Director Food Service
- Location: Vancouver, BC (with regional travel)
- Company: Yen Bros. Food Service LTD
- Reports To: President / Director of Operations
- Position Type: Full-Time, Permanent
About Yen Bros. Food Service
Yen Bros. Food Service LTD is a premier name in food distribution more than five decades. Following our recent strategic growth and the integration of Yen Bros (YB) and Island West Produce (IWP) under the Fresh Direct Produce (FDP) group, we are expanding our footprint across British Columbia. We connect the food service industry with high-quality products and exceptional service, and we are looking for a dynamic leader to drive our next era of commercial success.
Position Overview
We are seeking a strategic, results-driven, and visionary Director of Food Service to lead, develop, and integrate our food service distribution divisions across both Yen Bros and Island West Produce.
In this pivotal executive role, you will be directly responsible for driving sales growth, pioneering new business development initiatives, and building our core business verticals. Initially focusing on accelerating market share in the Vancouver and Vancouver Island markets, your long-term objective will be expanding our footprint across other regions of British Columbia and eventually other provinces.
You will lead, mentor, and coach a high-performing, cross-functional sales team, fostering a culture of accountability and excellence to exceed profit goals while delivering an unparalleled customer experience.
Key Roles & Responsibilities
Strategic Leadership & Market Expansion
- Drive Revenue Growth: Oversee all YB and IWP sales activities to accelerate annual revenue generation and market share across all territory sales areas.
- Geographic Expansion: Execute plans to solidify the Vancouver and Vancouver Island markets, while mapping out long-term strategic growth into broader BC and national provinces.
- Business Development: Lead business development initiatives, identifying emerging market trends, competitive dynamics, and new category opportunities.
- Cross-Functional Collaboration: Partner closely with Marketing, Procurement, Logistics, and Credit & accounts departments to ensure flawless service delivery and execution of vendor promotions or food showcases.
Team Management & Performance
- Lead High-Performing Teams: Manage and inspire a cross-functional sales force, including Business Development Managers, Key Account Managers, and Inside Sales Associates.
- Coach & Mentor: Cultivate a high-performance culture by coaching direct reports to act as strategic business partners to our customers, equipping them with tools and resource solutions.
- Sales Optimization: Prepare annual sales plans and forecasts; establish clear sales promotion incentives, performance targets, and customer-centric growth initiatives.
Compliance & Corporate Standards
- Food Safety & Quality: Ensure full compliance with the FDP group food safety policy, procedures, and regulatory requirements to maintain the highest standards of food safety, quality, and legality.
- Change Management: Champion corporate initiatives and support organizational change smoothly, ensuring business growth with minimal impact on existing operations.
Job Requirements & Qualifications
- Experience: Minimum of 8-12 + years of progressive leadership experience in the Food Service Distribution or broadline industry.
- Proven Track Record: At least 5 years of experience leading B2B/B2C sales teams to hit aggressive sales deadlines and targets. Proven expertise developing business with restaurants, food chains, institutions, hospitality, catering companies, and retail stores.
- Strategic Acumen: Strong commercial and financial acumen with a demonstrated capability to plan, forecast, and execute multi-market business plans.
- Consultative Selling: Mastered skills in consultative selling, executive networking, and complex contract negotiations.
- Tech Savvy: Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook) and an ability to leverage CRM/sales forecasting software tools to derive data-driven insights.
- Education: Bachelor’s degree in a business or hospitality-related discipline, or equivalent professional experience in food industry sales.
- Licensing: Valid Driver’s License with consistent access to a reliable vehicle.
Physical Demands & Travel
- Travel Requirement: 20% – 40% travel required for onsite visits to customer accounts, territory regions, and FDP business units (including Vancouver Island).
What We Offer
We believe in rewarding our leadership team with a highly competitive total compensation package:
- Very attractive base salary commensurate with experience
- Lucrative performance-based incentive bonus program
- Comprehensive vehicle allowance
- Extended health and dental benefits
- Company Retirement Savings benefits (RRSP)
- Opportunities for professional growth within a rapidly expanding corporate group
