Catering Sales Manager - Culver City, CA

Wet Willie's; Culver City (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Job summary

LYFE Kitchen Restaurants in Culver City is seeking a Catering Sales Manager to grow local catering and private dining revenue by building relationships, developing leads and coordinating events from inquiry to execution.

The role requires leadership within the restaurant management team, effective tele-sales, menu planning, and collaboration with guests and other departments to ensure flawless events and outstanding guest experiences.

Qualifications

• 3+ years in hotel food/beverage or restaurant catering sales.
• 1-2 years of over-the-phone, cold calling experience preferred.
• Demonstrated capability to maintain effective relationships with internal and external customers.
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills.
• Familiarity with banquet/catering revenue and cost issues; ability to read and interpret financial statements.
• Strong track record of leadership skills.

Responsibilities

• Execute sales strategy and objectives. Develops and grows all leads, adds to and maintains current listing of prospective business and guest contacts for use in marketing LYFE Kitchen's catering and banquet program.
• Build brand loyalty through telesales and follow-up calls. Create and maintain customer base. Plan and execute business development functions on-site and off-site.
• Supervise the Catering Coordinator and LYFERS on off-site catering and in-restaurant private dining events. Obtain feedback and mentor staff.
• Provide weekly functions booked and revenue reporting using established formats.
• Serve as member of restaurant management team, including working management shifts when needed.
• Represent LYFE Kitchen at community and charitable events and direct the work of team members at these events.

Skills

Catering sales

Event planning

Cold calling

Relationship building

Leadership

Communication

Job description

Job 56800 - Catering Sales Manager - Culver City, CA
Culver City, CA

The growth of the award-winning LYFE Kitchen Restaurants is fueling new careers for experienced culinary and service professionals who believe that LYFE Kitchen is what WIRED Magazine calls \"the future\" for America. We are accepting qualifications for leadership in all restaurant specialties.

Check out our latest opportunity below. If you possess these skills and you are passionate about your healthy lifestyle LYFE Kitchen Restaurants could be your future. LYFE offers outstanding compensation, including incentive compensation and excellent benefits.

CATERING SALES MANAGER (Southern CA - Culver City)

Our growing catering and private dining program require top sales and hospitality professionals to develop leads, book the business and oversee these events.

Requirements

POSITION SUMMARY

At the local store level, the CATERING SALES MANAGER is responsible for building sales by developing relationships and increasing catering sales in the local trade area by utilizing telesales techniques. Obtains guest feedback. Provides dashboard reports to management on business expected, booked and executed. Serves as member of restaurant management team, providing dining room shift coverage where needed.

KEY PERFORMANCE ELEMENTS

1. Under the direction of the General Manager and Director of Business Development, executes sales strategy and objectives. Develops and grows all leads, adds to and maintains current listing of prospective business and current Guest contacts for use in marketing LYFE Kitchen's catering and banquet program. Plans and executes business development functions on-site and off-site.

2. Build brand loyalty through telesales and follow-up calls. Create and maintain customer base. Supervises and participates in development of specific requirements for each catering and banquet event, chairing necessary meetings and preparing written documentation of all agreed upon catering and banquet orders and events. Plans menus, orders and deliveries with guests and uses the opportunity to utilize suggestive selling techniques and to reinforce LYFE Kitchen's great tasting, good-for-you food. Monitors events prior to execution; communicates regularly with other departments to identify and resolve any challenges. In weekly updates and again at least 24 hours prior to all events, verifies with all involved departments progress and final details for each event.

3. Under the direction of the General Manager supervises the work of the Catering Coordinator and other LYFERS on off-site catering and in-restaurant private dining events. Obtains feedback on all off-site and private dining functions; provides feedback and recommendations for improvement to other members of the restaurant management team and the Director of Catering Operations. Maintain ongoing contact with guests through \"thank you\" letters and follow-up calls seeking feedback. Mentors, coaches, trains and provides feedback to catering coordinators.

4. Provides weekly functions booked and revenue reporting using established formats.

5. Serves as member of restaurant's management team, including working management shifts when needed.

6. Represents LYFE Kitchen at various community and charitable events as assigned and directs the work of LYFE Kitchen Team Members at these events as assigned.

COMPETENCIES

• Thorough understanding of LYFE Kitchen operations, menu and catering capabilities
• Pays attention to details; verifies all Guest requests and requirements to ensure strong execution
• Logical and analytical approach to problem-solving using proven methodologies
• Self-starting with proven track record and ability to work independently
• Is able to multi-task at all times and work both independently and as a member of the LYFE Kitchen team
• Is focused on providing an outstanding Guest experience from the Guest's first contact with our Catering and Private Dining program through completion of the event and receipt of the Guest's feedback
• Ensures that communication to fellow Team Members is always professional, supportive and appreciative
• Quickly recognizes challenges and opportunities, seizing the initiative for success

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS

Some portion of duties can be completed in an office environment. The outside sales work, travel to events and execution of events can be physically demanding due to irregular hours, deadlines and the need to plan for and respond quickly to any contingencies.

Lifting of up to 40# may be required, for stacking, positioning and movement of equipment and supplies.

Position also requires: loading and driving of catering van through sometimes heavy city traffic; efficient and timely management of and sometimes physical delivery and setup of food, beverages, equipment, supplies and employee labor to off-site functions.

ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS

• Employee must be a licensed driver and pass the required motor vehicle record inquiry

EXPERIENCE REQUIREMENTS

• 3+ years in hotel food/beverage, commercial food service and/or restaurant operations, including responsibility for catering/banquet sales
• 1-2 years of over-the-phone, cold calling experience preferred
• Demonstrated capability to maintain effective relationships with internal and external customers of all levels and skill sets
• Outstanding verbal and written communication skills
• Familiarity with banquet/catering revenue and cost issues; ability to read and interpret financial statements related to restaurant revenue, catering/banquet revenue, food and labor costs
• Strong track record of leadership skills