Director of Partnerships

About Company:

For over 40 years, Quest Food Management Services has been a leading food service provider serving K-12 schools, higher education institutions, corporate dining programs, and event venues. Quest is consistently ranked among the top food service management companies in the United States for its commitment to fresh, scratch made menus, local sourcing, and intensely personal service. At the heart of our success is our "Quest Ready" culture, built on integrity, responsiveness, accountability, respect, and excellence.

Being Quest Ready means serving with purpose and care, creating experiences that are nourishing, welcoming, and reliable. This mindset empowers our teams to build lasting relationships and continually raise the standard for great hospitality in every community we serve.

About the Role:

Serve as the senior partnership lead for Illinois K-12 accounts, leveraging prior district leadership experience (retired superintendent preferred) to drive new district acquisitions, support RFP responses, and ensure effective post-sale implementation and account retention. Acts as the company's primary K-12 relationship builder and a secondary day-to-day contact behind the Operations Team.

Key Responsibilities:

• Territory Strategy & Business Development

• Develop and execute territory sales plans to pursue and secure district contracts and respond to RFPs.

• Identify target districts, prioritize opportunities, and coordinate pursuit efforts with Sales and Marketing.

• District Relationship Management

• Establish and sustain trusted relationships with superintendents, assistant superintendents, principals, and food-service directors.

• Represent the company at district leadership meetings, board presentations, RFP briefings, and community events.

• Serve as Quest's primary representative in the Illinois Association of School Business Officials (IASBO), Illinois Association of School Administrators (IASA) and Illinois Association of School Boards (IASB) and other education management associations. Frequent presence at these association meetings, conferences and events is required.

• Account Handoffs & Ongoing Support

• Serve as the secondary point of contact for district stakeholders; support the Operations Team in ongoing communication, escalations, and service improvement.

• Ensure smooth transition from sale to implementation, coordinating internal teams and confirming district readiness.

• Voice of the Customer

• Gather district feedback, identify needs and pain points, and translate insights into product/service improvements and proposals.

• Coach internal teams on district decision-making processes, procurement timelines, and stakeholder priorities.

• Cross‑Functional Collaboration

• Work closely with Operations, Finance, Nutrition, Marketing, and HR to align ongoing relationship management with existing clients.

• Support proposal development, pricing strategy, and contract negotiations as needed.

• Strategic & Enterprise Support

• Contribute to enterprise initiatives (organizational strategy, HR strategy, etc.) when assigned by leadership.

Experience & Qualifications:

• Retired school administrator preferred or equivalent K-12 sales or leadership experience in Illinois.
• Demonstrated experience with district-level procurement, RFPs, board presentations, and contract negotiation.
• Strong relationships within Illinois K-12 system and familiarity with regional agencies, funding, and procurement rules.
• Proven ability to influence district decision-makers and navigate complex stakeholder environments.
• Excellent communicator and presenter; collaborative cross‑functional leader.
• Ability to travel extensively across the territory and attend evening or weekend meetings as required.
• Bachelor's degree required.
• Valid driver's license.

Compensation & Logistics:

• Position is salaried, exempt. Eligible for performance-based incentives tied to new business and retention goals.
• Company-provided travel expense reimbursement and standard employee benefits.
• Auto Allowance, Commission and Bonus eligible

Territory-based schedule; remote work supported when not on-site.

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