Role OverviewSodexo is hiring a
Sales Director to drive new business growth across
Tenessee, Kentucky and North Carolina within our
Education (K-12 Schools) segment. This is a high-energy, front-line
hunter role for a sales professional who thrives on prospecting, opening doors, and winning complex, multi-year deals. You'll represent Sodexo's integrated portfolio-Child Nutrition Programs, Professional Services, and Facilities Management-partnering with school districts to improve student outcomes and operational performance. The ideal candidate brings grit, resilience, and a relentless go-getter mindset, balanced with a strategic, consultative approach and a passion for mission-driven impact in education.
50-60% travel expected. Candidate to reside within territory.What You'll Do- Proactively hunt for and qualify new business and horizontal growth opportunities across the assigned geography and K-12 market.
- Own the full sales cycle-from cold outreach and discovery through solution development, pricing, negotiation, and contract close.
- Lead with a consultative, challenger mindset to uncover client pain points and position Sodexo's integrated solutions as differentiated value.
- Build strong relationships with superintendents, district leaders, and C-suite executives, acting as a trusted advisor throughout the buying process.
- Navigate a highly matrixed organization, collaborating with operations, finance, legal, marketing, and segment leaders to deliver winning solutions.
- Support client retention, rebids, and contract performance reviews while addressing risks to satisfaction, loyalty, and long-term value.
What We OfferCompensation is fair and equitable, partially determined by a candidate's education level or years of relevant experience. Salary offers are based on a candidate's specific criteria, like experience, skills, education, and training. Sodexo offers a comprehensive benefits package that may include:
- Medical, Dental, Vision Care and Wellness Programs
- 401(k) Plan with Matching Contributions
- Paid Time Off and Company Holidays
- Career Growth Opportunities and Tuition Reimbursement
More extensive information is provided to new employees upon hire.
What You Bring- A proven hunter mentality with a track record of generating pipeline through proactive prospecting, persistence, and hustle.
- Grit, resilience, and a competitive drive-comfortable hearing "no," pushing through obstacles, and staying focused on the win.
- Experience selling complex, multi-service or enterprise-level solutions, ideally in education, government, or other regulated environments.
- Strong business acumen with the ability to build ROI models, cost-benefit analyses, and compelling value propositions.
- Disciplined use of Salesforce or similar CRM tools to manage pipeline, forecast accurately, and execute sales plans.
- Executive presence, strong negotiation skills, and the ability to influence and collaborate across diverse, cross-functional teams.
Qualifications & RequirementsMinimum Education Requirement - Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Functional Experience - 7 years
