K-12 Business Development-South Carolina

Taher, Inc.•Columbia, SC

About The Position

Taher is seeking four entrepreneurial sales leaders to drive new-business growth in its K-12 and education dining portfolio. The role is primarily responsible for developing business in an assigned priority market and translating Taher's culinary, nutrition and operating capabilities into solutions for prospective education partners. Candidates may be hired at the Director or Vice President level based on experience, industry relationships, sales results and market scope. The position requires executive-level relationship building, disciplined pipeline development and the ability to navigate public-sector procurement and RFP processes. The sales leader works closely with Operations, Culinary, Nutrition, Finance, Marketing, Human Resources, Procurement and other internal partners to ensure opportunities are financially sound, operationally executable and aligned with company strategy. Responsibilities include developing new partnerships, leading pursuits from discovery through award and transition, building executive relationships and market visibility, and providing team leadership, market intelligence and growth recommendations. Extensive travel throughout the assigned market and nationally may be required.

Requirements

Significant progressive experience in business development, sales, strategic growth or client acquisition, with demonstrated success winning complex new business.
Demonstrated ability to develop new relationships and new-logo revenue rather than primarily managing existing accounts.
Experience navigating formal RFPs, public procurement and multi-stakeholder decision processes.
Strong financial acumen, including understanding pricing, budgets, margins, labor models, pro formas and business cases.
Exceptional executive communication, presentation, negotiation and relationship-building skills.
Ability to influence across functions and lead collaboratively in an entrepreneurial, family-owned environment.
Ability and willingness to travel extensively throughout the assigned market and nationally as business needs require.
Entrepreneurial, persistent, relational and commercially disciplined approach to sales leadership.
Ability to build genuine relationships, create opportunities, exercise sound judgment and collaborate effectively across the organization.

Nice To Haves

Experience in K-12 foodservice, education services, contract dining, hospitality, facilities services or another complex outsourced-services environment is strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

Build and execute a strategic sales plan focused on new K-12, independent school and education partnerships in assigned and emerging markets.
Develop and maintain a disciplined sales pipeline, including account priorities, decision makers, contract timing, next steps, probability and potential value.
Generate opportunities through direct outreach, referrals, networking, conferences, professional associations and market intelligence.
Build relationships with education leaders and other stakeholders before formal solicitations are released.
Develop a growth strategy for the assigned priority market and identify additional approved opportunities aligned with Taher's strategy.
Own qualified opportunities from initial discovery through solution development, proposal, presentation, negotiation and transition to Operations.
Lead RFP, RFQ and other formal procurement responses, ensuring proposals are differentiated, accurate and responsive to client needs.
Partner with Finance and Operations on pricing, budgets, pro formas, staffing assumptions and commercial terms.
Coordinate discovery meetings, site visits, tastings, finalist presentations and executive conversations.
Document sales commitments and ensure they are understood internally and operationally achievable.
Build trusted, long-term relationships with prospective clients and influential education leaders.
Maintain an active presence in school nutrition, education, procurement and administrative networks and associations.
Represent Taher at conferences, trade shows, district meetings and relevant community or industry events.
Understand prospect goals, financial considerations, operational challenges, culture and community expectations and tailor the sales approach accordingly.
Engage Operations early in qualified pursuits and collaborate with internal functions to develop integrated client solutions.
Create a disciplined Sales-to-Operations handoff after contract award and remain engaged through implementation as needed.
Partner with leadership to assess opportunity quality, strategic fit, risk, financial return and organizational capacity.
Lead, develop and align a sales team around market priorities, pipeline discipline and measurable growth expectations.
Establish consistent sales practices, account planning, forecasting, opportunity reviews and follow-through across the team.
Set accountability for activities and outcomes while promoting collaborative selling with internal partners.
Provide leadership with pipeline forecasts, market intelligence, competitive insights and growth-investment recommendations.
Monitor competitor activity, contract expirations, enrollment and demographic shifts, procurement cycles and emerging client needs.
Maintain strategic target-account lists and prioritize prospects by fit, timing, relationship access and commercial potential.
Identify underserved markets, partnership opportunities and service concepts that can strengthen Taher's competitive position.
Use win/loss insights and client feedback to improve positioning, pursuit strategy and sales execution.