Events Sales Manager

Events & Catering Manager Chama Mama | New York City About Chama Mama At Chama Mama, we do more than serve food and beverages—we preserve culture, create memorable experiences, and bring people together through genuine hospitality. Inspired by the rich traditions of Georgia, the birthplace of wine, Chama Mama brings authentic Georgian cuisine and exceptional hospitality to New York City with a modern approach while honoring centuries-old recipes, culinary craftsmanship, and Georgian traditions. Every guest experience reflects our commitment to quality, authenticity, and the Georgian belief that "A Guest Is a Gift from God." Today, Chama Mama continues to grow across New York City through multiple restaurant locations, a centralized Culinary Lab, bakery operations, catering services, and private events. As we expand, we are looking for passionate hospitality professionals and leaders who take ownership, build meaningful relationships, drive business growth, and create unforgettable guest experiences. Who You Are As the Events & Catering Manager , you are a relationship builder, salesperson, planner, and hospitality leader responsible for growing Chama Mama's private events and catering business while delivering exceptional experiences from the first inquiry through post-event follow-up. You combine strong sales instincts with exceptional organization and attention to detail. You understand how to turn an inquiry into a confirmed booking, build lasting client relationships, manage event financials, and coordinate multiple teams to execute successful events. You are comfortable owning the entire event lifecycle—from prospecting and proposals to contracts, deposits, BEOs, execution, final payment, and follow-up. You understand that every event is both a guest experience and a business opportunity, and you take ownership of both. What You'll Do Own the sales process for private events and catering from initial inquiry through confirmed booking. Respond to event inquiries promptly, professionally, and with a strong sense of hospitality. Develop and execute sales strategies to grow private dining, catering, corporate events, and special event revenue. Convert qualified inquiries into confirmed bookings through thoughtful follow-up, relationship building, and strong sales execution. Proactively generate new business rather than relying solely on incoming inquiries. Conduct site visits, client meetings, and event consultations when appropriate. Identify opportunities to increase event value through food, beverage, enhancements, and additional services. Work toward established event sales and revenue goals and regularly track performance against targets. Own the Event Process from Start to Finish Manage the complete event lifecycle from initial inquiry through planning, execution, final payment, and post-event follow-up. Serve as the primary point of contact for clients throughout the planning process. Prepare and manage proposals, contracts, BEOs, menus, timelines, deposits, payment schedules, and final invoices. Maintain complete and accurate event documentation and ensure all deadlines are met. Coordinate event details including menus, beverage selections, guest counts, room layouts, rentals, staffing, setup, service timelines, and special requests. Communicate final event details clearly and accurately to all participating departments. Ensure changes and updates are documented and communicated promptly. Follow up after events to gather feedback, strengthen client relationships, and identify opportunities for repeat business. Manage Event Financials Take ownership of event pricing, revenue, costs, deposits, final payments, and profitability. Ensure events are priced according to company standards and established financial goals. Monitor food, beverage, labor, rental, and other event-related costs. Protect event profitability while delivering an exceptional guest experience. Ensure deposits and final payments are collected accurately and according to established timelines. Review final event charges and invoices for accuracy before closing events. Track event revenue, average event value, conversion rates, and other key performance indicators. Identify opportunities to improve event profitability and overall financial performance. Build Strong Client Relationships Build and maintain meaningful relationships with guests, corporate clients, event planners, organizations, concierges, community partners, and other potential business sources. Provide timely, polished, and professional communication throughout the sales and planning process. Understand each client's goals and create thoughtful event experiences based on their needs. Maintain relationships after events to encourage repeat bookings and referrals. Develop a strong database of past, current, and prospective clients. Represent Chama Mama professionally at networking opportunities, community events, industry events, and external partnerships. Lead Exceptional Event Execution Oversee on-site execution of private events and catering when required. Ensure event setup, staffing, food and beverage service, timing, presentation, and breakdown meet agreed specifications and Chama Mama standards. Lead event teams with clear communication, organization, and attention to detail. Anticipate potential challenges and resolve issues proactively before they impact the guest experience. Remain present and engaged with clients throughout key events to ensure expectations are met. Ensure special requests, allergies, dietary restrictions, celebrations, VIP