Vice President, Business Development (Sodexo Live Airport Lounges)

Sodexo Live! is seeking a dynamic and results-driven Vice President of Business Development to lead sales and business development activities within Sodexo Live! Airport Lounges, North America. Reporting directly to the Senior Vice President Global Sales - Airport Lounges. This leader will drive strategic initiatives, develop innovative Go-to-Market (GTM) strategies to achieve and exceed economic and commercial performance targets. The role will be pivotal in shaping the segment's growth trajectory by cultivating client relationships, driving strategic bids, and ensuring alignment with business objectives.

This is a remote position with 50% travel. The successful candidate must reside near a major airport.

Key Responsibilities

Strategic Leadership:

• Advise on strategies to achieve profitable growth through business development efforts.
• Collaborate with sales and marketing leadership to develop and execute a comprehensive Go-to-Market strategy.

Business Development Execution:

• Establish and implement a robust business development approach to penetrate key markets and specialties.
• Develop sales strategies and objectives, ensuring efficient resource allocation across regions and technical areas.
• Drive strategic prospecting and bidding processes for high-impact deals, leveraging technical expertise in the airline industry and hospitality.

Performance and Accountability:

• Define and achieve measurable growth targets aligned with the segment’s objectives.
• Monitor and track sales performance, ensuring consistent adherence to established sales processes and standards.
• Manage Sales Operations budgets, ensuring strategic allocation and effective utilization of resources.

Cross-Functional Collaboration:

• Partner with Operations, Marketing and Strategy teams to refine the offer portfolio and enhance segment GTM strategies.
• Facilitate collaboration across functions and teams to ensure a unified focus on sales goals and client success.
• Serve as a strategic advisor, ensuring alignment between client expectations, competitive dynamics, and internal capabilities.

Market and Client Insights:

• Maintain a deep understanding of market trends and competitor activities to provide a competitive edge in business development efforts.
• Contribute to the development of strategic accounts, offering expertise and solutions tailored to client requirements.

Compensation 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.

Key Attributes:

• Expertise in sales processes, strategy development, and value articulation.
• Strong technical acumen, with the ability to translate technical solutions into client-focused value propositions.
• Exceptional communication and interpersonal skills, with the ability to engage and influence senior stakeholders.
• Direct sales and operational experience in the airline industry, luxury / premium hospitality or related sectors is highly desirable.

Experience:

• Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration, Marketing, or a related field (MBA preferred).
• 10+ years of experience in business development, sales leadership, or related roles, with a strong track record of achieving growth targets.
• Demonstrated success in managing complex sales cycles and large-scale strategic bids.
• Familiarity with airline industry standards and regulatory requirements is a plus.

At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better everyday for everyone and build a better life for all. We believe in improving the quality of life for those we serve and contributing to the economic, social, and environmental progress in the communities where we operate. Sodexo partners with clients to provide a truly memorable experience for both customers and employees alike. We do this by providing food service, catering, facilities management, and other integrated solutions worldwide.

Our company values you for you; you will be treated fairly and with respect, and you can be yourself. You will have your ideas count and your opinions heard because we can be a stronger team when you’re happy at work. This is why we embrace diversity and inclusion as core values, fostering an environment where all employees are valued and respected. We are committed to providing equal employment opportunities to individuals regardless of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender identity, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, military status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. If you need assistance with the application process, please complete this form.

Minimum Education Requirement: Bachelors Degree or equivalent experience
Minimum Management Experience: 10 years
Minimum Functional Experience: 10 years