Lead national foodservice account acquisition and growth for fully cooked protein solutions. Develop account plans, drive new business, negotiate contracts, coordinate cross-functional commercialization, monitor performance metrics, and represent the company at customer and industry events. Travel ~30% required.
**This is a remote position, with a strong preference for candidates located in the Midwest to best support the assigned customer base and business needs**
💰 Pay Range: starts at $150,000.00 annually with commission (based on experience and qualifications)
OVERVIEW OF ROLE:
The National Account Manager is responsible for identifying, developing, and growing strategic national account opportunities across the Foodservice trade channel. This role requires an experienced national accounts hunter with a proven track record of building, expanding, and maintaining customer relationships across a variety of foodservice segments, including QSR, fast casual, casual dining, family dining, hospitality, and emerging growth channels. The ideal candidate will bring strong commercial discipline, customer insight, and cross-functional leadership to advance branded, custom, and exclusive fully cooked protein solutions from concept through commercialization, while delivering profitable growth, distribution expansion, and long-term customer value.
ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Own and grow a portfolio of national foodservice accounts, with emphasis on strategic chains, emerging growth customers, and new business opportunities across the foodservice trade channel.
- Develop and execute customer-specific annual and multi-year business plans that deliver revenue, volume, margin, distribution, innovation, and profitability objectives.
- Identify, qualify, and advance new account opportunities by building a strong sales pipeline, leveraging customer insights, market trends, menu needs, and the company’s fully cooked protein capabilities.
- Build and maintain senior-level relationships with national account customers, distributor partners, brokers, and key internal stakeholders to strengthen partnership, execution, and long-term growth.
- Lead customer engagement across QSR, fast casual, casual dining, family dining, hospitality, and other foodservice segments where fully cooked protein solutions can create value.
- Partner with Marketing, Culinary, R&D, Operations, Finance, Quality, and Supply Chain to develop branded, custom, and exclusive product solutions that align with customer menu, operations, food safety, and profitability requirements.
- Support product innovation and commercialization by translating customer needs into actionable briefs, coordinating customer presentations and product cuttings, and advancing items from concept through launch.
- Negotiate pricing, contracts, trade programs, distributor agreements, limited-time offers, and account-specific investments that support profitable growth and strengthen customer partnerships.
- Monitor account performance, forecast accuracy, deductions, trade spend, service levels, and key business metrics; proactively address risks, gaps, and opportunities with clear corrective action.
- Prepare and deliver strategic business reviews, innovation updates, and growth recommendations for customers and senior leadership using fact-based analysis and clear commercial storytelling.
- Represent the company at customer meetings, trade shows, food shows, plant visits, and industry events to build relationships, showcase capabilities, and identify growth opportunities.
- Maintain disciplined use of account planning tools, sales reporting, and internal communication processes to ensure visibility to pipeline, priorities, commitments, and next steps.
- Perform other duties as assigned.
EDUCATION AND/OR EXPERIENCE:
- Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, foodservice management, or a related field required; MBA or graduate studies preferred.
- 10+ years of progressive foodservice sales, national account management, or commercial leadership experience, preferably within food manufacturing, fully cooked proteins, value-added meat, poultry, or prepared foods.
- Proven national account hunter with a demonstrated track record of identifying, developing, closing, and growing new business across strategic foodservice customers.
- Strong understanding of branded, custom, and exclusive product development, customer menu strategy, commercialization, and innovation launch processes.
- Demonstrated ability to build strategic account plans, manage sales pipelines, negotiate pricing and contracts, and deliver revenue, volume, margin, distribution, and profitability objectives.
- Strong commercial acumen with experience analyzing account performance, customer profitability, trade spend, forecasting, and market trends to develop fact-based growth recommendations.
- Proven ability to lead cross-functional work with Marketing, Culinary, R&D, Operations, Finance, Quality, Supply Chain, brokers, distributors, and customer stakeholders.
- Executive-level communication and presentation skills, with experience preparing and delivering strategic business reviews, innovation updates, and recommendations to customers and senior leadership.
- Proficiency with account planning tools, sales reporting systems, Microsoft Office, and data-driven business analysis.
- Ability and willingness to travel a minimum of 30% for customer meetings, trade shows, food shows, plant visits, and industry events.
Exciting Benefits Await You!
- Enjoy top-tier Medical, Dental, Vision coverage.
- Pamper your furry friends with Pet Insurance.
- Stay fit with our Wellness Plan and Gym Reimbursement.
- Boost your skills with Employee Tuition Reimbursement.
- Unlock endless opportunities with College Scholarship for dependents.
- Reap the Rewards of Our Bonus Program Available to Our Salary and Hourly Employees.
- Receive a Generous 401k Company Match.
- Take advantage of Competitive Paid Time Off.
- Elevate Your Safety Net with Company-Sponsored Life Insurance Coverage.
- Receive Relocation Assistance for a Smooth Transition.
- Earn Rewards through our Employee Bonus Referral Program.
- Elevate Your Workplace Experience with Community Impact Opportunities.
- Celebrate Together with Team Events and Seasonal Workplace Gatherings.
Opportunity Calls! Unsure if you meet all requirements? Don't hesitate, apply!
Our recruitment process is prompt and transparent. Your resume will receive swift attention from our talent professionals. If chosen, you'll undergo a recruiter phone screen, followed by interviews with key team members. We value your potential.
At Home Market Foods, we champion equal opportunities for all, prohibiting discrimination based on race, religion, gender, and more. Our commitment extends across all aspects of employment, ensuring a fair and inclusive workplace.
At this time, Home Market Foods will not sponsor applicants for employment authorization for this position for the following work visas: STEM OPT EAD, H-1B, H-1B1, E-3, O-1, J-1, or TN
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