Job Summary

The Group Sales and Catering Director will be responsible for managing the overall event sales lifecycle of catering events at the United Center to meet and exceed established annual sales revenue goals. The ideal candidate will be an experienced and driven sales professional-able to collaborate with a range of stakeholders.

Detailed Responsibilities

• Functions as the business leader of the locations' catering sales department managing the locations' reactive catering sales efforts in an effort to jointly secure and maximize catering sales revenue
• Oversee banquet management team of two salaried managers and one hourly supervisor who are responsible for catering operations
• Ensure smooth transition and communication with location partner teams to execute positive client experience
• Work closely with the building partner to identify win-win opportunities and areas for collaboration
• Ability to analyze sales trends, client's needs, and wants to enhance overall event experience
• Maintains successful performance by increasing revenues, controlling expenses and providing a return on investment for the location partner
• Promptly responding to all client correspondence, phone and email, including initial inquiry correspondence, proposal development, and all follow up as necessary to secure business
• Negotiate with clients through the use of creative and attractive menu presentations and event proposals, to achieve both maximum revenue/profit potential and fulfillment of contractual responsibilities while satisfying client needs
• Working closely with the culinary and operations team to develop menus and staffing bids to "WOW" clients and guests while simultaneously maintaining operational feasibility, cost effectiveness, and event appropriateness for venue facilities
• Completing tours with prospective clients and work with the venue or client to create floorplans
• Creating Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) and catering agreements in appropriate system and submitting for client signature in accordance with venue deadlines
• Manage client relationship to set expectations and drive positive event experience
• handling client billing to ensure accurate and timely payment of deposits and final payments
• Sending thank you notes to clients or follow-up with request for future business
• Solicits event feedback and compiles opportunities for improvement and event experience
• Attending management meetings and partnering with all management stakeholders to ensure the timely fulfillment of group sales contracts
• Manages event communication to appropriate stakeholders including, but not limited to, event files for use by operations, schedule of events, and final BEOs
• Facilitating weekly BEO meetings with operations and culinary to ensure everyone is aligned on event expectations
• Collects end of night feedback from operations team to include in event recap documentation
• Completing maintenance and client-up of processes in the infor/Reserve system
• Inspecting event setups to ensure they match the banquet event order
• Other duties as assigned

Skills and Experience

• 5+ years in a Catering Sales management role
• Hospitality or Business Degree is preferred
• Experience working on major events
• Successful candidate