The National Conference Center is one of the largest and most comprehensive conference centers and learning and development campuses in the nation with 917 guestrooms and 270,000 square feet of conference and event space.

Located in Leesburg, Virginia along the Potomac River near Washington DC, 20 minutes from Dulles Airport, The National delivers the country’s foremost learning and meeting experience. The National offers a unique combination of extensive conference facilities and guest lodging to create the ideal environment for participant development. Our multipurpose venue offers tremendous flexibility to provide the perfect environment for a variety of line level training, executive education, and professional development programs.

POSITION SUMMARY: The National Conference Center is currently seeking a Full Time Catering Sales Manager. Responsibilities include actively prospecting and booking special events & meetings for external customers within the local, social, and corporate markets; planning all logistics of the events; building strong client relationships (repeat business is key to the success of this position); and achieving budgeted revenue goals.

ESSENTIAL TASKS:

• Primary responsibility to generate local catering and day meeting business (DMP)
• Strong understanding of the catering business and how the conference center works.
• Knowledge of menu development and food cost.
• Qualifies sales opportunities through inquiries and active prospecting to maximize revenue potential.
• Determines and secures proper amount of meeting space to sell within the catering selective sell guidelines.
• Ability to provide good communication skills both verbally and in writing.
• Ability to focus attention on details, prepare proposals and cost estimates.
• Achieve or exceed monthly and quarterly goals.
• Blocks meeting space correctly and according to agreed terms.
• Respond to inquiries in a timely manner; the goal is to return calls by the same business day.
• Attend local networking events and become actively involved in area organizations.
• Participates in catering sales presentations, property tours and customer meetings.
• Plans all logistical details of events from contracting until the event takes place.
• Works closely with the operations team to ensure successful events.
• Input data to generate proposals, contracts, update client files and enter information into OPERA daily.
• Maximize revenue by up selling and selling creative food and beverage functions as well as upgraded audio-visual equipment.
• On-site when group is in-house. Greets and services all client/groups to ensure satisfaction.
• Manages all post-event details including submitting invoices for billing and approving bills to be sent to client.
• Actively supports the development, training, and mentoring of the administrative assistant/catering coordinator.
• Assists in managing the budget, controlling costs, and maximizing utilization of the facility in booking preferred business. Information provided to accurately forecast revenue on a weekly basis.
• Additional tasks and responsibilities may be assigned at the discretion of the manager. 
• Follows NCC policies and procedures and safety and sanitation policies and procedures.
• Required to work nights and weekends based on business levels.

REQUIRED EDUCATION AND EXPERIENCE:

• Preferred bachelor’s degree with concentration in Hotel Management, Sales and Marketing or related fields. 
• Must possess computer skills.
• Working knowledge of OPERA or related system helpful. 
• Minimum of two years previous experience in Hotel Catering Sales or Conference Planning or related field.
• Must possess strong interpersonal skills, be able to utilize problem solving and time management skills to make quick decisions, work well independently, be able to delegate tasks and handle multiple tasks simultaneously. Successful candidate will be detail-oriented person, who is organized and skilled at multi-tasking. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

• The National has a competitive benefit package with lucrative incentive opportunities paid quarterly and annually. We offer a comprehensive medical, dental, vision, 401k, STD/LTD, and life insurance plans. All associates enjoy paid holidays and paid time off.
• This position will be based at The National Conference Center in Leesburg, Virginia.
• The National is an equal opportunity employer supporting diversity in all our business practices.
• As part of our pre-employment process, candidates who are extended an offer of employment will be required to successfully pass a drug test and background check.

National Conference Center provides equal opportunity (EEO) to all applicants and employees, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, marital status, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, age, disability, genetic information, veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by applicable local, state, and federal laws and regulations. The company grants reasonable accommodations to applicants with known disabilities, unless doing so would pose an undue hardship for the company.