NACE Career Center

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From fine dining restaurants to residential dining, USC Hospitality serves over 65,000 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 driven to succeed by our commitment to uphold our six unifying values in Integrity, Excellence, Well-Being, Open Communication, Accountability, and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

We are seeking a Catering Sales Manager to join our rapidly growing team.

The Opportunity:

If you’re looking for an opportunity to develop as a Catering 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:

• Plans, implements, and manages daily sales and marketing operations and activities for department. Markets, sells and coordinates guest room inventory and/or event space on behalf of the university. Researches market and performs market analyses to determine customer needs, sales volume potential, and pricing schedules that meet university and department goals. Participates in developing business plan and strategies to meet department and sales goals. Promotes and maintains exceptional customer service while maximizing sales profitability.

• Develops action plans to penetrate new markets. Improves marketability and profitability by researching, identifying, and capitalizing on market opportunities. Pursues opportunities to increase event sales and/or guest room and food and beverage revenue. Monitors customer preferences to determine focus of sales efforts. Seeks public relations, networking, and marketing opportunities to expand client pool. 

• Meets with prospective and current clients. Conducts tours of hotel and/or event facilities. Addresses questions and provides solutions to clients' concerns and issues. Addresses client needs and makes suggestions regarding equipment, facilities., and food/beverage needs. Provides excellent customer service, seeks to improve customer satisfaction, and creates customer loyalty. 

• Directly supervises at least two full-time subordinate staff or the equivalent. Performs recruitment, screening, hiring, orientation and training of department staff. Evaluates employee performance and provides guidance and feedback. Counsels, disciplines or terminates employees. Resolves problems referred by staff. 

• Prepares sales proposals. Determines price schedules and discount rates. Negotiates contracts with customers within established pricing parameter. Prepares detailed sales/event reports, including sales data worksheets, cost projections and other financial metrics. Analyzes and reconciles disparate sales/event details, and consolidates the information into actionable sales/event plans. 

• Solicits and analyzes quotations for new or nonstandard items. Recommends or approves awarding of contracts or purchase orders. Oversees placement of purchase orders based on assigned authorization or signing limit. Researches and resolves problems with vendors and university departments to facilitate the purchasing process. 

• Negotiates and contracts with vendors for a variety of goods and services related to events planning. Monitors delivery of goods and services to ensure contract 
  terms are satisfied. 

• Develops budgets and approves budget expenditures. Provides regular projections and reports far development and administration of budget. Monitors expense and labor costs to meet budget guidelines. Oversees administration and maintenance of accurate records. 

• Oversees and manages event logistics for events at facility or guest room blocks. Sets clear expectations far event deliverables and due dates. 

• Liaises with other events staff to ensure adequate staffing, space, facilities, food and beverage, and services are provided as requested by client(s). Builds and maintains working relationships with internal and external partners. 

• Oversees and/or maintains 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. Maintains currency on latest products and trends by reading trade publications, attending seminars and trade shows, and developing and maintaining vendor contacts. 

• Develops and implements security related procedures such as office opening and closing routines, recognition of duress signals and key controls. Coordinates security activities with University Public Safety Department. Promotes and maintains standards for security conscious awareness and behavior. Maintains knowledge of university's crime prevention and suppression programs and services. Ensures dissemination of security related information to staff. 

• Performs other related duties as assigned or requested. The university reserves the right to add or change duties at any time. 

The Qualifiers:

• Minimum Education: Bachelor’s Degree.

• Minimum Experience: 3 years. Combined experience/education as substitute for minimum education.

• Minimum Field of Expertise:

  • Hotel or 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. Position will participate in the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) Pull Notice System. A copy of DMV record will be required as a final condition of employment. For more information please visit the policy website.

What We Prefer:

• Preferred Education: Master’s Degree.

• Preferred Experience: 5 years experience in a sales driven role.

• Preferred Field of Expertise: Certified Meeting Planner (CMP)

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!

As an equal opportunity employer, USC values and promotes diversity and inclusion in the workplace. The work culture thrives on mutual respect, trust, and synergy amongst all of its members.

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 $81,860.72 - $90,000. When extending an offer of employment, the University of Southern California considers factors such as (but not limited to) the scope and responsibilities of the position, the candidate’s work experience, education/training, key skills, internal peer equity, federal, state, and local laws, contractual stipulations, grant funding, as well as external market and organizational considerations.