Vice President, Client Solutions and Experience (70309772)

The Vice-President, Client Solutions and Experience shapes Sodexo Canada’s food and FM services business for the future by translating client priorities, consumer expectations and market trends into innovative and integrated solutions. Reporting to the Chief Executive Officer, the role serves as the enterprise bridge between Sales, Client Growth and Operations, bringing together Marketing, Culinary, Nutrition, Facilities Management, experience design, digital platforms and offer development. The Vice President leads solution development for priority new-business pursuits, renewals and strategic account-growth opportunities, ensuring solutions are commercially compelling, operationally viable and scalable. The Vice-President ensures that Sodexo’s global programs, brands and expertise are adapted to the Canadian market and tailored to meet clients’ operational, commercial and sustainability objectives. The role adapts Sodexo’s global programs, brands and expertise to the Canadian market and to clients’ operational, commercial and sustainability objectives. The Vice President works directly with clients through discovery sessions, solution workshops, presentations and negotiations to define what it will take to win and deliver sustained value. The role also leads a multidisciplinary team committed to strong client partnerships, consumer-centric thinking and continuous innovation.

How You'll Make an Impact:

Marketing, Brand & Offer Strategy & Execution

• Set and execute the national marketing and offer strategy across Corporate, Campus, Healthcare, Senior Living, Energy & Resources and other business segments.
• Translate market, client and consumer needs into differentiated value propositions, offers and activation plans; protect brand equity and ensure consistent positioning.
• Lead localization and deployment of global programs and brands, including Kitchen Works and Modern Recipe, and optimize partnerships with external retail brands
• Oversee operational marketing plans, campaigns, promotional builds and service activation, with clear guides, training materials, standard operating procedures and implementation governance.
• Create consistent yet locally adaptable consumer experiences, including menu assortment, ranging, mix, pricing and digital touchpoints.
• Partner with segment and operations leaders to ensure new and existing offers can be executed consistently at site level.

Facilities, Culinary Strategy, Product Development & Innovation

• Lead the national menu and culinary strategy, culinary research and development, ingredient and recipe innovation, methods of production and food presentation standards.
• Develop scalable products, services and advanced food models that improve quality, productivity, profitability and competitive differentiation.
• Embed sustainability, wellness, plant-based growth and food-waste reduction commitments in culinary solutions and central menus.
• Lead and develop soft and hard Facilities Management development, expertise and innovation, leveraging Sodexo’s global expertise and shaping local trends.

Nutrition, Menu Governance & Food Systems

• Provide national leadership for nutrition and dietetics across retail, patient/resident dining, campus residents and other applicable services.
• Govern ingredient, recipe, allergen, menu, costing and nutrition information to ensure accuracy, compliance, quality and alignment with approved vendor items.
• Lead the strategic roadmap, deployment, adoption and ongoing support of NetMenu and related food-management platforms, including alignment with CBORD and downstream systems.

Client Solutions, Commercial Growth & Retention

• Lead solution development for priority acquisitions, renewals, competitive rebids and strategic account-growth opportunities in partnership with Sales, Client Growth and Operations.
• Engage directly with clients through discovery sessions, solution workshops, presentations and negotiations, translating their priorities into differentiated value propositions and offers.
• Own the solution architecture for priority opportunities, coordinating subject-matter expertise and defining the operating model, capabilities, technology, resources and implementation requirements needed to win and deliver.
• Partner with Finance, Supply Management and Operations to confirm commercial viability, operational feasibility, profitability and delivery commitments before solutions are presented to clients.
• Partner with Client Growth and Operations to develop solution and experience roadmaps for strategic accounts, using client feedback, consumer insights and performance data to strengthen retention, expand services and increase account value.
• Ensure a disciplined handoff of approved solutions and client commitments into mobilization and operational delivery, with early validation against the agreed solution.

Insights, Digital Enablement & Performance

• Establish an insights-led approach to marketing and food-service decisions using consumer, client, competitive, financial and operational data.
• Define performance indicators and reporting for campaigns, menus, platforms, sustainability commitments, consumer experience and return on investment.\
• Leverage digital tools, emerging technologies and Sodexo’s global marketing and food-service network to accelerate innovation and share best practices.

Qualifications

What You'll Need to Succeed:

Education

• Bachelor’s degree in Marketing, Business Administration, Hospitality, Food Science, Culinary Arts, Nutrition or a related discipline.
• Graduate degree preferred. Equivalent education and relevant executive experience may be considered.

Functional Experience

• Minimum12 years of progressive experience in client solutions, marketing, food services, hospitality, facilities management, service experience or a related field.
• Demonstrated experience developing and deploying complex national B2B solutions and engaging senior client stakeholders.
• Experience supporting new-business pursuits, renewals and strategic account growth in a contract-services or multi-site environment preferred.

Leadership, Supervisory, and/or Managerial Experience

• Minimum 7 years of senior leadership experience, including leading multidisciplinary teams and influencing complex, matrixed organizations.
• Proven ability to establish governance, set priorities, manage change and deliver through cross-functional stakeholders.

Certification(s)

• Culinary, dietetic, food safety, project management, facilities management or marketing credentials are assets.

Technical Skills

• Advanced proficiency in marketing and consumer analytics, business-case development, digital marketing and food/menu management platforms.
• Strong proficiency with Microsoft 365 and reporting/visualization tools.
• Experience with NetMenu, CBORD or comparable systems is an asset.

Other Minimum Qualifications

• Enterprise-level strategic thinking, strong commercial and financial acumen, executive presence, and exceptional written, verbal and presentation skills.
• Demonstrated innovation, change leadership and stakeholder influence, with the ability to balance creativity with disciplined execution, compliance and operational practicality.

Travel

• Ability to travel nationally across Canada up to approximately 50%, depending on business needs.
• Occasional international travel may be required.

Language(s)

• English proficiency required. French–English bilingualism is a strong asset

Additional Information

What Makes Sodexo Different:

Working with Sodexo is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater because we believe our everyday actions have a big impact. You belong  in a company that allows you to act with purpose and thrive in your own way. In addition, we offer:

• Flexible work environment  
• Competitive compensation & great employee benefits 
• Training and development programs  
• Countless opportunities for growth  
• Corporate responsibility & sustainability  
• An award-winning employer for Sustainability, Diversity & Inclusion, Corporate Social Responsibility, and much more. View Sodexo’s latest awards here
• And so much more!     

Sodexo is committed to Employment Equity and Diversity. We do not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment because of national origin, race, religion, ethnic group, age, disability, gender, sexual preference, sexual or gender identity, status as a veteran or any other federal, provincial or local protected class.  

We welcome and encourage applications from people with disabilities. Accommodation is available on request from candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.  

Sodexo is committed to providing a safe and healthy working environment for our team members, customers, clients, contractors, business partners, guests, and members of the public with whom we regularly interact. We require that all new hires in hospitals, long term care facilities, and senior homes to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 and may require any other new hires to be fully vaccinated based on the location and scope of their employment.

Thank you for your interest in Sodexo.

Please note that only those candidates under consideration will be contacted. 

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