Catering Sales Manager

Who We Are
Founded in 1926, the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation is a private, not-for-profit educational, historic, and cultural institution that owns and operates one of the largest and best-known museum complexes in the world. Our mission is “that the future may learn from the past” through preserving and restoring 18th-century Williamsburg, Virginia’s colonial capital. We engage, inform, and inspire people to learn about this historic capital, the events that occurred here, and the diverse peoples who helped shape a new nation.

Today, Colonial Williamsburg is the largest living history museum in the U.S. The Historic Area is the 301-acre restored colonial capital with 88 original buildings and 525 buildings reconstructed to how they appeared in the 18th century through extensive archaeological, architectural, and documentary research. The Historic Area is staffed by highly trained, historically dressed interpreters and expert tradespeople who bring the 18th century to life. The Foundation also owns and operates two world-class museums, the DeWitt Wallace Decorative Arts Museum, and the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum, The Bob and Marion Wilson Teacher Institute, and a renowned research library, the John D Rockefeller Jr Library.

Additionally, Colonial Williamsburg is home to five world class accommodations at the Williamsburg Inn, Williamsburg Lodge Autograph Collection, the Griffin Hotel, the Williamsburg Woodlands Hotels and Suites and the unique Colonial Houses in the Historical Area. Visitors may also indulge in food and drink at our many on site restaurants and taverns that blend a historically inspired dining experience with today’s evolved tastes. Each year over 5 million people visit Williamsburg and another 20 million engage with us digitally.

About the Position

The Catering Sales Manager is responsible for soliciting, negotiating, contracting, detailing, and coordinating catering and banquet business for Colonial Williamsburg Resorts. While this position supports all catering market segments as business needs require, the primary focus is the wedding market, including ceremonies, receptions, rehearsal dinners, bridal luncheons, farewell brunches, anniversary celebrations, and other social events. Serves as the primary point of contact from initial inquiry through event execution, ensuring an exceptional client experience while maximizing revenue, banquet space utilization, and profitability. Collaborates with internal departments and external partners to ensure the successful planning and execution of assigned events.

Essential Functions:

• Solicits, negotiates and books new and repeat business through outside sales, sales calls, telemarketing, mailings, networking and other efforts.


• Serves as primary contact between clients and Colonial Williamsburg. Initiates contact with clients up to one year in advance and assists in planning and developing events.


• Plans, up sells and details functions with the client including space requirements, times, equipment, menus, themes, decorations, etc. Completes the contracts, prepares the appropriate paperwork, coordinates with the appropriate areas, resolves any issues, complaints and problems to ensure quality delivery of service and customer satisfaction.


• Monitors the use of contracted accommodations and conference function space to maximize profit and efficiency.


• Negotiates related food and beverage business, meeting space rental, audio visual services, and recreational activities. Market food, beverage, tavern and golf business.


• Coordinates execution of all CWC-HG property services including accommodations, meeting rooms, audio visual, food and beverage and catering, recreational, special tickets, tours and activities, transportation, external support and external vendor services, package plans and billing.


• Develops and maintains working knowledge of cost factors and labor issues.


• Maintains up-to-date knowledge of corporate and hotel procedures and products and the competition’s products, strengths and weaknesses to continually improve sales strategies and the achievement of goals.


• Serves as on-site CWC-HG representative during execution of functions. Responsible and accountable for the successful operation of all activity related to assigned functions.


• Operates within a team concept; covers for others when needed while meeting individual performance goals.


• Continues professional development through educational offerings made via industry trade groups and educational institutions.

Qualifications:

• Must have excellent communication skills, both oral and written


• Demonstrated proficiency in the Microsoft Office Suite at the intermediate level (Word, Excel, Outlook, and PowerPoint)


• Demonstrated ability to work independently with minimal supervision


• Demonstrated ability to effectively manage multiple projects in a fast-paced, deadline-driven environment


• Must have in-depth knowledge of hotel operations - two- or four-year degree in hospitality, business, or a related field, or through two to four years of progressively responsible experience in the hotel or hospitality industry.


• Ability and willingness to work evenings, weekends, and occasional holidays as required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• In-depth knowledge of food and beverage preparation, presentation, catering service, and cost.


• General knowledge of Colonial Williamsburg helpful.

Physical and Environmental Demands: 

Stand Frequently (2-5 hrs/shift)

Walk Frequently (2-5 hrs/shift)

Sit Frequently (2-5 hrs/shift)

Use hands/fingers Constantly (5-8 hrs/shift)

Climb or balance Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Stoop/kneel/crouch/crawl Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Reach with hands/arms Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Talk or hear Constantly (5-8 hrs/shift)

Lifting up to 10 lbs. Occasionally (up to 2 hrs/shift)

Lifting up to 25 lbs. Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Lifting up to 50 lbs. (with assistance) Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Lifting up to 100 lbs. (with assistance) Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

More than 100 lbs. (with assistance) Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Wet/humid conditions: Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Work near moving mechanical parts: Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Fumes/airborne particles: Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Extreme cold: Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Extreme heat: Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Risk of electrical shock Rarely (does not exist as regular part of the job)

Compensation Disclaimer:   The compensation listed below for this position represents the anticipated hiring range and is provided in accordance with Virginia pay transparency requirements. Actual compensation will be determined based on factors such as the selected candidate’s skills, qualifications, experience, education, certifications, internal equity, and the specific requirements of the role.

Range: $22.74 per hour – $34.09 per hour