SUMMARY The Director of Business Development focuses on prospective clients to build market position within a geographic area, create new client relationships and develop and implement long-range sales strategies to bring in more revenue and maximize profits. ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS, RESPONSIBILITIES AND DUTIES * Perform market research to understand Whitsons’ current position and determine where the market is headed. * Perform an analysis to understand where we stand compared to competitors. * Identify new business opportunities – new markets, new partnerships, new ways to reach existing markets. * Develop a growth plan with financial projections and provide updates on progress vs. plan. * Meet or exceed sales quotas. * Manage the sales process from beginning to end: strategic planning, budgeting, prospecting, sales calls, site visits, prospect and client meetings, financial projections, quotes, presentations, negotiations, closing the sale and following-up. * Manage the proposal and presentation development process ensuring strict deadlines are met and all required documentation is included. * Deliver proposals and presentations for potential clients, school boards, parent groups and various selection committees, as needed. * Support the Account Management Team through the rebid process with existing customers partnering with the marketing, legal and operations teams. * Utilize the approved sales force automation tool to record daily sales activities, create schedules and provide comprehensive updates on prospects and their movement through the sales process. * Maintain high customer satisfaction ratings, according to company standards. * Liaise with Marketing to set and implement strategies for new products. * Identify and recommend improvements, working with the appropriate teams to facilitate implementation. * Attend tradeshows, industry events and school board meetings to represent and promote the company. * Continually update job knowledge by participating in educational opportunities and maintaining personal networks. * Perform other incidental and/or related duties as required and/or assigned. Education * Bachelor’s degree in Business, Sales or related field. Computer Skills * Proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint. * Proficiency in Salesforce or other business intelligence applications. Experience * At least 5 years of successful experience in a sales/business development role. * School nutrition or food service industry experience, preferred. Competencies * Communication, Customer Focus, Financial Acumen, Innovation, Organization Leadership, People Leadership, Presentation, Sales PHYSICAL DEMANDS OF THE JOB The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by a Team Member to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. * This position requires travel, possibly more than 50%. Most travel will be confined to day trips within the region, but may also include overnight stays as well. The nature of the position requires the candidate to work unpredictable hours during the peak bidding season. * While performing the duties of this job, the team member is frequently required to sit, stand, walk, talk and hear; use hands and fingers to feel, handle, or operate objects, tools, or controls; and reach with hands and arms. * The employee is occasionally required to lift and/or move up to 25 pounds. * Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision and the ability to adjust focus. WORK ENVIRONMENT The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions. * The work is performed both inside and outside an office setting. * The noise level in the work environment is moderate. The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work and duties that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position, and Whitsons reserves the right to add additional duties or modify existing duties. Equal Opportunity Employer Minorities/Women/Protected Veterans/Disabled