunities, and resolution.
• Collaborates daily with Sales Team, Marketing Team, Restaurant General Managers & other internal teams
• Attends and participates in weekly/monthly sales and other functional team meetings.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Requirements

• Minimum of 1 year outside sales experience preferred.
• Associate Degree required.
• Must be able to exhibit confidence and proficiency of all HRI products/services including product attributes to overcome customer objections within 3 months of start date.
• Must be able to think creatively & possess excellent negotiation skills.
• Must demonstrate professionalism in demeaner.
• Demonstrates a strong commitment to building relationships and community awareness that result in increased sales, customer acquisitions, increased smiles from our customers.
• Exhibits a learner mindset.
• Demonstrate an ability to build trust with others by being credible and reliable.
• Must be client focused with excellent customer service mind set.
• Demonstrate the ability to successfully conduct customer sales calls and meetings.
• Demonstrate the capability and understanding of tracking critical KPIs that align with sales metrics.
• Must possess strong written and oral communication skills with a high degree of professionalism both internally and externally.
• Demonstrate ability to manage multi sales channels.
• Proficient in Microsoft Word, Excel, and Adobe
• Must have strong organizational and time management skills and be able to manage assignments and deadlines with minimal supervision.
• Prior experience with Salesforce and/or Catering systems preferred, but not required.
• Must have a valid driver’s license and a reliable form of personal transportation. This position requires local travel 20% of the time for in-field customers facing meetings and sales presentations.
• Must have flexibility in work hours – may be required to work occasional evenings and weekends.
• Must be able to consistently stand, reach, bend and stoop.
• Must be able to occasionally lift up 32 pounds without assistance.