Account Executive

Strategic Employment Partners (SEP); Palo Alto (CA); Hybrid; USD 120,000 - 140,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive salary

Remote-friendly culture

Autonomy and trust

Job summary

A fast-growing FoodTech startup is seeking an Account Executive, Manufacturer Influence Sales, to drive the launch of an innovative digital marketing program. This role involves engaging with food and beverage manufacturers, building relationships, and closing deals. With 5–8 years of B2B sales experience preferred, candidates should have a background in trade marketing or FoodTech. The position offers a competitive salary range of $120,000–$140,000, plus uncapped total compensation potential, in a remote-friendly environment.

Qualifications

• 5–8 years of B2B sales experience with a track record of closing complex deals.
• Background in foodservice, CPG, trade marketing, or FoodTech preferred.
• Familiarity with trade spend and marketing budget allocation.

Responsibilities

• Own the full sales cycle for the Manufacturer Influence program.
• Manage a robust pipeline of manufacturer partnerships.
• Build deep relationships with brand managers and decision-makers.

Skills

B2B sales experience

Relationship building

Consultative sales approach

CRM proficiency

Strong pipeline discipline

Tools

HubSpot

Job description

We are a hyper-growth FoodTech startup on a mission to digitally transform the foodservice industry. Built by the team behind one of the largest foodservice digital transformations in history, our platform connects distributors, restaurants, and food manufacturers through a powerful e-commerce and data ecosystem. We're not just building software — we're rewriting how the foodservice industry operates, buys, and sells.

The Opportunity

We're entering an exciting new chapter with the launch of our Influence program — a first-of-its-kind digital performance marketing channel purpose-built for food manufacturers. This role is a ground-floor opportunity to help shape and scale that business.

As an Account Executive, Manufacturer Influence Sales, you'll be responsible for selling this new program to food and beverage manufacturers — from regional brands to national players. You'll engage directly with executives and brand managers, helping them understand how to reallocate legacy trade spend into a measurable, digital-first strategy that drives real product sell-through at the operator level.

This is a hunter role for someone who thrives in white-space selling, loves building relationships with senior buyers, and has the consultative instincts to diagnose a business problem before pitching a solution.

What You'll Do

• Own the full sales cycle for the Manufacturer Influence program — from prospecting and discovery through negotiation and close
• Build and manage a robust pipeline of 6-figure manufacturer partnerships, tracked and maintained in HubSpot
• Develop deep relationships with brand managers, VP-level marketing and sales leaders, and trade spend decision-makers at food and beverage manufacturers
• Translate a new and innovative program into a clear, compelling value narrative that resonates with traditional foodservice buyers
• Consult with prospects on the limitations of legacy trade spend and make a compelling case for shifting budget into digital, performance-based marketing
• Collaborate cross-functionally with product, marketing, and customer success to refine messaging, onboard clients, and ensure program success
• Represent the company at foodservice industry events, trade shows, and conferences
• Provide market intelligence and feedback to leadership to continuously improve the Influence program offering

What You Bring

Experience & Track Record

• 5–8 years of B2B sales experience, with a proven ability to close complex, 6-figure deals
• Background in foodservice, CPG, trade marketing, or FoodTech strongly preferred
• Deep familiarity with how food manufacturers allocate and measure trade spend and marketing budgets
• Experience selling to brand managers, marketing directors, or VP-level buyers

Skills & Strengths

• A natural relationship builder — you're remembered by the people you meet and trusted by the executives you sell to
• Exceptional ability to simplify complex concepts; you make the unfamiliar feel approachable and the abstract feel concrete
• Consultative sales approach — you ask great questions, listen carefully, and prescribe solutions that genuinely fit
• Strong pipeline discipline with CRM proficiency (HubSpot experience a plus)
• Self-directed and highly organized — you manage competing priorities without dropping the ball

Mindset

• Excited by ambiguity and energized by the opportunity to build something new
• Comfortable operating in a fast-paced, startup environment where the playbook is still being written
• Mission-driven and passionate about bringing the foodservice industry into the digital age

Why This Role

• Join a company at an inflection point — we're growing fast and this is a chance to be part of something that shapes the future of an industry
• Sell a truly differentiated product with no direct competition in the market
• Work alongside a world-class team with deep foodservice expertise and a track record of large-scale digital transformation
• Competitive base salary of $120,000–$140,000 with a total compensation target of $240,000–$280,000 (uncapped)
• Remote-friendly culture with a team that values autonomy, trust, and results

We are an equal opportunity employer and celebrate diversity in all its forms. We are committed to creating an inclusive environment where great people can do their best work.