Catering Sales Executive / Event Designer

Corcoran Caterers; Silver Spring (MD); On-site; USD 60,000 - 120,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health and dental benefits

Paid time off

401(k) program

Established client base

Job summary

Corcoran Caterers is seeking an experienced, relationship-driven Catering Sales Executive / Event Designer to join our sales team. This role emphasizes developing new business, building long-term client relationships, and delivering memorable events from inquiry to execution.

The ideal candidate combines sales instincts with knowledge of food, hospitality, and event production. Requires ability to manage multiple opportunities and collaborate with culinary and operations teams to drive revenue.

Qualifications

• 3–5 years of catering, hospitality, event, venue, or related sales experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to generate new business and grow revenue.
• Excellent relationship-building and client-service skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage a portfolio of corporate, social, nonprofit, wedding, and special-event clients.
• Prospect for new business through networking, referrals, outreach, venue relationships, and other activities.
• Respond to inquiries and convert leads into booked events.
• Meet with clients to understand vision, priorities, budget, and event requirements.
• Create customized proposals, menus, service plans, and event concepts.
• Negotiate pricing and contract terms while protecting profitability.
• Maintain follow-up with prospects and clients.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue through event services.

Skills

Sales experience

Relationship-building

Negotiation skills

Communication skills

CRM proficiency

Tools

CRM software

Event management tools

Proposal software

Job description

Corcoran Caterers is seeking an experienced, relationship-driven Catering Sales Executive / Event Designer to join our sales team. This is an opportunity for a hospitality sales professional who enjoys developing new business, building long-term client relationships, and creating memorable events from the initial inquiry through final execution.

We are looking for someone who combines strong sales instincts with a genuine understanding of food, hospitality, and event production. The ideal candidate is comfortable prospecting for new business, developing creative proposals, guiding clients through the planning process, and collaborating closely with culinary, operations, staffing, and other internal teams to deliver exceptional events.

This is a sales position first. Success will be measured not only by excellent client service, but also by the ability to generate revenue, develop new accounts, retain existing clients, and grow a profitable book of business.

What You\'ll Do

• Develop and manage a portfolio of corporate, social, nonprofit, wedding, and special-event clients.
• Prospect for new business through networking, referrals, outreach, venue relationships, and other business-development activities.
• Respond to incoming inquiries and convert qualified leads into booked events.
• Meet with clients to understand their vision, priorities, budget, and event requirements.
• Create thoughtful, customized proposals, menus, service plans, and event concepts.
• Conduct site visits, tastings, planning meetings, and client presentations.
• Negotiate pricing and contract terms while protecting company profitability.
• Maintain consistent follow-up with prospects and existing clients.
• Identify opportunities to increase revenue through menu enhancements, beverage service, equipment rentals, staffing, and other event services.
• Prepare accurate contracts, event orders, timelines, and other event documentation.
• Communicate event details clearly to culinary, operations, staffing, and production teams.
• Participate in internal event-review and production meetings.
• Maintain strong relationships with venues, planners, vendors, and industry partners throughout the Washington, DC market.
• Stay current on food, beverage, hospitality, design, and event-industry trends.
• Achieve individual sales and revenue goals established by the company.

What We\'re Looking For

• At least 3–5 years of successful catering, hospitality, event, venue, or related sales experience preferred.
• Demonstrated ability to generate new business and grow revenue.
• Strong sales, negotiation, presentation, and closing skills.
• Excellent relationship-building and client-service skills.
• Solid understanding of food, beverage, and hospitality.
• Experience with catered events, hotels, private events, restaurants, venues, or event production strongly preferred.
• Ability to manage multiple events and sales opportunities simultaneously while maintaining strong attention to detail.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Professional, polished, confident, and comfortable interacting with corporate executives, planners, wedding clients, nonprofit organizations, and other sophisticated buyers.
• Ability to work collaboratively with culinary and operations teams.
• Familiarity with the Washington, DC event and hospitality market is highly desirable.
• Comfortable working occasional evenings or weekends when client meetings or events require it.
• Proficiency with CRM, proposal, event-management, and general business software.

The Person Who Will Thrive Here

You are more than an order taker or event coordinator. You enjoy selling. You are naturally curious about clients, ask good questions, and understand how to uncover what matters most to them. You are comfortable discussing budgets, overcoming objections, asking for the business, and developing relationships that result in repeat sales and referrals.

At the same time, you understand that successful catering requires precision.

You communicate clearly, stay organized, manage details carefully, and work well with the chefs, operations professionals, event staff, and other team members responsible for bringing your events to life. You take ownership of your business and your clients.

Why Corcoran Caterers?

Corcoran Caterers is an established off-premise catering company serving the Washington, DC metropolitan area. We produce a wide range of corporate events, galas, weddings, receptions, social events, and other special occasions throughout the region.

Unlike a traditional hotel or single-venue catering position, our Event Designers work across a broad range of venues, clients, menus, event styles, and experiences. The role provides significant opportunity for creativity, relationship building, and professional growth.

We offer:

• Competitive base compensation
• Commission-based earning opportunity
• Established company reputation and client base
• Existing inbound lead opportunities
• Opportunity to develop your own book of business
• Creative collaboration with experienced culinary and operations teams
• Health and dental benefits for eligible employees
• Paid time off and company holidays
• 401(k) program for eligible employees

Compensation

Base salary plus commission.

Total compensation will depend on experience, sales performance, and the individual\'s ability to develop and grow business.

Schedule

This is a full-time position based in the Washington, DC metropolitan area. The position requires flexibility to attend client meetings, tastings, site visits, networking functions, and occasional evening or weekend events.

About Corcoran Caterers

Corcoran Caterers is a full-service off-premise catering company known for personalized service, creative menus, and professionally executed events throughout the Washington, DC region. Our team works collaboratively across sales, culinary, operations, staffing, and logistics to create exceptional experiences for our clients and their guests.

If you are an experienced hospitality sales professional who enjoys building relationships, creating exceptional events, and growing a book of business, we would like to hear from you.