Head of Sales, UPSIDE Foods
$150-300k
+Stock options
Office located in Berkeley, CA
Cell-cultured meat producer
Open for applications
Cell-cultured meat producer
201-500 employees
Open for applications
$150-300k
+Stock options
Office located in Berkeley, CA
201-500 employees
Company mission
To make meat a force for good in the world.
Role
Who you are
- An experienced sales leader with a proven track record of selling food or food-adjacent products into foodservice and away from home channels
- A creative problem solver that loves a challenge and is excited to apply their deep sales experience to helping build a market and following for a new-to-the-world product and category
- A food-service industry “insider” that is well positioned and networked and has contacts into key foodservice establishments - from mid-to-large scale - and can also flex into the retail world that has experience working with big and small brands
- A strategic storyteller that can find win-wins, develop the right positioning and sell story, and inspire customers to join us on a journey to transform the food system - not just to place an order
- A collaborator and people person with high EQ that can partner closely with internal stakeholders - like brand, marketing, product, finance - and build and maintain strong relationships externally… that isn’t intimidated by science and technology
- A proven enterprise leader that can cast an inspiring vision, elevate the voice of the customer with internal stakeholders and leadership, coach and develop a team to deliver their best work, and be willing to pull up their sleeves
- In addition to the above, you’re an energetic leader with 15+ years of experience; exceptional communication, leadership, and problem-solving skills; a passion for excellence and a strong sense of urgency; and a team builder who wants to have fun at work while working hard to change the world
- 15+ years of relevant experience in senior roles in sales, preferably spanning start-up and larger organizations through periods of significant growth in a consumer branded field. Track record of closing deals in new categories
- Ability to operate at both a strategic and execution level– have a startup mindset
- High financial and commercial acumen - prior P&L ownership, strong command of data analysis and insight generation
- Experience / comfort with science and technology
- Worked on enduring consumer brands (versus B2B) and know how to set a brand apart in a cluttered, otherwise-commoditized category. Experience in luxury, fashion, food, cosmetics, consumer tech or similar fields
- Exceptional communication, negotiation, and interpersonal skills
- Strong intuition and gut balanced with a love for insights and data-driven decision making
- Proven strategic thinking and problem solving capabilities
- Superior organizational skills, attention to detail, strong work ethic, and high degree of urgency
- Ability to manage competing priorities and points of view and drive towards deadlines and outcomes
- Love working at multiple levels - from strategic, long-term to engaging in the details
- A great team leader and coach who is eager to roll up your sleeves and build a team that can have fun while working hard to change the world
- High level of interpersonal maturity, poise and professionalism
- Thrive in dynamic, ambiguous environments with evolving responsibilities; growth mindset and highly flexible and adaptable
What the job involves
- The Head of Sales will be responsible for developing and executing foodservice sales strategies that build UPSIDE’s foundation for sustainable growth
- This role requires a dynamic leader with a proven track record of building and managing high-performing sales teams, fostering strong customer relationships, and achieving ambitious sales and offtake targets
- We’re doing something the world has never seen before
- And we’re looking for an extraordinary individual to join us on this journey and help bring cultivated meat to the world in our newly created sales leadership role
- Strategy: Refine and execute against a comprehensive sales strategy - starting with foodservice, but also including D2C and retail as it makes sense - that is aligned with company goals and market trends
- Sales Management: Primary owner of the sales pipeline for mid-to-large-scale chains, from filling the pipeline with credible leads to moving prospects through the pipeline
- Customer Engagement: Cultivate and maintain relationships with key clients and stakeholders to win customers and maintain high satisfaction, retention, and evangelism
- Market Analysis: Conduct market research and competitive analysis to identify new opportunities and stay ahead of industry trends, and identify prime targets
- Collaboration: Work closely with brand and marketing, product development, and other departments to align sales efforts with overall business objectives
- Budget Management: Develop and manage the sales budget, ensuring effective allocation of resources to maximize ROI
- Performance Improvement: Continuously evaluate sales processes and implement best practices to enhance team performance and efficiency
- This role will report directly to the Chief Operating Officer
- You’ll have a team of one (existing business development manager)
- You’ll work directly and closely with our Chief Operating Officer and interact regularly with our Leadership team and Directors across the organization
- Help sell-out our plant capacity that is coming online in H2 2025, with customers that are brand accretive and help tell our overall UPSIDE story - and that can also help us scale to the next level
- Build out our long-term sales strategy
Our take
Upside Food, previously knowns as Memphis Meats, is actively addressing the growing societal demand for ethical meat production through the cultivation of its own meat products. The company's approach not only ensures delicious offerings but also contributes to improving animal welfare and reducing environmental impact in the food industry.
With a wide range of cultivated meat products that closely mimic their traditional counterparts, Upside Food is capitalizing on the rapidly expanding market for meat alternatives, which is experiencing a remarkable annual growth rate of approximately 36%. Although North America stands as the fastest-growing demographic in this domain, the global market for ethical meat is projected to surpass $8B by 2025.
By catering to the preferences of meat enthusiasts with diverse cultivated meat options, Upsaide Food effectively minimizes its carbon footprint compared to conventional meat producers.
Kirsty
Company Specialist at Welcome to the Jungle
Insights
38% employee growth in 12 months
Company
Funding (last 2 of 6 rounds)
Apr 2022
$400m
SERIES C
Jan 2020
$161m
SERIES B
Total funding: $581.1m
Company benefits
- Stock options for all full-time incoming team members!
- 90-100% employer-paid healthcare premiums for team members (medical [including HSA and FSA], dental, and vision)
- Pet insurance for your furry family members!
- Unlimited PTO
- DE&I (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) Council and People Engagement Programs
- Company-sponsored learning & development opportunities
Company HQ
Southwest Berkeley, Berkeley, CA
Articles
Leadership
Uma Valeti, MD
(CEO)Cardiovascular Doctor by training. Professor at the University of Minnesota and Stanford before founding Upside Foods in 2016.
Salary benchmarks
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