What are the responsibilities and job description for the Private Event Sales Specialist position at The Grand Rapids Downtown Market?
Located in the heart of Grand Rapids, the Downtown Market is an innovative combination of Market Hall food merchants, world-class corporate and wedding venue spaces, year round free public events, and the entrepreneurial support of our rentable Incubator Kitchen that helps small food businesses turn their recipe into reality.
We are in search of an experienced Private Event Sales Specialist. This role requires proactive sales efforts, including outside sales and relationship building, to drive event bookings.
We offer a robust benefits package including all kinds of insurances like medical, dental, vision, along with life, long term and short term disability. We also provide a generous PTO and Holiday schedule that helps you achieve a work/life balance. Our 401k retirement savings plan includes a company match to help you prepare for your future with confidence.
- Actively selling and promoting Downtown Market event spaces for corporate and social events
- Creating and delivering compelling sales presentations and proposals to prospective clients
- Attending local events and networking opportunities to stay current with and expand professional networks
- Collaborating with marketing to develop strategies to attract new business and enhance event visibility
- Tracking and reporting on sales metrics, providing regular updates to the Director of Sales and Events on sales performance and pipeline status
- Developing and maintaining strong relationships with clients, vendors, and community partners to generate repeat business and referrals
- Maintaining and ensuring accurate and updated prospect and client records in Salesforce
- Occasionally conducting site visits and tours for prospective clients to showcase event spaces and discuss event requirements
- Performing other duties as assigned to support the overall success of the sales and events department
- Work Experience: Minimum 3 years of private event sales (active outside sales) experience with proven success in meeting and/or exceeding sales goals and building clientele relationships
- Education: Bachelor's Degree or equivalent experience in hospitality, business, event planning, or related field
- Computer Skills: Strong knowledge of Google WorkSpace, Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software, ability to manage files and records, and other office procedures
- Organization Skills: Ability to develop specific goals and plans to prioritize, organize, and accomplish your work
- Cross-functional Skills: Ability to develop constructive and cooperative working relationships with others, and maintain them over time
- Communication Skills: Ability to think creatively and outside the box; Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems
- Physical, Mental, and Visual Skills: The physical demands described here represent those that must be met by an employee to perform the essential functions of this job successfully. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.
- While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand, walk, sit, squat, talk or hear, and use hands. Manual dexterity to manipulate keyboard, mouse, and other technology. The Private Event Sales Specialist will possess excellent oral comprehension skills; the ability to listen to and understand information and ideas presented through spoken words and sentences They may occasionally lift and/or move up to 10 pounds.
- Work Experience: 5 years of private event sales (active outside sales) experience with proven success in meeting and/or exceeding sales goals and building clientele relationships
- Certifications: any of the following: CSEP - Certified Special Events Professional; CPCE - Certified Professional in Catering and Events; CMP - Certified Meeting Planner
EEOC Statement: The Grand Rapids Downtown Market provides equal employment opportunity for all regardless of age, sex, race, national origin, religion, marital status, height, weight, color, gender expression, gender identity, genetic testing status, and any other status protected under local, state, or federal laws, or disability that does not prohibit performance of essential job functions. In addition, laws regarding veterans’ status are observed. This is reflected in all Grand Rapids Downtown Market practices and policies regarding hiring, training, promotions, transfers, rates of pay, layoff, and other forms of compensation. All matters relating to employment are based upon ability to perform the job, as well as dependability and reliability upon hire.
The Grand Rapids Downtown Market will take action to ensure that all employment practices are free of discrimination. Such employment practices include but are not limited to; hiring, promotion, transfer, recruitment, selection, layoff, furlough, leave of absence, disciplinary action, termination, rates of pay or other forms of compensation, and training and development opportunities. Any team member with questions or concerns about any type of discrimination in the workplace is encouraged to bring these issues to the attention of their immediate supervisor or Human Resources without fear of reprisal. Anyone found to be engaging in any type of unlawful discrimination will be subject to disciplinary action up to, and including termination.
