What are the responsibilities and job description for the Sales & Marketing Specialist position at gfs?
Neptune Fresh Produce Inc. Join one of the BEST teams in the Industry At Fresh Start Foods you'll find qualified professionals that stand out with their experience and understand that customers are at the centre of everything we do. We are seeking individuals: Who are customer centric Who are able to deliver on their commitments Who value individual excellence and collective performance Who care and give back - sustainable agriculture, the environment, corporate citizenship Who go above and beyond to provide options for our customers Who understand the foodservice/hospitality/retail business and bring extensive knowledge and experience For more than 30 years, Fresh Start Foods has proudly delivered a full range of fresh produce solutions to customers across Canada. As a valued member of the Gordon Food Service (GFS) family of companies, we are honored to be recognized by Forbes as one of Canada’s Best Employers in 2026. We are currently seeking a Full-Time Sales and Marketing Specialist to join our team based out of our Richmond, BC location. This is a dynamic role designed to bridge the gap between field sales execution, strategic account management, and regional marketing initiatives. This individual will be instrumental in driving growth across our Gordon Food Service (GFS) Business by working closely with our Business Development Specialists and National Account Manager. You will act as the voice of the market to our customers—communicating vital supply chain, weather, and commodity updates—while managing marketing collateral, sample processes, and key quarterly contracts. You will work cross-functionally with Procurement, Costing Analysis, and Production to ensure customer needs are consistently met. Position: Full-Time, Permanent Schedule: Monday to Friday, business hours. Opportunity to work from home, one day per week. Salary: Between $80,000-100,000/year depending on experience. Plus annual performance bonus. Duties and Responsibilities: Gordon Food Service (GFS) Strategy & Growth Strategic Channel Execution: Drive strategic initiatives within the Gordon Food Service Western Divisions(GFS) channel by working intimately with their Category and Merchandising teams to identify and capture new opportunities. Business Development: Support and execute with sales targeted recovery and growth plans specifically tailored to expand volume and market share within the Gordon Food Service business. Contract Management: Oversee and manage key monthly/quarterly contracts, ensuring pricing, item specifications, and customer requirements are accurately maintained and communicated. Customer Relationships: Own the relationships with merchandising and category managers within the Western Markets. Marketing & Market Intelligence Market Intelligence Communication: Act as the market expert by translating complex agricultural data—such as weather impacts, regional growing transitions (e.g., Desert to Salinas/Oxnard), and fuel/freight spikes—into digestible, customer-facing Market Updates and professional presentation decks. Collateral & Campaign Management: Align with sales leadership on upcoming marketing campaigns to ensure cohesive messaging. Asset & Sample Management: Maintain and manage current product catalogs, and oversee the end-to-end customer sample process, including the sourcing and distribution of promotional items. GFS Gordon Ordering: Maintain product data, images, and Fresh Start Foods content within the GFS ordering system. Operational Alignment & Cross-Functional Collaboration Internal Synergy: Work closely on a daily basis with Production, Procurement Pricing analysis, and Food Safety teams to deeply understand facility capabilities and constraints. Expectation Management: Leverage operational insights to ensure that all sales promises, marketing claims, and customer commitments strictly align with our actual operational capabilities and raw material conditions. Required Skills and Qualifications: Must have 3 years of sales experience. Food service/industry knowledge is strong asset. Must have good written, verbal, organizational, and communication skills and problem-solving capabilities. Ability to work in a fast-paced, high-pressure, challenging environment Must be a strategic thinker in order to build relationships, network, and link resources to plan and execute business practices and achieve business goals. Fresh Start Foods offers a range of benefits, including: Comprehensive health and dental benefits (including vision, prescription drugs, disability, and extended health coverage) Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP) Matching Program Annual Profit Sharing Bonus Weekly paychecks Employee Family Assistance Program Opportunities for career advancement Employee Recognition Programs Company-sponsored events (Family Picnic, Staff Celebration, BBQs) Training opportunities Annual Safety Boot Allowance Program Full-time hours A team-oriented work environment We thank all applicants for their interest, however only those selected for the next stage will be contacted. Fresh Start Foods is an equal opportunity employer who strives to provide an inclusive work environment that involves everyone and embraces the diverse talent of its people. All qualified applicants and employees will receive consideration for employment, or in terms or conditions of employment, without regard to any enumerated or analogous grounds of discrimination, including race, religious beliefs, colour, gender, gender identity, gender expression, physical disability, mental disability, age, ancestry, place of origin, marital status, source of income, family status, sexual orientation or status as a qualified individual with disability. If you require reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process due to a disability, please submit your request to: For Jobs in British Columbia careers@freshstartfoods.com For Jobs in Ontario fsferecruitment@freshstartfoods.com Use the words “Accommodation Request” in your subject line. We Are Passionate About Produce Wholesale Fruits and Vegetable Suppliers From Coast To Coast Fresh Start Foods continues to be the leading value added and fresh produce supplier in Canada. Building on 25 years of growth and success, we understand the importance of satisfying the essential stakeholders in your business. We ensure that high quality and value is delivered from field to table. We understand the critical nature of fresh produce to your offering and work diligently to ensure you are able to exceed your customers expectations. With several well positioned locations in both Eastern and Western Canada, we are truly national and well positioned to deliver the freshest product possible. Fresh Start Foods has two additional companies within our food family, J.G. Fruits and Vegetables in Montreal distributes both whole and fresh cut fruit, vegetables and other related products. Our Eating New Creations facility in Mississauga focuses on meeting retail and food-service needs in the manufacturing and assembly of salad & meal kits, a variety of portioned salads, sandwiches, fruit cups and other portioned fresh and dry products.