TASTE OF HEAVEN SALES & MARKETING MANAGER
Youth For Christ USA Inc., Kalamazoo, MI, United States
This position is part of the leadership team within Youth for Christ’s social enterprise: Taste of Heaven Gourmet Popcorn Shoppe.
The Sales and Marketing Associate is responsible for expanding the customer base of Taste of Heaven by developing creative strategies to secure new popcorn sales accounts, representing the brand at networking events, and identifying additional marketing opportunities. This role will also support the production team during peak seasons and will be cross‑trained in all aspects of production.
This position requires passion, creativity, flexibility, strong communication skills, and an understanding of the mission and purpose of Taste of Heaven. Relationship building and representing the heart of our ministry are essential to this role.
Sales and Marketing Responsibilities
Develop and implement strategic plans to increase popcorn sales through corporate, wholesale, and community partnerships
Identify, pursue, and secure new sales accounts through proactive outreach
Attend established networking groups and build new community relationships on behalf of Taste of Heaven
Represent the organization at trade shows, vendor fairs, and local events
Work collaboratively with the General Manager to design and implement seasonal and campaign‑based marketing strategies
Create and manage social media content and assist with email marketing campaigns
Maintain accurate records of sales leads, client interactions, and follow‑ups
Collaborate with production staff to align sales goals with inventory and production timelines
Provide excellent customer service and develop strong client relationships
Assist with retail sales and customer engagement in‑store as needed
Occasional evenings and weekends required
Production Support Responsibilities (Seasonal)
Cross‑trained in all areas of popcorn production to support during peak seasons (especially holidays)
Assist in packaging, order fulfillment, and shipping processes
Help maintain inventory and supply levels for production
Support the team to meet order deadlines and ensure a high‑quality product
Maintain a clean and organized production environment
Spiritual Responsibilities
Seek God’s guidance and wisdom, through prayer and meditation, for the organization as a whole as well as for specific ministry initiatives.
Participate and lead regular times of prayer, devotion and worship as a regular aspect of your role within YFC.
Teach and preach from the Holy Bible at YFC staff meetings, conferences, camps and events.
Model empathy, humility and care for all people. This includes promoting equity and inclusion in word and in the practice of faith expression. YFC employees will have an opportunity to be commissioned or licensed as a minister of the Gospel through the established Youth for Christ process, and/or ordained by an outside body recognized by Youth for Christ USA.
YFC Cultural Attributes
Our cultural attributes are not about competency. It is an obedience to the call of Christ on our lives. YFC believes that spiritually healthy adults foster healthy relationships with our kids. We place a heavy commitment and emphasis on developing and equipping a Christ-centered life marked by Enduring Humility, Relentless Trust, Joyful Camaraderie, Courageous Faithfulness and Kingdom-inspired Diversity. Our leaders are expected to be willing to demonstrate and/or possess the following:
Ability to humbly serve and honor others even in difficult situations with prayer, consistency, transparency, and resilience. (Enduring Humility)
Demonstrates proper reliance on God, others, and self through generous giving of time and skills, by collaboratively incorporating others’ ideas, welcoming candid input, recognizing others’ need for grace and extending forgiveness and empathy. (Relentless Trust)
Prioritizes others’ needs for a missional outcome, characterized by joy, with active listening and problem‑solving skills, while encouraging and empowering fellow believers. (Joyful Camaraderie)
Trusts God with new approaches and changes, and communicates needs and limits with emotional intelligence*, while seeking confidence and wisdom in Christ. (Courageous Faithfulness)
Seeks and fosters authentic Christ‑Centered relationships with people of various backgrounds and an inviting environment and empowers historically marginalized groups and indigenous populations (within the local context), through active listening, inclusion, advocacy of those who are vulnerable and respect of others’ experiences. (Kingdom Inspired Diversity)
Position Requirements
Knowledge & Skills
Strong organizational skills
Project management experience
Attention to detail
Multi-tasker with strong work ethic
Superior interpersonal skills
Creativity
Strong communication skills
Credentials Required & Preferred Education
A passion for building relationships and driving sales growth
Experience in sales, marketing, or community engagement is highly preferred
Ability to work independently and think creatively
Must feel a calling to work with youth and support the mission of Kalamazoo Youth for Christ
Must have a good record in working with children and youth; cannot be on the CPS Registry or the Sex Offender Registry
Must agree with and sign a statement of faith as a prerequisite of employment
EEO Statement
Youth For Christ (YFC) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, marital status, or other unlawful discriminatory characteristics in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
YFC is classified as an Association of Churches and as such our hiring practices reflect that designation. As a religious nonprofit organization, YFC incorporates within each leader role, the requirement to model, teach, share and live the faith. The relationship between YFC’s mission and each of its leaders is its lifeblood and as such does at all times and in all instances reserve the right to make employment decisions based upon a person’s religious beliefs, personal character and lifestyle consistent with our understanding of the Bible or with our overall goals and requirements for Christian ministry.
We seek to create a workplace that is intentional about Kingdom Inspired Diversity. Our commitment to our employees extends to their opportunities for growth, development, promotion, training and compensation.
