Director of Foodservice, Business Development

SIMPLi; Philadelphia (Philadelphia County); On-site; USD 100,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading foodservice company is seeking a Director of Foodservice, Business Development in Philadelphia. You will drive customer acquisition, strengthen client relationships, and oversee a sales team. The role requires a Bachelor’s degree and 7–10 years in the Foodservice industry, along with exceptional skills in sales growth, negotiation, and relationship management. Passion for food and sustainability is essential. This full-time position offers a unique opportunity to impact the company's growth and development.

Qualifications

• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in the Foodservice industry.
• Proven track record of achieving sales growth and managing complex customer relationships.
• Must reside in or near Philadelphia, PA.

Responsibilities

• Drive customer acquisition and strengthen client relationships.
• Develop and lead strategies focused on competitive positioning and account sales.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with key customers and partners.

Skills

Sales growth achievement

Customer relationship management

Interpersonal skills

Analytical ability

Negotiation skills

Strategic planning

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or related field

MBA preferred

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word)

Job description

Director of Foodservice, Business Development

SIMPLi is an award‑winning, leading regenerative food brand on a mission to connect people around the world through the joy of food. Founded in 2020, SIMPLi co‑founders Sarela Herrada and Matt Cohen sought to bring the best single‑origin ingredients from around the world directly to you in a way that equally benefits people, producers, and the planet. SIMPLi partners directly with farmers to source the finest ingredients and make them accessible to consumers nationwide in stores, restaurants, and online.

If you’re passionate about food, sustainability, and making a difference, then SIMPLi is the place for you!

The Role

As the Director of Foodservice, Business Development, you will drive customer acquisition, strengthen client relationships, grow our client base, and lead a sales team eager to grow. You will focus on identifying revenue opportunities, collaborating with the Co‑Founder to onboard distributor partners, and expanding our distribution network.

Key Responsibilities

• Develop and lead strategies focused on competitive positioning, account sales, and territory development.
• Create and execute a comprehensive foodservice sales strategy to drive revenue growth with both new and existing customers.
• Conduct high‑level industry research to identify opportunities and shape effective sales solutions.
• Build a robust pipeline by targeting national accounts, regional chains, and foodservice distributors.
• Develop and execute annual sales plans encompassing innovation, market trends, partnerships, selling strategies, and expense budgets.
• Construct and maintain accurate sales forecasts for Sales & Operations Planning (S&OP) meetings.
• Achieve annual sales and case volume targets.

Account Development & Management

• Drive the entire sales process—from initial contact and discovery to proposal, presentation, negotiation, and contract execution.
• Develop business plans for key customers aligned with organizational fiscal objectives.
• Secure customer meetings, sample products, quantify opportunities, and negotiate contracts.
• Maintain a comprehensive customer database, including contracts, key contacts, meeting notes, and competitive intelligence.
• Provide customer support, follow up on issues within 24 hours, and ensure high satisfaction across accounts.
• Develop and update monthly risk and opportunity reports, tracking progress to plan.

Relationship Building & Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Build and maintain strong, long‑term relationships with key customers, distributors, and industry partners.
• Collaborate closely with internal teams—Marketing, QA, Supply Chain, Finance, and R&D—to align on customer needs and growth opportunities.
• Strategically communicate insights upward to drive alignment and continuous improvement across the organization.
• Provide continuous feedback to support innovation, service enhancements, and operational excellence.

Customer Events & Industry Engagement

• Represent SIMPLi at regional and national trade shows; coordinate sampling, marketing tools, and show coverage.
• Lead distributor and customer training sessions on product offerings and promotions.
• Organize and facilitate customer planning events and ideation sessions to strengthen relationships and identify growth opportunities.
• Monitor culinary trends to develop new product ideas and capitalize on emerging market opportunities.

Leadership & Team Development

• Influence and mentor team members to build capability and achieve business objectives.
• Develop a network of partner relationships to expand awareness of SIMPLi capabilities and create new opportunities.
• Foster a culture of collaboration, accountability, and continuous learning.

Requirements, Skills & Capabilities

• Bachelor’s degree in Business, Marketing, or a related field (MBA preferred).
• Minimum 7–10 years of progressive experience in the Foodservice industry.
• Must reside in or near Philadelphia, PA.
• Proven track record of achieving sales growth and managing complex customer relationships.
• Exceptional interpersonal, communication, and negotiation skills.
• Strong analytical ability to interpret market data and translate insights into action.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, PowerPoint, Word).
• Effective prioritization, time management, and strategic planning capabilities.
• Passion for food, sustainability, culinary innovation, and customer engagement.

Seniority level

Director

Employment type

Full‑time

Job function

Management and Manufacturing

Industries

Food and Beverage Services

Referrals increase your chances of interviewing at SIMPLi by 2x