Our team is our strength!
Next Generation Foods is changing the way food is distributed. There’s food distribution the way everybody else does it- and then there’s Next Generation Foods. We are reinventing how food moves from field to kitchen, from grower to Chef. And we’re doing it with a zeal for sustainability, science, and source transparency!
As a member of the Next Generation Food’s team, you will be a part of a well-established company with strong community roots. We have an amazing work culture that embraces innovation and is simply a great place to work!
The Opportunity
We are seeking a proven sales leader and builder to lead and personally drive our food service sales efforts as Vice President of Sales – Food Service & Strategic Accounts.
This is a hands-on, hunter-focused role. You will be the one actively selling, developing strategic accounts, expanding geographic distribution, and building long-term partnerships with operators, distributors, and brokers. This is not a team management role. You will personally own the sales process, pipeline, and key customer relationships.
This is a unique opportunity to lead sales for a vertically integrated, farmer-owned company with direct control over farming, sourcing, and production. You will work closely with ownership, play a critical role in planning and execution, and help scale revenue across food service and adjacent channels. As the company grows, this role has the potential to evolve into broader leadership responsibility.
This is a mostly in-office role based in West Sacramento, CA. For the right candidate, a hybrid structure may be considered; however, consistent weekly office presence is required. This role requires approximately 5 days of travel per month for customer meetings, distributor visits, and industry events.
Our Compensation and Benefits show how much we value our team:
Base salary starting at $125,000 per year, commensurate with experience
High performers in this role commonly early $200,000+ annually through performance-based incentives ties directly to revenue growth and profitability
Medical Coverage with generous company contribution for employees and dependents
401K with 4% company match
Paid Holidays/Vacation/ Paid Sick Leave
Key Responsibilities:
Personally drive and grow all food service sales for Next Generation Foods
Develop and close new strategic operator accounts across regional and national food service channels
Expand geographic distribution through direct engagement with major distributors and regional partners
Build and optimize broker relationships to increase penetration and velocity
Maintain direct ownership of key strategic accounts and partnerships
Own sales planning, annual growth targets, and channel-level strategy
Develop and manage sales forecasts and inventory projections in close coordination with operations and supply chain
Ensure alignment between sales commitments, production capacity, inventory levels, and raw material availability
Drive pricing strategy, margin discipline, and promotional execution within food service channels
Support growth into private label and custom programs where applicable
Represent the company at trade shows, sales meetings, and industry events
Own pipeline management, forecasting accuracy, and performance reporting
Utilize CRM and sales tools to track opportunities, manage accounts, and drive accountability
Collaborate closely with ownership, operations, and marketing to ensure disciplined execution of growth plans
Systems & Tools Expectations
Strong experience using CRM platforms; HubSpot experience preferred
Comfortable managing pipelines, forecasts, and reporting within a CRM
Proficient with Microsoft 365 tools including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint
Experience working within Microsoft Teams for internal communications and collaboration
Ability to bring structure, consistency, and data-driven decision-making to the sales organization
Qualifications and Experience:
10+ years of direct food industry sales experience, with strong focus in food service
Proven hunter mentality with documented success opening new accounts and scaling revenue
Demonstrated experience working with brokers and major food service distributors
Strong understanding of food service distribution models, pricing structures, and margin management
Experience selling private label or custom programs is a strong plus
Comfortable operating in a fast-moving, entrepreneurial environment
Strong communication, negotiation, and relationship-building skills
Success in This Role Will Include:
Expanding revenue meaningfully within the first 12–24 months
Opening new geographic markets and strengthening national distribution
Building durable operator, distributor, and broker partnerships
Improving forecast accuracy and operational alignment
Creating scalable systems that support continued growth
**NO PHONE CALLS OR WALK-INS PLEASE**