We will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to the organization.
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The Sales and Marketing Associate is responsible for expanding the customer base of Taste of Heaven by developing creative strategies to secure new popcorn sales accounts, representing the brand at networking events, and identifying additional marketing opportunities. This role will also support the production team during peak seasons and will be cross‑trained in all aspects of production.
This position requires passion, creativity, flexibility, strong communication skills, and an understanding of the mission and purpose of Taste of Heaven. Relationship building and representing the heart of our ministry are essential to this role.
Sales and Marketing Responsibilities
Develop and implement strategic plans to increase popcorn sales through corporate, wholesale, and community partnerships
Identify, pursue, and secure new sales accounts through proactive outreach
Attend established networking groups and build new community relationships on behalf of Taste of Heaven
Represent the organization at trade shows, vendor fairs, and local events
Work collaboratively with the General Manager to design and implement seasonal and campaign‑based marketing strategies
Create and manage social media content and assist with email marketing campaigns
Maintain accurate records of sales leads, client interactions, and follow‑ups
Collaborate with production staff to align sales goals with inventory and production timelines
Provide excellent customer service and develop strong client relationships
Assist with retail sales and customer engagement in‑store as needed
Occasional evenings and weekends required
Production Support Responsibilities (Seasonal)
Cross‑trained in all areas of popcorn production to support during peak seasons (especially holidays)
Assist in packaging, order fulfillment, and shipping processes
Help maintain inventory and supply levels for production
Support the team to meet order deadlines and ensure a high‑quality product
Maintain a clean and organized production environment
Spiritual Responsibilities
Seek God’s guidance and wisdom, through prayer and meditation, for the organization as a whole as well as for specific ministry initiatives.
Participate and lead regular times of prayer, devotion and worship as a regular aspect of your role within YFC.
Teach and preach from the Holy Bible at YFC staff meetings, conferences, camps and events.
Model empathy, humility and care for all people. This includes promoting equity and inclusion in word and in the practice of faith expression. YFC employees will have an opportunity to be commissioned or licensed as a minister of the Gospel through the established Youth for Christ process, and/or ordained by an outside body recognized by Youth for Christ USA.
YFC Cultural Attributes
Our cultural attributes are not about competency. It is an obedience to the call of Christ on our lives. YFC believes that spiritually healthy adults foster healthy relationships with our kids. We place a heavy commitment and emphasis on developing and equipping a Christ-centered life marked by Enduring Humility, Relentless Trust, Joyful Camaraderie, Courageous Faithfulness and Kingdom-inspired Diversity. Our leaders are expected to be willing to demonstrate and/or possess the following:
Ability to humbly serve and honor others even in difficult situations with prayer, consistency, transparency, and resilience. (Enduring Humility)
Demonstrates proper reliance on God, others, and self through generous giving of time and skills, by collaboratively incorporating others’ ideas, welcoming candid input, recognizing others’ need for grace and extending forgiveness and empathy. (Relentless Trust)
Prioritizes others’ needs for a missional outcome, characterized by joy, with active listening and problem‑solving skills, while encouraging and empowering fellow believers. (Joyful Camaraderie)
Trusts God with new approaches and changes, and communicates needs and limits with emotional intelligence*, while seeking confidence and wisdom in Christ. (Courageous Faithfulness)
Seeks and fosters authentic Christ‑Centered relationships with people of various backgrounds and an inviting environment and empowers historically marginalized groups and indigenous populations (within the local context), through active listening, inclusion, advocacy of those who are vulnerable and respect of others’ experiences. (Kingdom Inspired Diversity)
Position Requirements
Knowledge & Skills
Strong organizational skills
Project management experience
Attention to detail
Multi-tasker with strong work ethic
Superior interpersonal skills
Creativity
Strong communication skills
Credentials Required & Preferred Education
A passion for building relationships and driving sales growth
Experience in sales, marketing, or community engagement is highly preferred
Ability to work independently and think creatively
Must feel a calling to work with youth and support the mission of Kalamazoo Youth for Christ
Must have a good record in working with children and youth; cannot be on the CPS Registry or the Sex Offender Registry
Must agree with and sign a statement of faith as a prerequisite of employment
EEO Statement
Youth For Christ (YFC) provides equal employment opportunities (EEO) employees and applicants for employment without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, age, handicap, marital status, or other unlawful discriminatory characteristics in accordance with applicable federal, state and local laws.
YFC is classified as an Association of Churches and as such our hiring practices reflect that designation. As a religious nonprofit organization, YFC incorporates within each leader role, the requirement to model, teach, share and live the faith. The relationship between YFC’s mission and each of its leaders is its lifeblood and as such does at all times and in all instances reserve the right to make employment decisions based upon a person’s religious beliefs, personal character and lifestyle consistent with our understanding of the Bible or with our overall goals and requirements for Christian ministry.
We seek to create a workplace that is intentional about Kingdom Inspired Diversity. Our commitment to our employees extends to their opportunities for growth, development, promotion, training and compensation.
We will make reasonable accommodation for qualified individuals with known disabilities, unless doing so would result in an undue hardship to the organization.
#J-18808-Ljbffr