Catering & Event Sales Specialist

The JDK Group•Camp Hill, PA

13d

About The Position

The Catering & Event Sales Specialist guides clients from initial inquiry through signed contract, providing a personalized, hospitality-focused sales experience built on trust and relationship building. The role combines consultative selling, creativity, and operational awareness to understand clients’ visions, priorities, and budgets and translate them into polished, realistic, valuable proposals. This position owns the pre-booking client journey, including proposals, preliminary layouts, rental recommendations, and initial logistics, then transitions booked events to the sales production team. The Specialist manages an active book of business, works toward booking and revenue goals, builds venue and vendor relationships, and supports company growth through networking and hospitality-driven sales.

Requirements

At least 3 years of experience in sales; experience in weddings, catering, hospitality, corporate, nonprofit, or event management is preferred.
Demonstrated ability to build relationships, manage client communication, and close business.
Strong communication, organization, time management, and follow-through skills.
Confidence and polish leading client meetings, presentations, tours, and venue walkthroughs in virtual and in-person settings.
Comfort using CRM systems, Google Workspace, Canva, Caterease, Goodshuffle, and AI-assisted productivity tools.
Ability to stand, walk, and move through office, venue, and event environments for extended periods.
Ability to lift and carry items up to 25 lbs as needed during site visits or onsite event support.
Ability to travel locally between venues, client meetings, networking events, and company locations.
Flexibility to work evenings, weekends, and extended hours during peak seasons or as business needs require.

Nice To Haves

Working knowledge of catering logistics, rentals, and event flow.

Responsibilities

Represent The JDK Group as a professional, warm, and hospitable first impression.
Build relationships with clients and understand their priorities, vision, budget, and guest experience goals.
Develop and maintain relationships with venues, planners, corporate clients, nonprofit organizations, and vendor partners to generate referrals, repeat business, and sales opportunities.
Respond to and manage inquiries received through CRM, email, website, referral, and venue partner channels.
Qualify leads based on event scope, timing, budget, guest count, and fit for The JDK Group.
Lead discovery calls, client meetings, presentations, and site visits throughout the sales process.
Manage active opportunities with consistent follow-up and organized pipeline activity; maintain CRM records supporting individual and company revenue goals.
Create detailed, customized proposals reflecting clients’ visions, including layouts, rental recommendations, and event enhancements.
Revise proposals based on feedback while protecting profitability.
Prepare complete, organized handoffs for booked events and clearly communicate client priorities, expectations, and important nuances.
Ensure rentals, preliminary logistics, and sold promises are accurately documented.
Track inquiries, proposals, tours, bookings, close ratio, and revenue performance; participate in pipeline meetings and sales strategy discussions.
Maintain professional responsiveness and communication standards throughout the sales process.
Contribute ideas to improve conversion, efficiency, and client experience.
Continue developing sales, hospitality, communication, and relationship-building skills and stay current on industry and market trends.
Perform additional responsibilities and operational support as needed based on business demands.