at National Restaurant Association in Chicago, Illinois, United States
Job Description
The National Restaurant Association and National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation are proud to be part of a highly respected industry, providing hospitality, opportunity, and quality of life. Much like the industry we represent, we have a dynamic, diverse, and inclusive culture, grounded in trust, hospitality, collaboration, and innovation. These are the core values that inspire our work, and what we are looking for in a Sales Manager for our Health and Safety products for the restaurant and foodservice industry.
The learning products offered by the National Restaurant Association, and its family of brands ServSafe, ServSuccess, National Registry of Food Safety Professionals, and American Hotel and Lodging Educational Institute, has led the way in training and certifying millions of current and future hospitality workers. We provide best-in-class food safety, risk mitigation, career development and leadership training to restauranteurs, hoteliers, food service businesses, and academic institutions across the world. We equip our global audience with innovative, engaging training utilizing multiple platforms, from textbooks to online resources courses to mobile applications, with a focus on both compliance-driven and career-development suites.
As Sales Manager, you will be responsible for the execution of sales strategies, plans and initiatives that support industry risk mitigation and drive adoption and growth of the Business Services product lines. This role will develop and manage relationships with key partners in the restaurant and foodservice industry and will collaborate directly with corporate contacts, while supporting and navigating the operator and franchise community to assist with program adoption and growth.
We are looking for a strategic Sales Manager, who brings a customer-centric, consultative sales approach, and a proven track record of successfully introducing and executing sales programs designed to maximize product and customer penetration. Ideal candidates are highly collaborative and creative, with a strong self-starter, sales hunter and analytical mindset, and ability to adapt and flex in a frequently changing environment. Position requires a deep knowledge and understanding of selling training, certification, and e-learning products, preferably within the restaurant, hospitality, retail, or related industry.
This is an individual contributor role that can operate fully remote. Preference for candidates based in Chicago, Orlando, Dallas, Atlanta, or Phoenix areas. Approximately 25% travel anticipated for key account visits, tradeshows, and other industry events.
We are proud to offer our team members comprehensive benefits, designed to support their financial, professional, and personal well-being. In addition to outstanding healthcare coverage (medical, dental and vision), competitive salaries, generous vacation and leave time, we offer a matching 401(k) plan, a unique collection of corporate discounts and memberships, as well as programs to support career and skills development, including coaching, learning and tuition assistance, and so much more.
The work you will do as an integral member of our dynamic sales team, will positively impact our mission to continue to develop a strong industry workforce. We look forward to hearing from you! Please include a cover letter with your application.
Requirements:
- Bachelor’s degree preferred in any major and/or combination of experience.
- A minimum of 4+ years of experience with demonstrated skills in strategic selling of training, certification and e-learning products within the restaurant, hospitality, training market or related fields.
- Excellent prospecting and sales experience with a continuous learning mindset.
- Previous experience leveraging sales database or SalesForce.com.
- Ability to manage multi-location customers and/or large geography.
- Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding sales goal for consecutive years.
- Excellent presentation skills to key stakeholders from business owners, HR executives, Training and Development Directors, C-suite executives, and other decision makers or influencers.
- Strong familiarity with technology used to deliver e-learning.
- Demonstrated capacity to develop and build relationships, effectively and persuasively present and demonstrate products, negotiate and close, and cultivate partnerships and alliances to drive sales and overall business.
- Ability to work as part of a team and to work independently; a self-initiator, versatile and assumes risk with responsibility.
- Strong organizational, time management, priority-setting and problem-solving skills, plus project management and business planning.
- Exceptional analytical and critical thinking skills.
- Thoughtful interpersonal and diplomacy skills; ability to interact and communicate effectively at all levels of organization.
- Significant communication skills in written and verbal formats; displays clear and concise manner.
- Mastery of Microsoft Office programs, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint and Outlook. Ability to learn other software programs as needed and enter and maintain accurate data/information.
- Possess strong work ethic and high degree of integrity.
- Highly adaptable; ability to work well under pressure, within fast-paced and fluid environment.
We are an equal opportunity employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity, or national origin, age, disability status, genetic information and testing, family and medical leave, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law. We strongly encourage women, people of color, people with disabilities and veterans to apply for our job openings. This commitment supports our policy of developing and capitalizing on the abilities of all our team members, as well as selecting, developing, and promoting those who are best qualified.
