Vice President of Event Sales & Catering

Job Title: Vice President of Event Sales & Catering

Role Type: Full-Time | Leadership | Multi-Unit | Growth-Focused

About Us:

Big Onion Hospitality is a dynamic and expanding restaurant group known for its exceptional dining experiences and commitment to excellence. We are seeking a strategic and results-driven Vice President of Event Sales & Catering to lead our sales team and drive growth across our portfolio of restaurants. We value our employees and offer a very competitive benefit package detailed below.

Our Mission:

It’s our Mission to “make each and every guest feel as though they are walking into our own personal home.” Our Sales Team Mission to “plan each and every event as though we are planning it for our very best friend.”

Position Overview:

The Vice President of Event Sales & Catering is responsible for developing and leading a scalable event sales and catering strategy for a growing, polished-casual, sports-focused restaurant group. This role drives private dining, game-day events, corporate outings, watch parties, full-venue buyouts, and catering revenue across multiple locations and new markets. The VP will build repeatable systems, lead and develop the sales team, and partner cross-functionally to ensure events are operationally executable, profitable, and aligned with the guest experience. Additionally, the VP will play a key role in the company’s expansion efforts, contributing to the development of new concepts and restaurant openings.

This is a strategic and hands-on leadership role focused on building infrastructure, driving revenue growth, and creating a replicable market-entry model as the company expands.

Key Responsibilities:

Leadership & Team Management:

 - Lead, mentor, and manage the sales team.

 - Establish clear goals and performance metrics for team members.

 - Foster a collaborative and results-oriented team culture.

 - Hire, train, and develop all sales positions, including full-time, part-time, and third-party positions.

 - Lead Sales team meetings, third party meetings, company meetings.

Sales Strategy & Execution:

 - Develop and implement comprehensive sales strategies to maximize revenue from events, catering, merchandise and creative promotions.

 - Create a structured outbound sales program targeting corporate clients, social groups, and local organizations

 - Develop partnerships with sports teams, alumni groups, leagues, and local businesses

 - Oversee the sales pipeline and ensure efficient conversion of leads into successful events.

 - Work with department managers and corporate staff to develop business plans, calendar planning, and store budgets

Event Management & Operations:

 - Oversee the planning and execution of private and semi-private events, ensuring exceptional guest experiences.

 - Collaborate with both culinary and operations teams to deliver high-quality events.

 - Develop and refine event processes and systems to streamline operations and improve efficiency. This includes, but is not limited to manuals, SOPs, templates, brand books, contracts, catering/event documents and menus.

 - Work closely with Culinary Department in all areas of the Catering program.

Relationship Building & Networking:

 - Cultivate and maintain relationships with key clients, partners, vendors and industry stakeholders.

 - Represent the restaurant group at industry events, networking functions, and community activities.

 - Work closely with operations department on BWL partnerships leveraging support for on-site community events, game day experiences, and custom menus/activations.

 - Oversee and manage the sales team's participation in community partnerships, memberships, and offsite conventions/trade shows.

Systems & Processes:

 - Build and implement effective systems and processes for sales and event management.

 - Leverage technology and CRM tools to enhance operational efficiency and customer relationship management.

 - Establish and implement short- and long-range departmental goals, objectives, policies, and operating procedures.

 - Develop a structured, repeatable approach for event sales and catering expansion to support efficient entry into new markets.

 - Participate in the development of new project proposals.

 - Analyze performance metrics and adjust strategy to improve conversion and revenue.

Miscellaneous:

- Collaborate with marketing on promotional campaigns, game-day calendars, and seasonal event opportunities

Qualifications:

- 8-12+ years of event sales, catering, or hospitality sales leadership experience.

- Multi-unit restaurant or hospitality group experience preferred.

- Proven track record of driving sales growth and managing successful event operations across multiple locations.

- Demonstrated success opening new markets or launching new locations.

- Strong leadership and team management skills with the ability to motivate and inspire a team.

- Strong financial acumen with ability to manage budgets, forecasts, and revenue targets.

- Experience implementing and managing CRM systems (Tripleseat, Open Table, etc.).

- Strategic thinker with hands-on execution ability and entrepreneurial mindset.

What We Offer:

- Competitive base salary ($120,000 annually), performance-based incentives, and quarterly bonus opportunity

- Medical insurance with employer contribution.

- Employer paid Basic Life & ADD

- Voluntary dental, vision, life, accident, critical illness and hospital indemnity insurance

- 401k with employer match.

- Unlimited PTO after initial waiting period

- Opportunities for professional growth and development.

- A dynamic and inclusive work environment.

Big Onion Hospitality is an equal opportunity employer and encourages applications from all qualified individuals.