Sales Manager, Cornell Catering

Student and Campus Life (SCL) inspires transformation in all Cornell students on their journey of individual, academic, and personal evolution. Our division is comprised of leading student affairs experts who support our campus on pressing student life matters including public service, health, wellness, social justice, residential living, food services, sports, recreation, career services, and student activities and organizations including sorority and fraternity life. We provide support and services to roughly 25,000 undergraduate, graduate, and professional students on multiple campuses in the U.S. and abroad.

As a division of Cornell Dining, Cornell Catering is the preferred catering service for Cornell University events and is uniquely qualified to serve the entire Cornell community and beyond. We are proud to work for Cornell and place a strong emphasis on Cornell Pride; our focus on students is one of the many concepts that differentiate Cornell Catering from other caterers. With its team of experienced professional staff, Cornell Catering is a full-service caterer that provides incredible food and beverages to guests at formal banquets for thousands, elegant weddings for hundreds, or intimate dinners for a few. Over the past thirty-five years, Cornell Catering has worked with clients to create customized events that meet specific objectives and budgets.

The Sales Manager supports the catering sales process and client support for university social events, student organizations, conferences, and wedding events in a catering operation that exceeds $1 Million in sales revenue. This position serves as the first point of contact for events ranging from 50 to 500 guests and is critical in ensuring that client business is retained. Additionally, this role will support the development of new businesses in assigned markets through regular sales activity. The Sales Manager helps ensure that all client expectations are consistently met by working closely with the catering team and attending large and complex events through successful execution.

A successful Sales Manager will:

• Demonstrate excellent customer service that helps maintain strong and lasting relationships with our clients by ensuring all event inquiries, calls, and emails are returned in a timely way.
• Possess effective decision-making skills as well as display flexibility and creativity to put clients at ease and address unique concerns efficiently and effectively.
• Exhibit strong organizational skills to ensure appropriate follow-up with past and current clients and help keep up to date on new food and catering trends for student groups, departments, and wedding clients.
• Support and look for new growth opportunities within departments across Cornell Campus and beyond to exceed targeted sales goals.
• Be highly adaptable and flexible, working varied hours, in a team-based but constantly changing environment to support a diverse team that ultimately ensures the clients' satisfaction.

Required Qualifications:

• Associate degree in hospitality or related field and at least two years of experience in a hospitality setting and/or catering sales environment or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills including effective sales and negotiating skills.
• Technical/computer skills, including experience with MS Word Office productivity tools.
• Must be able to occasionally lift and carry weight up to 50 lbs as needed when onsite for events.
• Experience in and/or demonstrated commitment to supporting diversity, equity, access, inclusion, and well-being.
• Demonstrated skill in the understanding of cultural differences.

Visa sponsorship is not available for this position. This position is located in Ithaca, New York. The successful applicant will be expected to work on campus.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Professional or education experience preferably in a collegiate hospitality setting
• Familiarity with the Cornell campus and departments is helpful.

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Non-Union Positions

Noted pay ranges reflect the potential pay opportunity for each job profile. The hiring rate of pay for the successful candidate will be determined considering the following criteria:

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

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EEO Statement:

Diversity and Inclusion are a part of Cornell University's heritage. We are a recognized employer and educator valuing AA/EEO, and we do not tolerate discrimination based on any protected characteristic, including race, ethnic or national origin, citizenship and immigration status, color, sex/gender, 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. We also recognize a lawful preference in employment practices for Native Americans living on or near Indian reservations in accordance with applicable law.

Cornell University embraces diversity and seeks candidates who will contribute to a climate that supports students, faculty, and staff to all identities and backgrounds. We encourage individuals from underrepresented and/or marginalized identities to apply.