Catering Sales Manager

Compass Group•New York, NY

2d•$78,000 - $90,000•Onsite

About The Position

As the Catering Sales Manager for Restaurant Associates, you will lead the sales, planning, and execution of internal and external catering events, delivering exceptional hospitality and memorable experiences for clients and guests. This role combines strategic sales development with hands-on event management, requiring a strong understanding of high-end catering, food and beverage operations, and client service. You will build and maintain strong client relationships, develop new business opportunities, and oversee events from initial inquiry and proposal development through execution and post-event follow-up. In partnership with culinary and operations teams, you will support menu development, pricing and costing, staffing, logistics, and overall event execution while ensuring financial and operational goals are achieved.

Requirements

Strong understanding of high-end catering, food and beverage operations, and client service.
Ability to build and maintain strong client relationships.
Ability to develop new business opportunities.
Experience overseeing events from initial inquiry and proposal development through execution and post-event follow-up.
Experience partnering with culinary and operations teams to support menu development, pricing and costing, staffing, logistics, and overall event execution.
Ability to ensure financial and operational goals are achieved.
Experience managing the full catering sales cycle, including lead generation, client consultations, proposals, menu development, pricing, contracts, and banquet event orders.
Experience planning and coordinating a diverse range of high-end catering events.
Experience preparing and monitoring catering budgets, financial targets, forecasts, and operating statements.
Experience managing labor and food costs.
Experience hiring, training, coaching, and developing team members.
Experience overseeing event logistics, including food preparation, transportation, setup, service, A/V coordination, breakdown, and cleanup.
Experience maintaining accurate client and prospect databases.
Experience building and maintaining relationships with vendors and external partners.
Knowledge of company standards and applicable health, safety, and sanitation regulations, including HACCP guidelines.
Experience preparing and analyzing reports related to sales activity, revenue, expenses, and receivables.
Ability to remain highly responsive and composed in a fast-paced environment.
Ability to anticipate client and operational needs and resolve issues quickly and professionally.

Responsibilities

Drive catering sales by cultivating new business opportunities and developing strong, long-term relationships with clients, partners, and vendors.
Manage the full catering sales cycle, including lead generation, client consultations, proposals, menu development, pricing, contracts, and banquet event orders.
Plan and coordinate a diverse range of high-end catering events, ensuring exceptional service and seamless execution from initial planning through breakdown and cleanup.
Partner closely with culinary and operations teams to develop menus that align with client needs, event objectives, budget parameters, and current food and hospitality trends.
Prepare and monitor catering budgets, financial targets, forecasts, and operating statements while maintaining strong cost controls.
Manage labor and food costs and ensure events are executed efficiently and profitably.
Hire, train, coach, and develop team members while establishing and maintaining high standards for service, presentation, and professionalism.
Oversee event logistics, including food preparation, transportation, setup, service, A/V coordination, breakdown, and cleanup.
Maintain accurate client and prospect databases and proactively identify opportunities to grow existing business and generate repeat revenue.
Build and maintain relationships with vendors and external partners to support successful event execution.
Ensure all catering operations comply with company standards and applicable health, safety, and sanitation regulations, including HACCP guidelines.
Prepare and analyze reports related to sales activity, revenue, expenses, and receivables.
Remain highly responsive and composed in a fast-paced environment, anticipating client and operational needs and resolving issues quickly and professionally.
Perform additional duties and special projects as assigned.