Assistant Manager, Catering Sales

The salary of the finalist selected for this role will be set based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budgets, qualifications, experience, education, licenses, specialty, and training. The above hiring range represents the University's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Position Summary

Columbia University's department of University Event Management is the center of event planning and related services for undergraduate students, graduate students, faculty, staff and alumni. It is our goal to provide excellent facilities and exceptional service for all events, programs and activities for the Columbia community. We are a customer-focused organization with an immediate opening for an Assistant Manager, Catering Sales to manage the day to day operations of the UEM Sales Office located in Lerner Hall.

Under the direction of the Assistant Director, the Assistant Manager of Catering Sales is responsible for managing the day to day operations of the UEM Sales Office located in Lerner Hall. The incumbent is also responsible for generating revenue as set forth in the annual budget through managing sales efforts, solicitation and maintenance of Banquet accounts.

Responsibilities

• Works closely with the sales team with solicitations of University's in house event, social and all other markets.
• Collaborates with the sales team to ensure they achieve appropriate sales goals.
• Together with a Sales Manager, meets with potential clients, when appropriate, and reinforces the Sales Manager's efforts of up selling menu, beverage and sundry items
• In the absence of a Sales Manager greets potential clients visiting the various facilities.
• In collaboration with the sales team, responds to telephone inquiries regarding booking events and / or directing the call to the appropriate staff member.
• Acts as the department's liaison with assigned clients.
• Participates in the planning and executing of large special events both on and off campus for major clients.
• Monitor and ensure that all accounts are properly rated, traced and yielded, and managed through EMS.
• Creates files on new accounts.
• Ensure that accounts are cleaned out according to monthly action plan. (Releasing of space from system that has not confirmed to definite.)
• Responsible for reviewing contracts and banquet event orders (BEO) to ensure accuracy, sending them to the appropriate vendor, once in receipt of signed contract / BEO, merges contract for sales managers.
• Reviews EMS for delinquent BEO's communicating to the appropriate staff member.
• Organizes BEO review meetings on a weekly basis.
• Responsible for arranging auxiliary services for events (i.e. coat check, phones, security)
• Organizes and prepares invoices, deposits slips, pre-payments slips.
• Ensures the supply of various menus and floor plans is at a standard level. Assists with putting together banquet sales kits.
• Assist with the collection of competitive product and pricing information.
• Diplomatically handles complaints and problems with internal clients, communicating issues with the Assistant Director
• In the absence of Event Management Staff and during peak seasonal periods serves as primary liaison during catered events to facilitate all elements, including problem resolution, servicing and closing of the event.
• Utilize a variety of tools to assess client's opinions.
• Recommends products and services to meet the needs of UEM clients.
• Collaborates with the Assistant Director to develop, recommend, and when appropriate implement UEM policies and procedures as it applies to UEM managed space including outdoors, food and beverage service, audio visual service, and UEM sponsored events throughout campus.
• Interacts effectively and diplomatically with staff, management, and diverse clientele, including campus departments, student organizations, and the general public by verbal and written communications.
• Develops relationships with people from public areas of the University to maintain a customer friendly environment
• Performs other duties as assigned and assists in special projects.

Minimum Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and / or equivalent related experience required.
• A minimum 2-4 years' related experience required.
• Knowledge of Food and Beverage operations.
• Must have strong organizational skills, excellent written, oral communication and customer service skills.
• Demonstrated computer proficiency (word & excel).
• Ability to work under pressure in competing responsibilities with resilience, discretion, and diplomacy.

Preferred Qualifications

• Familiar with systems such as EMS, or Delphi a plus.
• Experience in Food & Beverage or other combination of education and experience that provides the skills required for this position a plus.

Equal Opportunity Employer / Disability / Veteran

Columbia University is committed to the hiring of qualified local residents.