Senior Sales Manager

The Franklin Inst•Philadelphia, PA

1d•$80,000

About The Position

The Senior Sales Manager plays a highly visible, strategic role at one of Philadelphia’s most iconic cultural institutions, leading the sale of extraordinary events within The Franklin Institute’s world-class spaces. This position drives external event rental revenue while supporting a comprehensive Events & Catering program with gross annual revenues exceeding $7 million. Serving as the primary point of contact for all initial external event inquiries, the Senior Sales Manager guides clients through the sales process from first engagement through contract execution, ensuring a seamless transition to the event operations team. This role builds strong relationships with corporate, nonprofit, and social event clients and positions The Franklin Institute as a premier destination for sophisticated, large-scale events. The Senior Sales Manager is also responsible for:

Requirements

Bachelor’s degree required
Minimum of 5+ years of sales experience within the events, hospitality, or catering industry
Demonstrated track record of meeting or exceeding revenue goals through relationship-driven sales
Excellent written and verbal communication skills with the ability to engage senior-level clients
Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)
Experience managing events in fast-paced, high-profile environment
Ability to stand for extended periods (2–8 hours) and occasionally lift up to 40 pounds

Nice To Haves

Experience using Delphi.fdc or similar event sales software to track lead generation, inquiry response times, follow-up activity, and lead conversion strongly preferred

Responsibilities

Selling all external event rentals within a $7M+ gross Events & Catering program
Act as the primary point of contact for all incoming external event inquiries, ensuring timely, accurate, and sales-focused communication in alignment with departmental standards
Partner closely with the Director of Events & Catering to develop and execute short-term and long-range sales strategies, identifying new opportunities to increase revenue year over year
Collaborate with The Franklin Institute’s Marketing team and Levy Restaurants’ Sales & Marketing teams to implement targeted campaigns that generate new business
Cultivate and maintain strategic partnerships with key hospitality and community stakeholders, including major hotels such as The Logan and Four Seasons
Build and sustain strong relationships with organizations including the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau (PHLCVB), Visit Philadelphia, and the Chamber of Commerce
Build and maintain long-term client relationships that drive repeat business and client retention
Attend, represent, and promote The Franklin Institute at networking functions, trade shows, conferences, and industry events
Serve as the primary on-site point of contact for assigned events, supporting client experience and sales continuity during event execution
Produce concise sales, forecasting, and financial reports
Generate Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) when necessary and provide hands-on support across the department to achieve sales and operational goals
Oversee all event billing and payment processing, including pre-event deposits, final invoicing, and post-event reconciliation
Coordinate with The Franklin Institute’s Finance Department to ensure accurate and timely revenue recognition in accordance with organizational policies
Collect, analyze, and distribute sales analytics and reporting, including weekly tracking of inquiries, new business activity, conversions, and pipeline performance