Bid Manager - K12 Corporate (Indianapolis)

Indiana Ag Connection; Indianapolis, Northern (IN, KY); Hybrid; USD 60,000 - 100,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health insurance

Pre-tax spending accounts

Retirement benefits

Paid time off

Short-term and long-term disability

Employee stock purchase plan

Life insurance

Job summary

The Bid Manager K12 Corporate at US Foods serves as the primary contact for US Foods' K-12 and cooperative customers, driving operational excellence, retention, profitability, and long-term partnerships. This role coordinates cross-functionally with customers, vendors, supply chain, finance, merchandising, operations, and sales to support customer success and company objectives.

The work for the Bid Manager position is completely remote within the Indianapolis area.

Qualifications

• 3 years of sales support, sales, customer service or business experience.
• Demonstrated track record of developing and maintaining customer relations.
• Experience in Contract Management.
• Experience using quantitative & qualitative research data.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and customer service and presentation abilities.
• Demonstrated problem solving ability and negotiation skills.
• Ability to conduct analysis and fact-based decision making to assess contract compliance.
• Working knowledge in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Strong organization and time management.

Responsibilities

• Manage a portfolio of K-12 and cooperative foodservice accounts, driving customer retention, profitable growth, program compliance, and long-term partnership value.
• Maintain regular customer contact through business reviews, personal visits, meetings, and systematic follow-up; travel as needed to support customer and business requirements.
• Serve as the primary liaison between customers, cooperative organizations, vendors, and internal US Foods teams to ensure alignment, accountability, and execution.
• Develop account strategies that identify customer needs, expand sales opportunities, support new account growth, and strengthen customer penetration.
• Support school-year menu planning and forecasting, including key demand periods such as year-end wind down, summer feeding programs, and opening orders.
• Manage customer forecasts, proprietary inventory needs, delivery requirements, service levels, and product availability in partnership with supply chain, operations, and purchasing teams.
• Maintain accurate account profiles, including order guides, statements, pricing information, forecasts, reporting, and contract-related documentation.
• Monitor product mix, branded goals, stocking agreements, product introductions, receipt confirmation, and customer-specific product requirements.
• Communicate with customers regarding mutual performance, service metrics, shortages, market trends, new products, programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Analyze sales trends, purchasing activity, pricing programs, rebates, bid requirements, incentive agreements, and contract compliance to support business planning and financial performance.
• Partner with Credit, Finance, Merchandising, Procurement, Operations, Transportation, Sales, and Supply Chain teams to resolve issues and ensure accounts remain within terms and service expectations.
• Represent US Foods at sales meetings, training sessions, food shows, conferences, and industry events; participate as needed as a subject matter expert on K-12 foodservice and procurement programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by manager.

Skills

Customer relations

Contract management

Data analysis

Negotiation

Excel

Communication skills

Time management

Microsoft Office

Presentation skills

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

High School diploma

Bachelor's degree in business or marketing

Tools

Microsoft Word

Outlook

Excel

Microsoft Office Suite

Job description

The Bid Manager K12 Corporate as the primary contact for US Foods' K-12 and cooperative customers, driving operational excellence, customer retention, profitable growth, and long-term partnerships. This role coordinates cross-functionally with customers, vendors, supply chain, finance, merchandising, operations, and sales to support customer success and company objectives. The manager partners with customers on school-year menu planning and forecasting for key demand periods, including year-end wind down, summer feeding, and opening orders.

The work for the Bid Manager position is completely remote within the Indianapolis area.

RESPONSIBILITIES

• Manage a portfolio of K-12 and cooperative foodservice accounts, driving customer retention, profitable growth, program compliance, and long-term partnership value.
• Maintain regular customer contact through business reviews, personal visits, meetings, and systematic follow-up; travel as needed to support customer and business requirements.
• Serve as the primary liaison between customers, cooperative organizations, vendors, and internal US Foods teams to ensure alignment, accountability, and execution.
• Develop account strategies that identify customer needs, expand sales opportunities, support new account growth, and strengthen customer penetration.
• Support school-year menu planning and forecasting, including key demand periods such as year-end wind down, summer feeding programs, and opening orders.
• Manage customer forecasts, proprietary inventory needs, delivery requirements, service levels, and product availability in partnership with supply chain, operations, and purchasing teams.
• Maintain accurate account profiles, including order guides, statements, pricing information, forecasts, reporting, and contract-related documentation.
• Monitor product mix, branded goals, stocking agreements, product introductions, receipt confirmation, and customer-specific product requirements.
• Communicate with customers regarding mutual performance, service metrics, shortages, market trends, new products, programs, and strategic initiatives.
• Analyze sales trends, purchasing activity, pricing programs, rebates, bid requirements, incentive agreements, and contract compliance to support business planning and financial performance.
• Partner with Credit, Finance, Merchandising, Procurement, Operations, Transportation, Sales, and Supply Chain teams to resolve issues and ensure accounts remain within terms and service expectations.
• Represent US Foods at sales meetings, training sessions, food shows, conferences, and industry events; participate as needed as a subject matter expert on K-12 foodservice and procurement programs.
• Perform other duties as assigned by manager.

RELATIONSHIPS

• Internal: National Sales Directors, Customer Service Representatives, Area VP of National Sales, and National Sales management, Accounting, Purchasing, Operations

• External: Customers, partners closely with vendors, suppliers, and possibly 3rd party consultants

WORK ENVIRONMENT

• Remote Market Based: The associate in this role is expected to travel to multiple sites within their assigned Market as needed and therefore must be located within the assigned Market to perform assigned responsibilities.

MINIMUM QUALIFICATIONS

• 3 years of sales support, sales, customer service or business experience.
• Demonstrated track record of developing and maintaining customer relations.
• Experience in Contract Management.
• Experience using quantitative & qualitative research data.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills and customer service and presentation abilities.
• Demonstrated problem solving ability and negotiation skills.
• Ability to conduct analysis and fact-based decision making to assess contract compliance.
• Working knowledge in Microsoft Word, Outlook and Excel.
• Strong organization and time management.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma, or equivalent work experience.

PREFERRED QUALIFICATIONS

• Bachelor's degree in business or marketing.
• Working knowledge of US Foods' proprietary applications.
• Experience in foodservice industry or related.
• Experience managing or supporting contract-based K12 education customer segment.
• Experience with master distributor agreements, contract compliance, pricing coordination, and customer business reviews.
• Experience influencing cross-functional stakeholders to support customer priorities and business outcomes.

This role may also receive annual incentive plan bonus.

Benefits for this role may include health insurance, pre-tax spending accounts, retirement benefits, paid time off, short-term and long-term disability, employee stock purchase plan, and life insurance.

Compensation depends on relevant experience and/or education, specific skills, function, geographic location, and other factors as applicable by law (for example: state or local minimum wage thresholds). The expected base rate for this role is between $60,000 - $100,000

***EOE- Race/Color/Religion/Sex/SexualOrientation/Gender Identity/National Origin/ Age/Genetic Information /Protected Veteran/Disability Status***