Director of Sales

Position SummaryThe Director of Sales is responsible for driving top-line revenue growth, optimizing gross profit, and developing a high-performing sales organization. This role provides strategic leadership to the sales and customer service teams, while aligning sales activities with company goals and market opportunities. The Director of Sales plays a key role in strengthening customer relationships and growing market share in the foodservice distribution industry.Key ResponsibilitiesSales Leadership & Strategy- Lead and manage District Sales Managers and other direct sales personnel.- Develop and execute sales strategies, go-to-market initiatives, and promotional plans in alignment with company objectives.- Coordinate annual sales planning and budgeting, including sales forecasts and revenue targets.- Develop and implement sales policies, procedures, and performance standards.- Drive profitable growth through customer-focused initiatives and margin improvement strategies.Customer & Market Engagement- Maintain strong relationships with key foodservice accounts and conduct strategic business reviews.- Serve as the senior sales representative at major industry events, food shows, and customer meetings.- Collaborate with Marketing/Merchandising to ensure successful execution of vendor initiatives and product campaigns.- Stay current with market trends and customer needs in foodservice to adjust sales tactics accordingly.Team Development & Operations- Mentor, coach, and professionally develop the sales team, including conducting performance evaluations.- Design and oversee training programs to enhance sales effectiveness and product knowledge.- Establish sales team priorities and ensure alignment across territories.- Resolve territory disputes and customer account issues as needed.- Manage sales incentive and bonus programs.Cross-Functional Collaboration- Partner with internal departments to resolve customer service issues, address inventory concerns, and promote interdepartmental cooperation.- Support inventory and margin optimization efforts through sales initiatives and customer engagement.- Represent sales at buying group meetings and other cross-functional initiatives.- Coordinate closely with warehouse and logistics teams to ensure service excellence in product delivery.Qualifications- Bachelor’s degree required; MBA preferred.- Minimum of 10 years of progressive sales leadership experience in foodservice distribution or a related industry.- Strong communication and presentation skills; confident public speaker.- Proven ability to lead and motivate sales teams in a fast-paced, results-oriented environment.- Demonstrated ability to interpret and act on complex data to drive revenue and margin improvements.- High level of integrity, decisiveness, and business acumen.- Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and CRM/sales management platforms.- Strong organizational and time-management skills.Compensation & Benefits- Competitive base salary plus performance-based bonus.- Comprehensive benefits package in accordance with the employee handbook.- Weekly travel and phone allowance.