Director of Industry Engagement

The Director of Industry Engagement at Afresh is tasked with cultivating relationships with industry associations, grocery executives, and media outlets. This role involves attending industry events, developing engagement strategies, sharing insights with internal teams, and identifying opportunities to position Afresh as a leader in the grocery technology sector.

Candidates for the Director of Industry Engagement should have at least 10 years of experience in grocery retail or grocery technology, with a focus on marketing, merchandising, or operations. A strong understanding of the grocery industry landscape, excellent networking skills, and the ability to collaborate with cross-functional teams are essential for this position.

The Director of Industry Engagement works closely with the Sales team at Afresh by building relationships with key customers and preparing the team for successful engagements at industry events. This support enhances pipeline growth and helps facilitate deal closures while aligning the team with the insights gained from industry relations.

Afresh is dedicated to reducing food waste and making fresh food accessible. Through innovative AI solutions, the company has prevented millions of pounds of food from going to waste, while also helping grocery retailers optimize their operations and provide fresher produce at lower prices.

At Afresh, the culture is characterized by values of proactivity, kindness, candor, and humility. Employees enjoy a remote work environment that promotes inclusivity and diversity, allowing team members to collaborate effectively while having a meaningful impact on the grocery industry and the planet.

When answering this question, highlight specific examples from your past roles where you've successfully cultivated partnerships, attended relevant events, or promoted thought leadership within the grocery industry. Emphasize your ability to build relationships and understand market trends.

Mention the strategies you use to keep abreast of industry developments, such as reading trade publications, following industry leaders on social media, and attending conferences or webinars. This demonstrates your proactive nature and commitment to industry engagement.

Discuss your approach to identifying key partnerships, leveraging industry events, and developing targeted content that resonates with potential customers. Mention collaboration with internal teams to align marketing strategies and messaging.

Detail your networking skills and strategies for engaging association members. Share past experiences where you've effectively built rapport and trust with industry groups and the resulting impact on organizational goals.

Talk about specific KPIs such as lead generation, partnership growth, event attendance, and media coverage. Highlight your analytical skills and past experiences in reporting the success of such initiatives.

Use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action, Result) to outline the scenario and your response. Focus on problem-solving skills and your ability to learn from challenges to improve future engagement efforts.

Explain your process for evaluating requests based on strategic importance and urgency. Mention any experience using project management tools to keep track of priorities and deadlines.

Share details about the event planning process, including partnership cultivation, logistics organization, and promotion strategies. Highlight the outcomes and how they contributed to the company's objectives.

Discuss how storytelling can create a connection with your audience, infusing your communication with personal anecdotes or case studies. Mention your approach to crafting compelling narratives that highlight Afresh’s mission and impact.

Provide examples of past collaborative work with Sales, Marketing, and other teams to launch effective industry campaigns or initiatives. Demonstrate your ability to communicate and align objectives across departments.