K-12 Specialist

BROAD FUNCTION AND SCOPE OF POSITION:

This position’s primary responsibility is to conduct in person appointments to sell and market products to all school distributors and school districts. It also includes working on coding and recapping of school bids with the Bid Manager so that pertinent information can be obtained from the manufacturers. Position works with and educates other Affinity Group West sales representatives about the K-12 school products.

Responsible for inputting all daily activity into CRM and planning against all top priority customers and manufacturers.

• Plan and schedule in-person sales calls with key business planning customers using CRM, ensuring weekly and trimester call and presentation goals are achieved.
• Conduct field sales activities, including customer appointments, taste testing events, and food shows at district and state SNA levels.

• Monitor and respond to emails and voicemails daily, ensuring all customer and operator inquiries are addressed within 48 hours.
• Conduct timely follow-up calls with customers and sales leads to maintain engagement and drive sales opportunities.

• Analyze school bids and develop customized, strategic presentations for school district decision-makers that align with bid requirements and showcase company products.

• Build and maintain strong relationships within the K-12 school segment, including school districts and distribution partners, to drive ongoing sales growth.

• Continuously expand knowledge of the K-12 segment, including market trends, product offerings, and customer needs.
• Attend industry events, trade shows, and meetings as directed by K-12 leadership and sales management to strengthen market presence and expertise.

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) in related field or equivalent is preferred.
• Work Experience. 3-5 years’ experience preferably with a food sales and marketing agency, along with food service management in K-12, or with a national food manufacturer.
• Integrity/Trust/Ethics. Keeps business strategy, pricing, data and issues confidential as required by AG, manufacturer and operator.
• Outstanding time management skills. In this role, you’ll wear many hats, so you’ll need to show you’ve honed your time management skills, but you’re savvy in prioritizing competing priorities even while traveling from location to location. SMART goals executed weekly, monthly, and annually.
• Clear communication skills. Strong skill set in explaining and defining information, issues about many topics to anyone. Comfortable communicating in person, in writing (professionally, no typos), and on the phone. Possess incredibly well-developed listening skills. Listening skills to provide solutions to district customers and manufacturers.
• Self-motivated and driven to succeed. Take initiative in managing your sales territory. Volunteer for new challenges without waiting to be asked. Take ownership of the time you spend with operators and Affinity Group clients and make a difference as their business partner.
• High emotional intelligence. In this role, you’ll interact with a diverse range of Affinity Group clients and business partners, each with unique circumstances. Establish key partner relationships to develop and nurture business success. Proven ability to demonstrate empathy and understanding are keys to success in this role and discovering unknown needs and being a self-motivated are crucial to this role.
• A valid driver’s license, reliable transportation, and a flexible schedule. Since…