Corporate Sales & Rentals Manager

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore; Baltimore (MD); On-site; USD 95,000 - 140,000; Full time

Job summary

The Maryland Zoo in Baltimore seeks a Corporate Sales & Rentals Manager to drive revenue by selling and coordinating corporate rentals and events at the zoo, including picnics, meetings, conferences, retreats, and staff events. The role owns the full sales process from inquiry to contract, while delivering exceptional client service, building long-term relationships, and identifying new markets.

This in-person position requires an entrepreneurial, detail-oriented approach and willingness to work

Qualifications

• Entrepreneurial sales approach to identify new markets and opportunities.
• Build and maintain a robust corporate client pipeline.
• Ability to manage multiple events from inquiry to post-event follow-up.

Responsibilities

• Own and manage the full sales cycle for corporate rentals.
• Achieve revenue goals and develop new business relationships.
• Plan, coordinate, and execute corporate rentals and events.
• Maintain contracts and client communications throughout lifecycle.
• Collaborate with Marketing to develop promotional materials.

Skills

Sales leadership

Client relationship management

Negotiation

Event planning

Prospecting & new business development

Job description

General Summary: The Corporate Sales & Rentals Manager isresponsible for driving revenue growth through the sale, planning,coordination, and execution of corporate rentals and events at The Maryland Zooin Baltimore. This position will actively sell the Zoo as a distinctive venuefor corporate functions, including company picnics, races and walks, holidayparties, meetings, conferences, team retreats, employee appreciation events,networking functions, and other corporate gatherings.

The Corporate Sales &Rentals Manager owns the corporate rental sales process from prospecting andinitial inquiry through contract execution, event delivery, and post-eventfollow-up. The Manager is responsible for achieving established revenue goals,developing new business, cultivating strong client relationships, andgenerating repeat and referral business.

Success in this positionrequires an entrepreneurial approach to sales. The Manager is expected toidentify new markets, partnerships, prospects, packages, and salesopportunities and to bring creativity and innovation to how the Zoo attractsand serves corporate clients. This position requires an exceptional eye fordetail, strong sales and relationship-management skills, sound judgment, andthe ability to independently manage multiple clients and events simultaneously.

The Corporate Sales &Rentals Manager is also an operational position and is expected to be presentfor and actively work events. Corporate events occur seven days a week and maytake place between 7:00 a.m. and 11:00 p.m. The Manager must be available towork a flexible schedule based on the needs of clients and the Zoo.

Additionally, the Corporate Sales &Rentals Manager will support the Zoo's mission to save wildlife and protectwild places and contribute to its environmental, social, governancesustainability, conservation, education, and DEAI (Diversity, Equity,Accessibility, and Inclusion) goals.

This is an entirely in-person position. Remote work is not availablefor this role.

Essential Functions

Corporate Sales & Business Development

• Own and manage the full sales cycle forcorporate rentals, including prospecting, responding to inquiries, qualifyingleads, conducting site tours, developing proposals, negotiating terms,preparing and executing contracts, securing deposits, and closing business.
• Achieve or exceed established annual corporaterental revenue goals and other sales performance targets.
• Proactively generate new corporate businessrather than relying solely on inbound inquiries.
• Develop and execute creative sales strategiesto position the Zoo as a premier and distinctive destination for corporateevents in the Baltimore region.
• Identify new markets, industries, companies,associations, event planners, and community partners that have the potential togenerate corporate rental revenue.
• Build and maintain a robust sales pipeline andconsistently move prospective clients from initial contact through signed contract.
• Cultivate strong, long-term relationships withcorporate clients to generate repeat bookings, referrals, and expandedbusiness.
• Develop strategies to grow existing accountsby identifying additional event, sponsorship, hospitality, or rental opportunities.
• Maintain consistent contact with past clientsand prospects to keep the Zoo top-of-mind for future corporate functions.
• Identify opportunities to package Zoo spaces,experiences, amenities, and other assets in new and compelling ways for thecorporate market.
• Remain informed about corporate event trends,competitive venues, client expectations, and market opportunities.
• Represent the Zoo at networking events, tradeshows, community events, industry functions, and other business-development opportunitiesas appropriate.
• Collaborate with Marketing and other Zoo teamsto develop sales collateral, campaigns, promotions, digital content, and othertools that support corporate rental revenue.
• Regularly evaluate sales results and recommendchanges to pricing, packages, processes, products, and sales strategies thatcan increase revenue and improve the client experience.

Client & Contract Management

• Serve as the primary point of contact forassigned corporate rental clients from initial inquiry through post-eventfollow-up.
• Prepare, negotiate, execute, and administerrental agreements and other event-related contracts in accordance with Zoopolicies.
• Ensure contracts accurately reflect eventscope, pricing, payment schedules, operational requirements, clientresponsibilities, and other agreed-upon terms.
• Maintain accurate and timely client, contract,sales pipeline, event, payment, and communication records in the Zoo’s CRM andother systems.
• Coordinate deposits, invoicing, finalpayments, certificates of insurance, vendor documentation, and other requiredevent materials.
• Clearly communicate Zoo policies, procedures,deadlines, restrictions, and expectations to clients.
• Conduct detailed event-planning meetings andsite visits to ensure all client expectations and operational requirements areunderstood and documented.
• Identify opportunities for upselling andadditional revenue throughout the planning process.
• Resolve client concerns promptly andprofessionally while protecting the Zoo’s operational and financial interests.
• Conduct post-event follow-up to gatherfeedback, evaluate client satisfaction, and actively pursue repeat business andreferrals.

Event Planning & Execution

• Plan, coordinate, and execute corporaterentals and events from signed contract through event completion.
• Develop comprehensive event plans and