K-12 Sales Specialist (Food Broker)

Affinity Group; Detroit (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive base salary with bonus

Health, dental, and vision insurance

401(k) retirement plan

PTO and company holidays

Employee discounts

Job summary

Affinity Group is seeking a K-12 Sales Specialist to grow our Michigan market by partnering with school nutrition teams and distributors. This role emphasizes relationship-based selling, direct district engagement, and collaboration with internal teams to craft competitive proposals.

The ideal candidate has 2–5 years in foodservice sales, strong presentation skills, and a passion for school nutrition innovation. Weekly travel across Michigan is required, with some regional air travel.

Qualifications

• 2–5 years in foodservice sales, brokerage, or school operations.
• Proven track record in relationship selling and closing deals.
• Excellent presentation and communication skills.
• Growth-oriented mindset with passion for nutrition and menu innovation.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and conduct in-person sales appointments with K-12 districts and distributors.
• Manage prospecting, lead generation and track activity in our CRM to meet goals.
• Organize taste-testing events and food presentations at district and state levels.
• Collaborate with Bid Team and Senior Director to analyze bids and proposals.
• Build trusted relationships with school nutrition leaders and respond to inquiries.

Skills

Relationship selling

Closing deals

Presentation skills

Public speaking

Persuasion abilities

Education

Associate's degree

Bachelor's degree

Tools

CRM platforms

Microsoft Office

Job description

K-12 Sales Specialist – Michigan

About Affinity Group

Affinity Group is one of the fastest-growing food sales and marketing agencies in North America. We represent highly recognizable brands in the industry. Our team brings a consultative, localized approach to drive market growth and build meaningful partnerships within the K-12 school nutrition segment

Role Overview

We are seeking a results-driven, relationship-focused K-12 Sales Specialist to expand our market share across Michigan. In this role, you will work collaboratively with our other Sales Team members and the K12 Specialist in Western Michigan to champion our clients’ products by partnering directly with school nutrition teams and distributors to increase menu frequency. This is a consultative sales position ideal for someone who is proactive, professional, and passionate about school nutrition and relationship-based selling.

A Typical Week Includes

• Strategy & Execution : Schedule and conduct in-person sales appointments with K-12 school districts and distributors. Sampling products and prepared recipes is key!
• Pipeline Management : Handle prospecting, lead generation, and track sales activity within our industry leading AI NXT/CRM system to meet trimester sales goals.
• Culinary Engagement : Organize and lead taste-testing events and food presentations at district and state levels.
• Strategic Collaboration : Partner with the Bid Team and Senior Director to analyze school bids and build competitive proposals.
• Relationship Building : Serve as a trusted advisor to school nutrition leaders while responding to client inquiries timely.

What We Are Looking For

• Experience : 2–5 years in foodservice sales, food brokerage, or school operations preferred.
• Core Skills : Proven track record in relationship selling, influencing buyers, and closing deals.
• Communication : Exceptional presentation, public speaking, and persuasion capabilities.
• Mindset : A creative, growth-oriented professional with a genuine passion for food and menu innovation. Embracing innovation is key to success.

Requirements & Schedule

• Travel : Weekly travel across Michigan with occasional regional air travel.
• License : Valid driver’s license and reliable transportation required.
• Schedule : Monday to Friday (8:00 AM – 5:00 PM) with flexibility to support customer needs. Expect 10–15 evening/weekend events annually.
• Tech Skills : Proficiency in Microsoft Office, virtual meeting tools (Teams/Zoom), and CRM platforms.
• Physical Ability : Ability to stand for long periods and safely lift 20–50 lbs during food shows.

Bonus Points

• Associate or bachelor’s degree.
• Direct experience working with K-12 School Nutrition Programs.
• Advanced familiarity with modern sales technology platforms.
• Experience with Dietetics and Nutrition

Perks & Benefits

• Competitive base salary plus performance-based bonus incentives.
• Comprehensive health, dental, and vision insurance.
• 401(k) retirement plan and disability benefits.
• Paid Time Off (PTO) and paid company holidays.
• Corporate employee discounts.

The Affinity Group is an Equal Opportunity Employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We do not discriminate based upon race, religion, color, national origin, gender (including pregnancy, childbirth, or related medical conditions), sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, age, status as a protected veteran, status as an individual with a disability, or other applicable legally protected characteristics. All employment is decided on the basis of qualifications, merit, and business need.