Director of New Partnerships

Director of New Partnerships for Corporate Dining

Zeeland, MI | Hybrid/Field-Based

About Creative Dining Services

Creative Dining Services is a hospitality and food-service management company headquartered in Zeeland, Michigan. We partner with organizations across the country, including corporate offices, K-12 schools, colleges and universities, and senior living communities. Our focus goes beyond providing meals; we create memorable dining experiences, build relationships, and bring people together through hospitality.

Where everyone has a seat at the table.

About the Role

This is an exciting opportunity for a strategic, relationship-driven sales professional who thrives on identifying new opportunities, building meaningful partnerships, and turning prospects into long-term clients. You'll play a key role in expanding Creative Dining Services' presence in the marketplace by connecting with prospective clients, understanding their unique needs, and developing customized hospitality solutions that deliver value.

Reporting to the Vice President of Partnerships, you'll collaborate with teams across operations, finance, marketing, and executive leadership to develop winning strategies, deliver compelling proposals, and drive profitable growth. This position offers a competitive base salary plus an uncapped commission plan, rewarding your success in building new partnerships and growing the business.

What You’ll Do

• Drive new business development and achieve established revenue, sales, and profit margin goals.
• Identify, research, and pursue prospective clients across Creative Dining Services' markets, with a primary focus on corporate dining opportunities.
• Proactively develop a pipeline of qualified prospects through networking, outreach, referrals, industry research, and strategic prospecting.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with prospective clients and key decision-makers, including C-suite executives, boards, directors, and other organizational stakeholders.
• Understand each prospect's business objectives, operational needs, and challenges to develop compelling, customized value propositions.
• Lead business development efforts from initial outreach and relationship building through proposal development, presentations, negotiations, and new client acquisition.
• Proactively identify and pursue Requests for Proposals (RFPs), Requests for Information (RFIs), and other new business opportunities.
• Partner with internal operations, People Services, finance, marketing, and executive teams to develop prospecting strategies, sales collateral, proposals, and presentations.
• Maintain accurate prospect information, sales activities, pipeline updates, and revenue forecasts within the company's CRM system.
• Represent Creative Dining Services at industry conferences, association events, networking opportunities, and other business development functions.
• Monitor market trends, industry developments, and competitive activity to identify opportunities for growth and strengthen sales strategies.
• Build strong internal partnerships to ensure prospective clients receive responsive communication, tailored solutions, and a seamless transition into the organization.
• Uphold Creative Dining Services' commitment to ethical business practices, integrity, and long-term client relationships.

What You’ll Bring

Required:

• Minimum of five years of sales or business development experience in hospitality management, contract services, food service, or related industry.
• Demonstrated success achieving sales quotas, revenue targets, and business development goals.
• Proven track record of acquiring new clients and developing profitable business relationships.
• Experience in business-to-business (B2B) sales, including prospecting, relationship development, and closing new business.
• Ability to develop relationships with stakeholders at all levels, including executive leadership and other key decision-makers.
• Strategic thinking and problem-solving skills, with the ability to understand client needs and develop customized solutions.
• Ability to work independently, manage a sales pipeline, and prioritize opportunities in a competitive market.
• Willingness to travel overnight an average of one to three nights per week.
• Strong communication, presentation, negotiation, and relationship-building skills.
• Valid, unrestricted driver's license.

Preferred:

• Bachelor's degree in business, communications, hospitality, or related field.
• Experience in corporate dining, contract food service, hospitality management, or other outsourced service solutions.
• Experience selling to corporate clients or working with complex, multi-stakeholder organizations.
• Experience with CRM platforms and sales pipeline management.

Top Benefits

• Competitive compensation: $110,000-$130,000 Annually Uncapped commission
• Insurance: Medical, Dental, Vision
• 401(k) Retirement with company match
• Generous PTO policy
• DailyPay earned wage access
• Significant discounts with partner companies
• Access to pet insurance
• Tuition reimbursement
• Professional development and career growth opportunities

Why Creative Dining Services?

At Creative Dining Services, we believe hospitality is about more than food, it's about creating connections and making a positive impact on the people and communities we serve. Join a team that values creativity, collaboration, and delivering exceptional experiences.