Sales Manager - Auxiliary Services

University of Southern California; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 78,000 - 95,000; Full time

Job summary

University of Southern California seeks a Sales Manager to lead a growing team in selling and coordinating event space for the university. You will train and motivate staff to achieve new sales records while cultivating professional relationships with clients and vendors.

The role requires a Bachelor’s degree, at least 3 years of experience in convention center sales management and marketing, and strong skills in negotiation, budgeting, and customer service. A CA driver’s license is required.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree required.
• 3 years of experience.
• Convention center sales management and marketing experience.
• Experience organizing and managing events such as business travel, conventions, meetings, trainings, luncheons, weddings, and other events.
• Strong knowledge of sales, marketing, and business management.
• Excellent interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Valid CA driver’s license required.

Responsibilities

• Plan, implement, and manage daily sales and operations for the department.
• Sell and coordinate event space for the University.
• Develop business plans and strategies to meet sales goals.
• Provide excellent customer service and build client loyalty.
• Negotiate contracts and monitor vendor relationships.
• Prepare sales and budget reports and analyze performance.

Skills

Sales management

Marketing

Customer service

Communication

Interpersonal skills

Negotiation

Budgeting

Staff supervision

Event coordination

Leadership

Education

Bachelor’s Degree

Job description

Please review the Aff… students, athletes, faculty, and staff, as well as our many visitors. Hospitality is one of the six core business units that comprise USC Auxiliary Services and one of the largest employers on campus. We are renowned for our fresh take on self-operated food concepts with 43 restaurants between both campuses. The team at USC Hospitality is led by innovative executive chefs and directors who strive every day to craft nourishing and wholesome alternatives for our hungry Trojan Family and our guests. Auxiliary Services works tirelessly to welcome all visitors into the Trojan family.

We are seeking a Sales Manager to join our rapidly growing team. The Opportunity: If you’re looking for an opportunity to develop as a Sales Manager and exceed your professional expectations, then our team wants you! You will be expected to use your depth of experience to train, develop, and motivate our team to achieve new records in sales. Professional relationships, with clients and vendors, will be an important piece of the puzzle and you will need to grow these to help us build our business. We set high goals for our team and we need you to help us get there.

The Accountabilities

• Plan, implement, and manage daily sales and operations and activities for department.
• Sell and coordinate event space on behalf of the University.
• Participate in developing business plan and strategies to meet department and sales goals.
• Promote and maintain exceptional customer service while maximizing sales profitability.
• Pursue opportunities to increase event sales and food and beverage revenue.
• Monitor customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts.
• Seek public relations, networking, and marketing opportunities to expand client pool.
• Meet with prospective and current clients and conduct tours of event facilities.
• Address question and provide solutions to clients’ concerns and issues.
• Address client needs and make suggestions regarding equipment, facilities, and food/beverage needs.
• Provide excellent customer service, seek to improve customer satisfaction, create customer loyalty, and provide guidance and feedback.
• Counsel, discipline, or terminate employees.
• Resolve problems referred by staff.
• Negotiate contracts with customers within established pricing parameter.
• Prepare detailed sales/event reports, including sales data worksheets, cost projections, and other financial metrics.
• Analyze and reconcile disparate sales/event details, and consolidate the information into actionable sales/event plans.
• Negotiate and contract with vendors for a variety of goods and services related to events planning.
• Monitor delivery of goods and services to ensure contract terms are satisfied.
• Develop budgets and approve budget expenditures.
• Provide regular projections and reports for development and administration of budget.
• Monitor expense and labor costs to meet budget guidelines.
• Oversee administration and maintenance of accurate records, scheduling, and forecasting and payroll duties.
• Oversee and manage event logistics for events at facility.
• Set clear expectations for event deliverables and due dates.
• Liaise with other events staff to ensure adequate staffing, space, facilities, food and beverage, and services are provided as requested by client(s).
• Build and maintain working relationships with internal and external partners.
• Oversee and/or maintain automated systems used for sales and event management and purchasing functions such as inventory control, vendor contract information, pricing schedules, cost control, and bid analysis.
• Maintain currency on latest products and trends by reading trade publications, attending seminars and trade shows, and developing and maintaining vendor contacts.
• Develop and implement security related procedures such as office opening and closing routines, recognition of duress signals and key controls.
• Coordinate security activities with University Public Safety Department.
• Promote and maintain standards for security conscious awareness and behavior.
• Maintain knowledge of University’s crime prevention and suppression programs and services.
• Ensure dissemination of security related information to staff.
• Perform other related duties as assigned or requested.

The University reserves the right to add or change duties at any time.

The Qualifiers

• Education: Bachelor’s Degree.
• Experience: 3 years.
• Expertise: Convention center sales management and marketing experience.
• Experience organizing and managing events, such as individual business travel, conventions, corporate meetings, trainings, luncheons, weddings, and other events.
• Thorough knowledge of sales, marketing, and business management.
• Knowledge of the principles, practices, concepts, and methodology of sales and marketing.
• Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.
• Customer service experience.
• Valid CA driver's license required.

What We Prefer

• Master’s Degree.
• 5 years of experience.
• Experience in a sales driven role.

The Trojan Family Rewards

We pride ourselves in creating the BEST USC EXPERIENCE, and that begins with our employees! We offer a wide variety of benefits and programs that support our staff and their families. For more information please visit http://benefits.usc.edu. This support advocates work-life balance and employee well-being. As members of the Trojan family, employees are connected by the traditions and history that make us proud to be Trojans! USC has great minds that transform the world with their talents and research. Will you be one? Join us! FIGHT ON!

The annual base salary range for this position is $86,133.

Minimum Education: Bachelor's degree, Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

Minimum Experience: 3 years.

Minimum Field of Expertise: Convention center sales management and marketing experience required.

Experience organizing and managing events, such as individual business travel, conventions, corporate meetings, trainings, luncheons, weddings, and other special occasions.

Thorough knowledge of sales, marketing and business management.

Knowledge of the principles, practices, concepts and methodology of sales and marketing.

Demonstrated interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills.

Valid CA driver's license required.

USC is an equal opportunity employer.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, protected veteran status, disability, or any other characteristic protected by law or USC policy.

USC observes affirmative action obligations consistent with state and federal law.

USC will consider for employment all qualified applicants with criminal records in a manner consistent with applicable laws and regulations, including the Los Angeles County Fair Chance Ordinance for employers and the Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, and with due consideration for patient and student safety.

Please refer to the Background Screening Policy Appendix D for specific employment screen implications for the position for which you are applying.

We provide reasonable accommodations to applicants and employees with disabilities.

Applicants with questions about access or requiring a reasonable accommodation for any part of the application or hiring process should contact USC Human Resources by phone at [phone], or by email at [e-mail]. Inquiries will be treated as confidential to the extent permitted by law.

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USC is a leading private research university located in the heart of downtown Los Angeles – a global center for arts, technology and international business. As the largest private employer in the city – responsible for more than $5 billion annually in economic activity in the region – we offer the opportunity to work in a dynamic and diverse environment, in careers that span a broad spectrum of talents and skills. As a USC employee, you will enjoy excellent benefits and perks, and you will be a member of the Trojan Family - the faculty, staff, students and alumni who make USC a great place to work.