Strategic Business Development Manager – Food Service

Kayem Foods, Inc. • Chelsea, MA

39d • $110,000 - $130,000 • Remote

About The Position

Kayem Foods is a family-owned food company with over 100 years of experience crafting premium meat products, and is currently the largest meat processor in New England. The company's brands, Kayem and al Fresco, are leaders in the region. Kayem Foods is seeking a passionate and well-connected Strategic Business Development Manager for its Food Service division. This role requires a proven ability to navigate distributor organizations, strong financial acumen, and the capacity to evaluate opportunities for long-term relationship building and growth. The ideal candidate will be instrumental in leading the next phase of growth for the company.

Requirements

• 7+ years of food service sales, business development, category management, procurement, or operator leadership experience.
• BA/BS or a combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated success winning business with organizations such as Aramark, Compass Group, Sodexo, Delaware North, Levy, healthcare systems, C&U, or large hospitality groups.
• Proven ability to navigate distributor organizations including Sysco, US Foods, PFG, Gordon Food Service, and regional broad liners.
• Experience securing product specifications, menu placements, and purchasing approvals, specifically with local Health Care organizations like MGH.
• Strong understanding of GPOs, contract management, foodservice procurement, and distributor economics, specifically in the Hotel industry.
• Comfortable opening doors and creating opportunities where none exist.
• Understands how operators make purchasing decisions.
• Ability to connect distributor strategy, operator needs, and company objectives into a cohesive growth plan.
• Focuses on scalable business development, thinking beyond individual accounts.
• Operates with urgency, accountability, and a long-term partnership mindset.

Nice To Haves

• Experience with proteins, prepared foods, breakfast, deli, or center-of-plate categories is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Identify, develop, convert, and execute opportunities with Distributors, Food service organizations, healthcare systems, colleges and universities, sports and entertainment venues, and regional chain operators.
• Develop and execute growth strategies.
• Build executive-level relationships with key decision makers within contract groups, operators, distributors, and purchasing organizations.
• Deliver meal solutions that support customer goals through customer presentations, business reviews, product demonstrations, culinary ideation sessions, and strategic planning meetings.
• Develop annual plans that deliver profitable growth.
• Collaborate closely with R&D, Marketing, Finance, and the senior leadership team on key strategic business planning, innovation, and decisions.

Benefits

• Healthcare insurance
• Dental insurance
• Vision insurance
• Health savings accounts (HSA)
• 401(k) retirement plan with matching
• Life insurance
• Paid time off
• Company holidays
• Education Reimbursement (eligible after 6 months of continuous employment and up to $3,000 for career development)

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree