Vice President, Strategic Growth in Detroit, Michigan at Quest Food Mangement TL

Position Summary

The Vice President, Strategic Growth is responsible for driving profitable, sustainable growth for Quest Food Management Services through the development of new client partnerships and strategic expansion within priority markets.

This position will initially focus on Quest’s Education business, with Michigan serving as the initial priority market. The Vice President, Strategic Growth will build senior-level relationships, cultivate opportunities well in advance of formal procurement processes, lead strategic pursuits, and strengthen Quest’s presence and influence within priority markets. As Quest’s priorities evolve, the scope of the role may expand into additional markets, geographies, or strategic opportunities.

As a senior member of the Growth organization, this role is expected to think beyond individual opportunities and help shape Quest’s broader growth strategy, market approach, and sales discipline. Following the transition of new partnerships to Operations, the Vice President, Strategic Growth will remain strategically engaged with key client relationships to support retention, expansion, and long-term partnership value.

Essential Duties & Responsibilities

• Develop and execute growth strategies within priority markets, with Michigan serving as the initial focus.
• Build and steward senior-level relationships with school district leaders, consultants, industry partners, market influencers, and other key decision-makers.
• Identify, qualify, and prioritize new business opportunities aligned with Quest’s strategic, operational, and financial objectives.
• Develop strategic account and pursuit plans, including relationship mapping, competitive intelligence, stakeholder engagement, and opportunity strategy.
• Maintain a healthy, qualified pipeline and provide clear visibility into opportunity status, risks, next steps, and expected timing.
• Lead complex and strategically important pursuits in partnership with Operations, Culinary, Marketing, Finance, Human Resources, and other functional leaders.
• Represent Quest in discovery meetings, presentations, site visits, negotiations, industry associations, conferences, and other strategic forums.
• Partner with Marketing and Operations to strengthen Quest’s position in priority markets and ensure commitments made during the sales process are executable.
• Support the successful transition of new partnerships into Operations while maintaining strategic connectivity with key clients and identifying future growth opportunities.
• Partner with the Chief Growth Officer to advance Quest’s enterprise growth strategy, market prioritization, relationship development, opportunity qualification, and pursuit discipline.
• Serve as a senior resource and thought partner to the Growth team, sharing market insight, relationship strategy, and sales expertise that strengthen collective performance.
• Perform other duties and responsibilities as assigned.

Job Requirements & Specifications

• Bachelor’s degree in business, marketing, hospitality, foodservice management, or a related field preferred; equivalent professional experience will be considered.
• Minimum of 10 years of progressive experience in sales, business development, strategic growth, account development, or a related field.
• Experience within K-12 education, contract foodservice, hospitality, or a related service industry strongly preferred.
• Demonstrated success developing senior-level relationships and converting those relationships into meaningful business opportunities.
• Strong strategic thinking skills with the ability to evaluate markets, prioritize opportunities, and lead complex, consultative sales processes.
• Strong executive presence and highly effective written, verbal, presentation, and interpersonal communication skills.
• Highly self-directed, organized, and accountable, with the ability to manage multiple priorities and opportunities simultaneously.
• Comfortable operating in an entrepreneurial, growth-oriented environment where roles and strategies continue to evolve.
• Ability and willingness to travel frequently throughout priority markets and periodically to other Quest locations, client sites, and company meetings.

Measures of Success

Success in this role will be reflected through:

• Expansion of Quest’s presence, reputation, and strategic relationships within priority markets.
• Creation and advancement of a healthy, qualified pipeline of new business opportunities.
• Successful conversion of targeted opportunities into profitable new client partnerships.
• Strong collaboration across Growth, Operations, Marketing, and other internal partners.
• Effective transition of newly awarded partnerships into Operations while maintaining appropriate strategic connectivity.
• Meaningful contribution to Quest’s broader growth strategy, capabilities, and sales discipline.