Director, Foodservice

Ways you will make a difference

• Develop and lead strategic plans across Foodservice, Vending, Hotel/Lodging, Theater/Entertainment, Military, and QSR/Chain Restaurant channels to deliver volume growth, share gains, and profitability.
• Own and expand key customer relationships across national and regional QSR chains, foodservice distributors, military accounts, vending operators, hotel/lodging partners, theater customers, and broker networks.
• Lead QSR and chain restaurant opportunities, including menu development cycles, limited-time offers, product specifications, procurement processes, and corporate/franchisee engagement.
• Partner with R&D, Innovation, Marketing, and Commercialization teams to develop or adapt products for foodservice-specific applications, QSR menu needs, LTO programs, pack formats, and channel requirements.
• Build joint business plans with customers, brokers, and channel partners, setting clear expectations and holding partners accountable to volume, distribution, execution, and financial targets.
• Serve as an internal advocate for Out of Home and Foodservice channels, building alignment and making the business case for resources, investment, and cross-functional support.
• Collaborate with Finance, Supply Chain, and Operations on pricing architecture, trade structures, minimum order quantities, product formats, and operational requirements unique to these channels.
• Manage and develop a small team while remaining directly involved in critical customer relationships, field execution, and high-priority business opportunities.
• Monitor channel performance, customer trends, competitive activity, and growth opportunities to inform strategy and improve business outcomes.
• Represent Ferrara with professionalism and credibility in the field, with customers, broker partners, operators, and senior internal stakeholders.

Skills that will make you successful

• Deep understanding of Out of Home and Foodservice channels, including the distinct business dynamics of QSR, military, vending, foodservice distribution, hotel/lodging, and theater/entertainment.
• Strong knowledge of QSR and chain restaurant selling, including corporate procurement, franchisee/operator dynamics, menu innovation, LTO development, culinary/R&D collaboration, and product specification approval.
• Proven ability to build trusted relationships with customers, buyers, operators, brokers, and cross-functional partners.
• Strong commercial acumen, including the ability to evaluate opportunities through the lens of volume, profitability, pricing, trade, margin, and operational complexity.
• Able to lead through influence and align internal teams behind complex, multi-channel opportunities that may compete for resources with larger retail businesses.
• Clear, persuasive communication skills with the ability to present strategy, performance, risks, and investment needs to senior leadership.
• Entrepreneurial mindset with the ability to build structure, processes, and priorities in a fast-moving, underdeveloped, or evolving channel environment.
• Strong broker management skills, including joint business planning, expectation setting, performance management, and accountability.
• Data-driven decision-making balanced with strong relationship instincts and practical business judgment.
• Player-coach leadership style with the ability to set direction, develop talent, and stay close to execution.

Experiences that will support your success

• 8–12 years of progressive sales experience in CPG, Food & Beverage, Foodservice, Out of Home, QSR, or related channels.
• Substantial experience working across Out of Home, Foodservice, or QSR channels; retail-only experience is not likely to translate fully to the complexity of this role.
• Direct experience calling on national or regional QSR chains at the corporate level is strongly preferred.
• Experience with QSR menu development, LTO programs, product specification processes, and collaboration with culinary, R&D, or innovation teams.
• Experience working with foodservice distributors such as Sysco, US Foods, or regional distributors.
• Familiarity with military and government-related sales channels, including DeCA, AAFES, NEXCOM, or similar institutional customers, is a meaningful differentiator.
• Experience managing brokers, operators, and third-party channel partners across complex selling environments.
• Existing relationships across key Out of Home, Foodservice, QSR, military, vending, hotel/lodging, theater, or broker networks are strongly preferred.
• Prior people leadership experience, ideally managing a small team while maintaining direct ownership of strategic customers and business development opportunities.
• Ability and willingness to travel approximately 40–50% to support customers, field execution, broker partners, and geographically dispersed channel opportunities.

What We Offer

• Comprehensive benefits such as health insurance, dental insurance, a 401(k), and paid time off (PTO).
• Eligible employees may also receive an annual bonus based on company performance.

Compensation

The salary range for this role is $143,798 - $201,317 annually.