Director of Sales, Business Development

About us:

The Galilee Culinary Institute by Jewish National Fund-USA (GCI) is a first-of-its-kind, total-immersion culinary institution located in the heart of Israel's Galilee, in Kibbutz Gonen. Nestled in a unique micro-climate where fertile farmland, mountains, and rivers converge, the region is poised to become Israel's premier hub for agriculture, tourism, and food innovation—on par with destinations like Tuscany and Napa Valley. GCI serves as a catalyst for population growth, regional development, and narrative change throughout the Upper Eastern Galilee.

GCI brings together an unprecedented mix of culinary education, hospitality experiences, and community impact under one roof. Our campus includes a culinary school, café, bakery, beer brewery, wine shop and tasting room, gift shop, outdoor event venues, and dedicated spaces for corporate experiences. We offer daily cooking programs, farm-to-table activities, and a state-of-the-art culinary broadcast studio.

In addition to academic excellence, GCI is built upon deep collaborations with Tel-Hai College, MIGAL Galilee Research Institute, and Margalit Startup City Kiryat Shmona, fostering innovation in food technology, agriculture, research, and entrepreneurship. The institute also serves as a hub for tourism, marketing, public relations, business and operations management, partnerships, and fundraising.

GCI is committed to community enrichment through programs for children, seniors, individuals in therapy, and multicultural initiatives. Together, our culinary, agricultural, and educational platforms shape a vibrant ecosystem that positions the Upper Eastern Galilee as the emerging culinary and food-tech capital of Israel.

Position Summary:

The Director of Business Development, Sales & Marketing will lead the strategic growth and overall scheduling of GCI through the expansion of partnerships, business opportunities, tourism development and create revenue-generating initiatives. This role combines entrepreneurial vision with strategic marketing leadership, organizational skills — driving collaboration, sales, and brand positioning in the fields of tourist culinary education, hospitality, and tourism, all guided by clear KPIs.

The ideal candidate is both a strategic thinker and a hands-on operator who can identify and execute business opportunities, cultivate strong relationships, help develop point of sales platforms and translate GCI's mission into measurable financial growth with a limited staff.

Location: Galilee Culinary Institute, Kibbutz Gonen, Israel- Full-time, onsite (not hybrid).

Key Responsibilities:

1. Business Development & Strategic Growth

• Identify, develop, and manage new business opportunities including partnerships, culinary programs, events, tourism initiatives, tour operator relationships, and hospitality offerings, as well as develop scheduling and operations needs.
• Build strategic collaborations with corporate clients, educational institutions, culinary brands, and tourism operators to expand GCI's visibility, reputation, income and impact.
• Lead initiatives that drive financial sustainability and long-term growth and use of point of sales and scheduling platform for the Institute through innovative, revenue-generating strategies.
• Represent GCI at industry forums, conferences, and events to promote the brand and cultivate new networks and partnerships.
• Report regularly to senior leadership on progress, opportunities, KPIs, and measurable business outcomes.

2. Sales Leadership

• Design and implement comprehensive sales strategies to achieve enrollment, events, and partnership revenue goals.
• Develop and manage sales channels for GCI programs, culinary events, workshops, and facility rentals.
• Build and manage relationships with prospective partners, clients, and institutional collaborators, converting leads into long-term engagements.
• Establish and track performance metrics (KPIs) to evaluate sales effectiveness and monitor progress against growth targets.
• Collaborate closely with academic, operations, and hospitality teams to ensure a seamless, high-quality experience for clients, students, and guests from initial inquiry through program delivery

3. Partnerships & External Relations

• Cultivate and manage partnerships with tourism bodies, culinary organizations, and regional stakeholders to strengthen GCI's ecosystem.
• Develop co-branded initiatives that promote mutual value and broaden GCI's exposure nationally and internationally.
• Support community engagement and local collaborations to integrate GCI into the regional fabric of the Galilee.

4. Marketing, Branding & Communications

• Work in partnership with Jewish National Fund marketing platform on all aspects of marketing, branding, and public relations to ensure consistent positioning of GCI and Jewish National Fund as a premier global destination for culinary education and immersive food experiences.
• Manage departmental budgets and allocate resources.
• Build and scale a comprehensive marketing infrastructure.
• Develop integrated marketing campaigns that effectively promote GCI's programs, culinary offerings, hospitality experiences, and events to targeted audiences.
• Direct digital marketing, content development, and social media strategy to drive engagement, lead generation, and conversion across platforms.
• Manage external partners, agencies, and vendors, ensuring creative excellence, strong ROI, and alignment with broader sales and growth objectives.
• Analyze market trends, competitor activity, and performance metrics to inform strategic decisions and optimize marketing effectiveness.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in business, Marketing, Hospitality, or a related field (Master's preferred).
• 5+ years of experience in business development, sales, or marketing — ideally within hospitality, culinary, education, or tourism sectors.
• Proven track record of identifying, negotiating, and executing strategic partnerships.
• Strong understanding of marketing and digital tools for lead generation and conversion.
• Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills; able to represent GCI professionally across diverse audiences.
• Entrepreneurial mindset, creativity, and a passion for culinary innovation and education.
• Bilingual English/Hebrew