Business Development Manager

Department: Sales

Reports To: Sales Manager

Seniority Level: Mid-Level

Employment Type: Full-time

Position Description

We offer an immersive, educational experience for our customers, allowing the public to watch various products move through the production process, from bean to bar. The manufacturing facility, located in Suwanee, GA, is state of the art, utilizing the widest range of equipment in the Southeast for manufacturing chocolate products.

The Business Development Manager will be responsible for sales to hospitality clients in their sales market. Hospitality is defined as lodging, specialty food retailers, beverage services, event planning, travel agencies, tourism, hotels, restaurants, and bars. This is an outside sales position that requires an aggressive self-starter with the ability to work independently toward achieving company goals.

The Business Development Manager will ensure clients receive maximum value from our products and services and continually cultivate new and existing clients to develop sales.

1. addition, any new customer sales lead that his part of your assigned responsibility will be yours to develop. This position is expected to consistently represent our core values within the organization and to clients, to ensure quality, and most of all, we want to have FUN!

The BDM must have a minimum of 5 years of outside sales experience including startup and new sales experience. The BDM must possess a “teacher” mentality and must be comfortable presenting to C Suite positions in-person to educate the client.

We prefer a BS/BA degree but will consider other educational levels in the candidate.

The BDM has a history of calling on many hospitality accounts, such as hotels and resorts, high end restaurants and bars, and a robust LinkedIn connection list is a plus.

The BDM is passionate, confident, self-starting, and must possess a hunter mentality.

Essential Functions

Including the following. Other duties may be assigned.

• Call on and consult with target clients daily on their gifting and employee recognition needs.
• You will be required to prospect, develop, and close new business opportunities within your assigned sphere of influence.
• You will target all corporate clients within N. GA above I-20, primarily focusing on the N. Atlanta metro area. Other locations or strategic accounts are acceptable as required.
• Consistently manage and achieve sales quotas.
• Provide continuous service and contact throughout the client engagement to achieve renewal business.

• Increase sales volume within this group of clients through standard or custom chocolate products and managing account penetration and securing new business.
• Ensure customer satisfaction and customer retention through consistent, productive account in-person sales calls.
• Be responsible for up-selling programs, services, and value-added products, such as wine offerings, into these accounts.
• Represent the company by consistently demonstrating the understanding and modeling of company’s mission and core values.
• Coordinate with the marketing resources about all promotional programs, products, campaigns toward your set of clients.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills: writing, verbal, and presenting.
• Must present a professional appearance and must maintain business casual attire in calling on corporate clients.
• Client relationship management and reporting through the Zoho CRM is a requirement, along with regular forecasting and reporting duties for regular sales meetings.
• Build and maintain a consistently strong pipeline in CRM. All reporting and client recordkeeping must be maintained in the CRM daily.
• A comprehensive business plan must be presented to management and peers once per year with measurable goals and milestones.
• Attendance virtually or in-person to a mandatory weekly sales meeting is required.
• Be willing to travel to specific customer-related events and trade shows which can include weekend and holiday travel when necessary. This could include working trade show booths, client entertainment, etc. where you are a representative of our company.
• Residency within the Atlanta Metro is required to promote regular visits to clients and coordinate all internal efforts for the clients.

Food Handling & Hygiene

• Maintain a clean and organized appearance, clothing, and personal cleanliness and grooming.
• Adhere to all food, health, and safety guidelines and laws.

Specific Knowledge and Skills:

• Bachelor’s degree is preferred but will consider a strong sales aptitude without it.

• 5+ years’ experience in successful outside sales and/or customer service roles is required.

• Effective presentation and closing skills are a must.
• Strong communication (verbal and written) and relationship skills.
• Organization and time management skills.
• Proven track record of consistently meeting or exceeding assigned annual/quarterly goals and targets.
• Attentive to required forecasting and business reporting responsibilities on a daily basisdaily.

• Proficiency with MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) is required.
• Proficiency in CRM usage is a must.
• Demonstrated record of strong work ethic
• Must possess valid driver’s license and proof of acceptable automobile coverage for personal vehicles.

Work Environment:

The factory will include modern PLC controlled food processing equipment that is dangerous when not self-aware, including potential for burns and cuts (or worse) from multiple pinch points. Work may range anywhere from 40 to 60 hours per week, to include evening and weekend work. Expected travel ~10%.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee may use their hands to handle products and lift objects up to 40 pounds. The factory is environmentally controlled, and glasses and certain work wear may be required.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, or veteran's status.

Applicants with a disability or a disabled veteran may request a reasonable accommodation if he/she is unable or limited in his/her ability to access job openings or apply for a job on our website as a result of his/her disability. The applicant may request reasonable accommodations by contacting us at 317-661-1740.