Catering Sales Manager | Full-Time | McCormick Place Convention Center

Oak View Group; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health Insurance

Dental Insurance

Vision Insurance

401(k) Savings Plan

401(k) Matching

Paid Time Off

Job summary

Oak View Group in Chicago, IL is seeking a Catering Sales Manager at McCormick Place. You will generate revenue, manage catering sales contracts, and coordinate full group operations from reservation to event execution.

The role emphasizes outstanding customer service and collaboration with internal teams to ensure flawless events. Salary ranges $70,000–$75,000 annually, with full-time benefits including health, dental, vision, 401(k) with matching, and paid time off.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Food & Beverage Management or related field preferred.
• 3-5 years’ experience in catering sales management, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• General understanding of hospitality and Food & Beverage industries.
• Excellent organizational, multi-tasking, and planning skills.
• Strong customer service orientation.
• Food Handler’s Certificate preferred.
• Must be flexible; nights and weekends required.

Responsibilities

• Generate revenue and provide excellent service to internal and external guests.
• Coordinate groups and events throughout the Convention Center.
• Ensure catering needs of the guests are met.
• Develop and maintain communication with Event, Operations, Food & Beverage, and Finance.
• Keep all event details current.
• Generate catering contracts and establish payment arrangements per finance guidelines.
• Obtain client signatures on sales, orders and contracts.

Skills

Organizational skills

Multi-tasking

Planning

Customer service

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Food & Beverage Management

Job description

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the company serves a collection of seven world-class owned venues and a client roster of the most iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions, spanning four continents.

Position Summary

Oak View Group, located at McCormick Place Convention Center, has an immediate opening for a Catering Sales Manager. The Catering Sales Manager has a primary duty of making sales and obtaining orders or contracts for the venue. This position is responsible for generating, managing, and coordinating outside catering sales. The Catering Sales Manager will independently manage and oversee all aspects of full group operations from reservation through contract negotiation and finalization to group reception and event catering. The Catering Sales Manager maintains a consistently positive and professional relationship with internal and external clients. The Catering Sales Manager will handle sales and customer service issues, including providing outstanding customer service and researching, resolving, and clarifying questions. The role will also provide knowledgeable and appropriate suggestions regarding menu selections. The Catering Sales Manager will facilitate the flow of information internally, as well as communicate with all guests and vendors.

This role pays an annual salary of $70,000 - $75,000

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays)

This position will remain open until December 11, 2026.

About The Venue

McCormick Place Convention Center, located in downtown Chicago, is the largest and most flexible convention center in North America. With over 2.6 million square feet of exhibition space, the campus proudly hosts some of the world’s largest and most prestigious conventions, meetings, and trade shows, welcoming approximately 3 million visitors to Chicago every year.

Responsibilities

• Generate revenue and provide excellent service to internal and external guests
• Coordinate groups and events throughout the Convention Center
• Ensure catering needs of the guests are met
• Develop and maintain communication lines with Event, Operations, Food and Beverage, and Finance Departments
• Keep all event details current
• Generate catering contracts and establish payment arrangements in compliance with finance department guidelines
• Obtain client signatures on sales and orders and contracts
• Ensure clarity in communication on all the intricate requirements of events and the clients’ needs
• Finalize and distribute all sales orders to operations staff at least two (2) weeks prior to event
• Provide detailed event analysis to support, maintain, and/or improve company goals and guest satisfaction
• For repeat clients, review past events to keep appraised of clients’ expectations
• Provide on-time service to guarantee client satisfaction
• Follow up promptly with customers from first contact till the end of the event
• Continuously interact with clients through duration of event
• Ensure successful events by conducting routine and thorough checking of food standards and room setup and clients’ satisfaction level, before and during events
• Update and maintain file information for events by maintaining documentation on total Food & Beverage revenues and client relations
• Practice continuous efforts toward menu upgrades and increased services
• Follow SOP guidelines in all aspects of your position
• Other projects as assigned by Director of Catering Sales

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree (BA or BS) in Food & Beverage Management or related field preferred
• 3-5 years’ experience in catering sales management, a position in Food & Beverage or training. Or an equivalent combination of education and experience is required.
• A general understanding of the hospitality and Food and Beverage industries
• Excellent organizational, multi-tasking, and planning skills
• Strong customer service orientation
• Food Handler’s Certificate preferred
• Must be flexible (nights and weekends required), have a sense of urgency, be able to respond quickly and resourcefully to internal and external issues

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.