Seafood Business Development Manager

For over 30 years, Down East Seafood has been a go-to source for the freshest, highest-quality seafood among New York’s most celebrated chefs. What began as a single van sourcing clams from Maine has grown into a full-line seafood operation, delivering sustainably sourced selections six days a week across the Tri-State area. Based in a 17,000-square-foot facility in the heart of Hunt’s Point, the Bronx, Down East combines local expertise with coastal reach—providing premium seafood to restaurants in NYC, Westchester, Long Island, Southern Connecticut, and Northern New Jersey.

About the role

The Seafood Business Development Manager drives sales growth by developing new business and deepening existing accounts across the foodservice sector, with a specialized focus on premium seafood. The role blends the strategic, hunter-minded discipline of business development—multi-unit group business, platinum-level account retention and growth, and recovery of lost accounts—with the domain expertise of a seafood specialist who can advise chefs and buyers on sourcing, seasonality, sustainability, and culinary application. The ideal candidate is equal parts closer and consultant: someone who opens doors with key decision-makers, translates deep product knowledge into compelling value, and turns raw data into customer-ready insight.

Responsibilities

• Develop sales across current and emerging foodservice channels through a multi-faceted research approach, collaborating with the sales team to identify and target opportunities aligned to budgeted goals.
• Focus on multi-unit group business, platinum-level account retention and growth, and recovery of accounts lost within those parameters.
• Build a methodical, goal-oriented system for each identified opportunity, developing custom-tailored solutions based on each customer's specific needs.
• Regularly review sales reports to identify and target sleeper accounts where sales potential is not fully leveraged.
• Demonstrate a high level of closing ability, then maintain relationships as accounts are onboarded and transitioned to the sales team.
• Maintain comprehensive knowledge of the full seafood range—species, sourcing, seasonal availability, quality standards, and culinary applications.
• Provide expert guidance on seafood selection, preparation, and sustainability, positioning freshness, quality, and responsible sourcing as key differentiators.
• Respond to inquiries with tailored product recommendations that close sales efficiently and build repeat business.
• Stay current on industry trends, market pricing, and competitor offerings to position products effectively in the marketplace.
• Analyze menus, order guides, and purchase history against customer buying patterns to create valued suggestions that maximize sales.
• Clean unfiltered data to build cost comparisons, then restate them in clear, customer-friendly terms.
• Prepare regular sales forecasts and reports on product sales, inventory levels, and customer trends.
• Create and maintain relationships with key decision-makers, sustaining them after accounts are handed to sales and ensuring maximum leverage of sales potential.
• Gather street-level business intelligence and translate it into actionable follow-up, setting appointments with decision-makers.
• Determine and create customized content for sales presentations tailored to each opportunity.
• Partner with Transportation to develop routes in need of additional tonnage, maximizing route efficiency.
• Travel to account HQ meetings in a support role.
• Support corporate business through daily communication with internal teams.

Requirements

• 4-year degree in Business or a related field preferred.
• 5–7 years of progressive foodservice sales experience, ideally in the Northeast, with proven success selling in the food or seafood sector.
• Strong knowledge of seafood products—fish, shellfish, and crustaceans—including sourcing, seasonality, and sustainability.
• Demonstrated high-level closing ability, with strong presentation, negotiation, and influencing skills.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong computer skills (Excel, Microsoft Office) and familiarity with CRM software.
• Proven leadership and motivation skills.
• Strong analytical and problem-solving skills; able to evaluate trends, data, and opportunities.
• Ability to work independently in a fast-paced, dynamic selling environment.
• Well versed in multiple forms of social media.
• A passion for seafood and sustainability in the food industry is a strong plus.

Benefits

• Paid Vacations, Paid Holidays
• Health, Dental and Medical Benefits
• Weekly pay
• Life Insurance
• 5% above cost for our high-quality food products
• Employee discounts for travel and events
• 401k
• Employee Stock Purchase Plan