Director of Business Development Higher Education (Food Service Management)
Sales & Business Development
New York, NY, USA
About the Role
About Genuine Foods At Genuine Foods, we’re building the future of food service—one partnership, one meal, one community at a time. We create exceptional dining experiences focused on culinary excellence, hospitality, and wellness—unlocking potential and fueling connection in every community we serve. As a fast-growing, purpose-driven company operating nationwide, we’re looking for bold, passionate leaders to help us expand our impact across schools, campuses, healthcare facilities, and beyond. Director of Business Development – Higher Education Genuine Foods | Remote (with travel) We are seeking an accomplished and strategic Director of Business Development – Higher Education to lead sales efforts in the college and university segment. The ideal candidate is an entrepreneurial sales leader with a proven track record of selling contract foodservice management solutions to higher education institutions. This individual thrives on building meaningful relationships, crafting tailored solutions, and driving measurable growth through a consultative sales process. This is a remote role with national travel requirements.
What you'll do
- Lead Sales Strategy: Develop and execute effective sales strategies to achieve individual and organizational revenue goals within the higher education market.
- Pipeline Development: Build and manage a robust three-year pipeline of qualified prospects; leverage CRM tools to ensure consistent tracking and communication.
- Proposal & RFP Management: Evaluate RFPs and RFIs for alignment and viability; lead the development of pricing and technical proposals using company resources and financial modeling tools.
- Client Engagement: Initiate and manage client relationships throughout the sales cycle, including discovery meetings, presentations, tastings, and contract negotiations.
- Industry & Market Research: Stay current on competitor activity, industry trends, and client needs; use insights to refine Genuine Foods' positioning and sales process.
- Regulatory Compliance: Maintain working knowledge of contracting regulations and institutional requirements for higher education clients.
- Internal Collaboration: Partner with culinary, operations, marketing, and leadership teams to develop and present comprehensive, client-centered solutions.
- Provide regular updates to leadership on sales activity, pipeline status, and market intelligence; ensure CRM data is accurate and up to date.
What we're looking for
- Minimum 5 years of consultative sales experience, including at least 3 years selling contract foodservice management solutions to higher education institutions.
- Strong understanding of campus dining operations, student experience priorities, and university procurement and contracting processes.
- Demonstrated success in developing complex proformas and conducting financial analysis.
- Track record of exceeding sales targets and negotiating successful contracts.
- Proficiency in identifying and responding to RFPs/RFIs.
- Existing network and higher education client relationships strongly preferred.
- Entrepreneurial, self-directed, and collaborative mindset with strong adaptability and problem-solving skills
