New Business Manager, Greater New Orleans Area

LED FastStart•Marrero, LA

4d•$75,000 - $120,000•Onsite

About The Position

The New Business Manager will be responsible for developing and executing a business plan to capture and penetrate market share within the division's footprint. This role focuses on identifying and acquiring high-potential customers with annual sales potential exceeding $0.5 million. The primary objective is to generate new account revenue in line with organizational and individual targets, aiming for a minimum of $2 million in the first year and $6 million annually in subsequent years, or as agreed with leadership. The position involves sourcing, pursuing, securing, and developing new business opportunities that can be transitioned to a Territory Manager, while maintaining a pipeline of emerging high-potential clients. Responsibilities include researching customer needs, analyzing market trends, collaborating with specialists to develop offerings, completing credit applications, and ensuring a smooth onboarding and handover process for new accounts. The role requires utilizing company IT tools for opportunity identification and lead generation, communicating field intelligence, and selectively participating in the SOS process for at-risk accounts. Additionally, the New Business Manager will maintain ongoing relationships with key decision-makers, leverage industry contacts, attend industry events, and share sales expertise with Territory Managers.

Requirements

High School diploma or equivalent; Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
Must possess a minimum of 3 years sales experience required.
Minimum 3 years of experience opening accounts greater than $0.5m, preferably in foodservice industry.
Exceptional sales and interpersonal skills and proven ability to warm, convert, and close high-potential new street accounts required.
Excellent communication and negotiation skills required, as well as strong interpersonal skills and ability to successfully build relationships internally and externally, leveraging relations to achieve business goals.
Able to present in front of large groups of people utilizing creative presentation skills.
Highly motivated, results-driven and able to work autonomously; detail-oriented, ability to work under pressure and meet tight deadlines.
Working knowledge of Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint is required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s Degree preferred.

Responsibilities

Develop a sound business plan to capture and penetrate market share within the division’s footprint, focusing on Division customers with sales potential > $0.5m annually.
Responsible for producing new account revenue in line with current organization and individual targets and quotas (minimum of $2 million in first year, $6 million annually in following years), or annual target agreed with Division President and VP Sales.
Utilizing Key Performance Indicators (KPIs), focus on (1) opening highest potential new accounts, (2) sales dollars, and (3) gross profit dollars of all new accounts.
Responsible for sourcing, pursuing, securing and developing highest potential new business that can be transitioned to a Territory Manager (TM) in order to achieve annual sales and profit operating plans; maintain a pipeline of new, emerging high potential clients.
Research potential customer requirements, menu design, business size, current suppliers, etc.; analyze current trends within the market and remain informed of market conditions, product innovations, competitors' products, prices, and sales; share information with customers, along with new menu ideas and products, as part of value-added services provided.
Work with Category and Segment Specialists to create order-guide/pricing for prospective accounts; develop and present compelling offering to prospective accounts.
Complete new customer credit application forms; work with Customer Solutions Coordinator, Sales Coordinator and TM to ensure an effective on-boarding process as well as to facilitate a smooth handover of the new account to the TM and Sales Coordinator, including any AR responsibility while in development.
Maintain full understanding of company IT tools to identify high potential opportunities and update progress; utilize Company-approved data base for lead generation; communicate with District Sales Managers on field intelligence and observations.
Selective involvement in the SOS process, only for accounts recently opened by NBM where they are at-risk of churn. Visit customers, understand concerns and change offerings, pricing as required; maintain contact with new accounts as required; conduct Customer Business Review (CBRs) with critical customers upon request.
Maintain ongoing relationships with key decision makers; leverage industry contacts to "follow" decision makers as they move.
Attend sales meetings, food shows, and vendor, marketing and industry events to network with prospective accounts.
Share skills and experience with TMs in at 1 – 2 sales meetings/year i.e. how to on-board, do account research, penetration, warming and closing techniques.
Other duties assigned by manager.