information, and other important details are properly communicated and executed. Conduct post-event reviews when appropriate to identify successes and opportunities for improvement. Collaborate Across Chama Mama Work closely with General Managers, culinary leadership, Operations, Marketing, Finance, and restaurant teams to ensure seamless event planning and execution. Partner with chefs and culinary leadership on event menus, food quantities, special requests, and operational feasibility. Coordinate with restaurant leadership regarding space availability, staffing, setup, service requirements, and operational impact. Maintain clear internal communication so every department understands event expectations and responsibilities. Partner with Marketing to promote Chama Mama's private dining, catering, and event offerings. Support companywide events, activations, pop-ups, festivals, partnerships, and other special projects when needed. Develop New Business Opportunities Actively identify new opportunities to grow Chama Mama's events and catering business. Build relationships with corporate offices, hotels, event planners, local businesses, residential buildings, organizations, and community partners. Identify opportunities for corporate catering, private dining, celebrations, weddings, brand activations, pop-ups, festivals, and community events. Develop partnerships that increase both revenue and brand awareness. Stay informed about the NYC private events, catering, hospitality, and corporate events market. Monitor competitors and market trends to identify new opportunities. Work with leadership to develop packages, promotions, and offerings that strengthen Chama Mama's position in the events market. What We're Looking For Previous experience in private events, catering, restaurant events, hospitality sales, or a similar role required. Strong sales skills with a demonstrated ability to convert inquiries into confirmed business and grow revenue. Strong understanding of event financials, including pricing, deposits, costs, profitability, and final billing. Experience managing events from initial inquiry through execution and post-event follow-up. Excellent written and verbal communication skills. Exceptional organizational skills and attention to detail. Ability to manage multiple events, clients, deadlines, and priorities simultaneously. Strong understanding of restaurant operations, including FOH, BOH, staffing, food and beverage, and service standards. Experience preparing proposals, contracts, BEOs, event timelines, and invoices. Strong client relationship management and problem-solving skills. Ability to lead teams confidently during event execution. Experience with event and catering platforms, CRM systems, POS systems, and Microsoft Office. Strong knowledge of the New York City restaurant, private events, catering, and corporate events market. Proactive and entrepreneurial approach to developing new business. Positive attitude with a strong team-first mindset. Ability to work independently while collaborating effectively across departments. Flexible availability, including evenings, weekends, and holidays when required by the event schedule. What You'll Receive At Chama Mama, we believe strong leaders build strong businesses and memorable experiences. We invest in hospitality professionals who take ownership, build relationships, and continuously look for opportunities to grow. As the Events & Catering Manager, you'll enjoy: Competitive base compensation with performance-based commission opportunities. Medical, dental, and vision insurance for eligible employees. 401(k) with company matching. Paid Time Off. Structured training and professional development. Opportunities for leadership and career advancement. The opportunity to build and grow Chama Mama's private events and catering business. Opportunities to develop relationships across New York City's hospitality, corporate, and events communities. The opportunity to represent and share authentic Georgian hospitality, cuisine, wine, and culture. Our Leadership Principles At Chama Mama, every team member lives by a few simple beliefs: A Guest Is a Gift from God. Hospitality Begins with Genuine Care. Respect Every Team Member. Learn Something Every Day. Lead by Example, Regardless of Your Position. Why Chama Mama? Joining Chama Mama means becoming part of a growing hospitality company with a clear vision for the future. We are building more than restaurants—we are building careers, developing future leaders, preserving Georgian culture, and creating unforgettable guest experiences every day. As the Events & Catering Manager, you will have the opportunity to directly influence the growth of an important part of our business. You will build relationships, develop new revenue opportunities, create memorable events, and work alongside experienced culinary, operations, and hospitality leaders as Chama Mama continues to expand. If you're a hospitality professional who loves sales, relationship building, event planning, and flawless execution—and you're excited by the opportunity to grow a business rather than simply manage existing events—we'd love to meet you. Grow with Chama Mama. Create Memorable Events. Build Lasting Relationships. Chama Mama is an Equal Opportunity Employer We celebrate diversity and are committed to creating an inclusive workplace where everyone has the opportunity to grow and succeed. Employment decisions are made without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other protected characteristic under applicable federal, state, or local law.