Temporary Sales Assistant, Cornell Catering

Cornell University; Town of Ithaca (NY); On-site; USD 24,000 - 34,000; Part time

Job summary

Cornell Catering seeks a Temporary Sales Assistant to support catering sales and client service for events across Cornell's Ithaca campus. You will provide administrative and customer service support throughout the sales process, serving as a primary client contact from inquiry to event execution.

The role is part-time (19 hours/week) for six months, non-benefits eligible, with an hourly wage of $21.00. Onsite work is required, with occasional evenings or weekends as needed.

Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• 2–4 years of experience in customer service, hospitality, event coordination, sales support, administrative support, or related field.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a customer-focused approach.

Responsibilities

• Respond to client inquiries via phone and email, providing timely and professional customer service.
• Support the catering sales process by preparing proposals, event documentation, and client communications.
• Assist with coordinating event details, including menus, venue logistics, timelines, and service requirements.
• Maintain accurate client and event records within catering management systems and departmental databases.
• Monitor and track event-related deadlines, ensuring timely follow-up with clients and internal partners.
• Collaborate with Catering Sales, Event Operations, and Culinary teams to support successful event planning and execution.
• Assist with departmental outreach efforts and support initiatives designed to promote catering services across campus.
• Provide onsite support for selected events as needed to ensure client expectations are met and event logistics run smoothly.
• Help identify opportunities to enhance client satisfaction and improve overall service delivery.
• Complete administrative reporting and other support functions as assigned.

Skills

Customer service

Event coordination

Communication

Attention to detail

Time management

Organizational skills

Team collaboration

Professionalism

Education

High school diploma or equivalent

Tools

Microsoft Outlook

Microsoft Word

Microsoft Excel

CRM software

Catering management systems

Job description

Cornell Catering is seeking a Temporary Sales Assistant to support the catering sales and client service functions for events across Cornell University's Ithaca campus. This role provides administrative and customer service support throughout the catering sales process, helping to ensure a positive client experience from initial inquiry through event execution. The Temporary Sales Assistant serves as a key point of contact for clients, assists with event coordination and documentation, and collaborates closely with the Catering Sales and Operations teams to support successful events.

This is a part-time, 19 hours per week, 6-month term, non-benefits eligible position. Wage per hour is $21.00.

Key Responsibilities

• Respond to client inquiries via phone and email, providing timely and professional customer service.
• Support the catering sales process by preparing proposals, event documentation, and client communications.
• Assist with coordinating event details, including menus, venue logistics, timelines, and service requirements.
• Maintain accurate client and event records within catering management systems and departmental databases.
• Monitor and track event-related deadlines, ensuring timely follow-up with clients and internal partners.
• Collaborate with Catering Sales, Event Operations, and Culinary teams to support successful event planning and execution.
• Assist with departmental outreach efforts and support initiatives designed to promote catering services across campus.
• Provide onsite support for selected events as needed to ensure client expectations are met and event logistics run smoothly.
• Help identify opportunities to enhance client satisfaction and improve overall service delivery.
• Complete administrative reporting and other support functions as assigned.

Required Qualifications

• High school diploma or equivalent.
• Two to four years of experience in customer service, hospitality, event coordination, sales support, administrative support, or a related field, or an equivalent combination of education and experience.
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple priorities, maintain attention to detail, and meet deadlines in a fast-paced environment.
• Strong verbal and written communication skills with a customer-focused approach.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office applications, including Outlook, Word, Excel, and other office productivity tools.
• Strong organizational and time management skills.
• Ability to work independently while also collaborating effectively within a team environment.
• Demonstrated ability to exercise sound judgment, flexibility, and professionalism when interacting with clients and colleagues.
• Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 25 pounds and support onsite event needs when required.
• Ability to cultivate and develop inclusive working relationships with students, faculty, staff, and community members.

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience in catering, hospitality, conference services, event planning, or sales support.
• Familiarity with Cornell University and its campus departments.
• Experience working with catering, event management, or customer relationship management (CRM) software.
• Knowledge of current hospitality and catering industry trends.

This position requires onsite work and may include evenings, weekends, or variable hours based on operational needs. As a member of the Cornell community, the Temporary Sales Assistant is expected to support a culture of inclusion, professionalism, and collaboration

No relocation assistance is provided for this position. Visa sponsorship is not available for this position

University Job Title: Temporary Restaurateur

Job Family: Temporary Auxiliary Services

Level: No Grade - Annual

Pay Rate Type: Salary

Pay Range: Refer to Posting Language

Remote Option Availability: Onsite

Non-Union Positions

• Prior relevant work or industry experience
• Education level to the extent education is relevant to the position
• Unique applicable skills
• Academic Discipline

To learn more about Cornell’s non-union staff job titles and pay ranges, see Career Navigator.

Union Positions

The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined in accordance with the rates in the respective collective bargaining agreement. To learn more about Cornell’s union wages, see Union Pay Rates.

Cornell welcomes students, faculty, and staff with diverse backgrounds from across the globe to pursue world-class education and career opportunities, to further the founding principle of “... any person ... any study.” No person shall be denied employment on the basis of any legally protected status or subjected to prohibited discrimination involving, but not limited to, such factors as race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex, pregnancy or pregnancy-related conditions, age, creed, religion, actual or perceived disability (including persons associated with such a person), arrest and/or conviction record, military or veteran status, sexual orientation, gender expression and/or identity, an individual’s genetic information, domestic violence victim status, familial status, marital status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

2026-10-30