L IFECARE ALLIANCE

Are you a strong leader with management, sales and negotiation experience?

Are you self-motivated possessing excellent customer service and organizational skills?

Do you enjoy a fast paced, fun work environment and giving back to the community?

We Are Looking For You!

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POSITION TITLE: Executive Catering & Sales Manager (540)

REPORTS TO: Catering Director

POSITION SUMMARY:

The Catering/Food Service sales representative is responsible for the marketing and direct sales of the food products for LifeCare Alliance and our LA Catering Program. This position will develop strategies and plans of action to solicit new customers for our catering and sales programs as well as maintain the current contracts for our catering and sales clients. This position will have direct sales responsibilities and administrative responsibilities related to contract/pricing negotiations, and catering scheduling, logistics, setups and activities on the actual day of the event. This position will represent the agency in various settings including regular presentations to potential customers throughout our service area. This position will be responsible for maintaining the highest level of ethical standards within the agency’s catering/food service sales and marketing activities.

Work performed in this position will be of a complex, professional and confidential nature. Work requires knowledge of food service/catering sales and marketing techniques as well as general business and public speaking abilities. This position has constant contact with area businesses and individuals, present themselves and our food products and services in a manner consistent with our catering standards, to conduct agency business in a variety of public and private settings, including public speaking settings and must be able to handle multiple tasks and stressful situations while maintaining a professional and ethical demeanor at all times. A positive and cooperative image is crucial for this position. Work performed is under the general supervision of the Operations Manager-Production and in cooperation with the Food Service Director and other LifeCare Administrative staff. This position will require a significant amount of independence and self-direction.

PRINCIPAL RESPONSIBILITIES/FUNCTIONS:

Responsible for identifying and making contact with candidates/prospects for catering events and food product sales. This would include identifying prospects from the community, board members, agency staff, volunteers, etc., and making direct contact thru personal visits, correspondence, group presentations, and agency events.

Responsible for direct sales for LA Catering and all LifeCare Meal Programs. This includes meeting with prospective customers, giving individual and group presentations, negotiating pricing and contracts based on established guidelines, managing/maintaining current customers and contracts, contacting various catering halls and establishing relationships to become an approved caterer and doing follow up calls and service to ensure satisfaction on food sales and catering events.

Responsible for performing various administrative and clerical duties. This includes coordinating catering dates and activities, generating various catering and sales reports, communicating information to appropriate people regarding dates and needs for catering events and producing various reports related to volume of catering events, revenue/expense reports and other catering/sales information as required.

Responsible for working selective catering events and ensuring that all catering events are set up and coordinated to the customer’s satisfaction. This includes doing a walk thru on all catering events, troubleshooting to ensure events go smoothly and acting as a resource to ensure customer satisfaction with catering service.

Responsible for performing other duties as necessary. This includes serving on various agency and community committees as assigned, performing kitchen, meals on wheels or other agency duties/tasks as necessary or in emergency situations, representing the agency and participating in other agency events and fundraisers and representing the agency in the community as necessary.

WORKING CONDITIONS:

Work is performed in a variety of public and private settings, which would include offices, private homes, businesses, public buildings, and outdoor venues. Work hours are generally between 8:00am and 5:00pm Monday thru Friday but will include evening hours and weekend days and/or nights for catering events.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Requires an Associates Degree in Business Administration, Hospitality, Food Service or related field and a minimum of 3 years in food service sales/catering. A Bachelors degree is preferred. Must have valid Ohio driver’s license, vehicle available for agency use and adequate auto insurance. Must be able to do manual work including heavy lifting, catering event set up and cleanup, and setting up/tearing down of sales displays and materials.

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS AND ABILITIES:

Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing to a wide variety of individuals and groups

Ability to interact effectively with prospects/customers, board members, agency staff, volunteers and the general public

Ability to work independently and in a variety of settings

Must have strong time management, negotiation and organizational abilities

Must be able to do public speaking events and present a professional image

Must be able to think creatively

Must have strong customer service skills

Must be able to present themselves in a professional manner consistent with food service sales

Must be able to do heavy lifting and catering set up activities

Must possess strong ethical and professional standards

Must have basic computer skills (word, excel etc.)