Culinary Strategy Leader - Field Sales

Nestle; Solon (OH); On-site; USD 160,000 - 170,000; Full time

Job summary

Nestlé USA is seeking a Manager, Culinary Strategy – Field Sales to lead a team of field-based Corporate Chefs across the United States. You will shape field culinary strategies, ensure consistent customer engagements, and drive measurable business results through strategic leadership.

You will balance team coaching with active participation in high-impact customer engagements, partnering with Sales, Marketing, and Commercial Leadership to position Nestlé Professional Solutions as a trusted

Qualifications

• Strategic, results-oriented leader with strong problem-solving skills and the ability to identify opportunities, address gaps, and develop actionable business strategies.
• Proven ability to lead change, optimize processes, and implement scalable ways of working that improve organizational effectiveness and commercial impact.
• Experience leading, coaching, and developing high-performing teams while fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Executive presence with exceptional communication and influencing skills, capable of building alignment across leadership, sales, marketing, and cross-functional teams.
• Strong business and commercial acumen with the ability to connect culinary expertise, customer needs, and portfolio strategy to measurable business outcomes.
• Deep understanding of consultative selling, customer engagement, and culinary field sales within foodservice or food manufacturing environments.
• Broad culinary and operational expertise with the ability to translate portfolio capabilities into scalable, customer-focused solutions.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, and develop a high-performing team of field-based Corporate Chefs, fostering accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement.
• Oversee training, onboarding, and enablement programs to strengthen product expertise, consultative selling, and customer engagement capabilities.
• Establish and manage performance metrics, quality standards, and team goals aligned to annual business objectives and KPIs.
• Conduct regular coaching, mentoring, and field engagement to strengthen culinary selling, operator engagement, and commercial effectiveness.
• Drive talent development through coaching, succession planning, and individualized growth opportunities.
• Partner with Culinary Strategy Leadership, Regional Field Sales Leadership, and Broker Partners as you lead the Culinary Field Sales Team.
• Develop and execute field culinary strategies that support growth initiatives, customer priorities, and business objectives.
• Lead strategic customer engagements, activations, business reviews, and top-to-top culinary opportunities that drive measurable business results.
• Maintain an individual project pipeline based on geographic region and overall company targets.
• Optimize field resource allocation and deployment strategies to maximize impact, efficiency, and return on culinary investment.
• Implement and maintain standardized tools, processes, and best practices that ensure consistent, scalable execution across all regions.
• Through market assessment and broker knowledge, create programs on the field level based on product or channel-relevant needs.

Skills

Strategic leadership

Change management

Coaching & development

Executive communication

Business acumen

Consultative selling

Culinary sales knowledge

Education

Bachelor's degree in Culinary Arts, Food Science, Hospitality Management, Business

Job description

Nestlé USA is seeking a Manager, Culinary Strategy – Field Sales to lead a team of field-based Corporate Chefs across the United States. You will shape field culinary strategies, ensure consistent customer engagements, and drive measurable business results through strategic leadership.

You will balance team coaching with active participation in high-impact customer engagements, partnering with Sales, Marketing, and Commercial Leadership to position Nestlé Professional Solutions as a trusted