Assistant Outside Sales Manager, Catering and Wholesale

About Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters

Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters is a family owned specialty coffee roaster founded in 2006 and based in Crystal Lake, Illinois. The company operates five retail cafés in Crystal Lake, Cary, Barrington, Palatine and Libertyville, roasts all of its coffee at its Crystal Lake roastery, supplies coffee and equipment to wholesale accounts across the Chicago area, and provides coffee catering for corporate, private and community events. The company buys through ethical sourcing and direct producer relationships.

Purpose of the Position

The Assistant Outside Sales Manager supports the Director of Outside Sales in the two outside sales channels of the business: catering and wholesale. The position prepares and coordinates catering events, works directly with catering clients from first inquiry through the event, pursues new wholesale accounts through lead follow up and cold calling, and keeps detailed notes and records. The position also contributes to planning for growth in catering and wholesale sales.

The position is a part time office and sales position of 16 hours per week, worked on Wednesdays and Thursdays with some flexibility in the schedule. Working catering events with the barista team is not a requirement of the position. Applicants who want more hours may also take on the optional Catering Barista role described below.

Responsibilities in Catering

• Respond to catering inquiries and discuss event requirements, menus, timing and pricing with clients.
• Prepare catering orders, equipment and supplies for each event, and confirm event details with clients and with the event staff.
• Conduct pre-event site visits with clients when an event requires one, to confirm the location, power, water, setup space and access for the barista team.
• Follow up with clients after events and record what was delivered, what was billed and what the client requested for future events.

Responsibilities in Wholesale

• Follow up on wholesale leads supplied by the Director of Outside Sales and on leads the assistant identifies through independent research.
• Make cold calls and visits to prospective wholesale accounts such as cafés, restaurants, offices and hotels, and present Conscious Cup coffee, equipment and service to them.
• Support existing wholesale accounts with order questions, scheduling and communication with the roastery.

Responsibilities in Records and Planning

• Enter and maintain client, lead, order and event data accurately in spreadsheets and company systems.
• Keep a schedule of upcoming events, follow up dates and open proposals, and report on it to the Director of Outside Sales.
• Contribute to longer range planning for catering and wholesale growth, including which clients and markets to pursue and how to prepare for busy periods.

Required Qualifications

• Attention to detail and strong organization, including the ability to keep plans and details accurate during busy periods when many events and orders are scheduled at once.
• Prompt and timely communication with clients and coworkers.
• A customer service orientation and a willingness to find a way to meet a client's request.
• Comfort speaking with people at every professional level, from a café owner to a corporate event planner to an executive.
• Comfort delivering a sales presentation and making cold calls.
• A professional demeanor and presentation.
• Working knowledge of Microsoft Office, and of Excel or Google Sheets in particular.
• Ability to plan ahead and think about the larger direction of the business, not only the task of the day.
• Ability to work with a team, and to accept feedback and criticism and act on it.
• Ability to stand for extended periods while preparing catering orders and to lift 50 pounds or more.
• Availability on Wednesdays and Thursdays for 16 hours per week.
• A valid driver's license and reliable transportation for client visits.
• A real interest in specialty coffee.

Preferred Qualifications

• Barista experience.
• Catering or event experience.
• Sales experience.
• Familiarity with Canva. This is not required and can be taught.

Optional Additional Role: Catering Barista

The Assistant Outside Sales Manager may also work as a Catering Barista for additional hours and pay. The Catering Barista role is optional and is not a condition of hiring.

• Duties: travel to the event, set up the espresso and brewing equipment, prepare drinks for guests for the length of the event, break down the equipment, and return it to the roastery.
• Schedule: catering events take place several times a week. Event days are often long, sometimes 10 hours or more, and can begin as early as 4:00 AM. Many events fall on weekends.
• Locations: events take place across Chicagoland and frequently in Chicago. For some events the barista team meets on site.
• Requirements: prior commercial espresso experience, and the ability to stand for the full event and to lift 50 pounds or more.
• Pay: event hours are paid at $25 to $30 per hour, separate from the hourly rate of the Assistant Outside Sales Manager position. Each event carries a fixed 20% gratuity that is split among the baristas working it. Gratuity on a one-day event ranges from $200 to $600 per barista, depending on the size of the event.

Compensation and Benefits

The Assistant Outside Sales Manager position is part time, 16 hours per week, and is paid $18 to $20 per hour. Hours worked as a Catering Barista are paid at $25 to $30 per hour plus the event gratuity described above. Benefits include Illinois paid leave accruing at one hour for every 40 hours worked, a $5 per hour holiday premium on 8 paid holidays, an employee discount, paid certifications and industry opportunities, and an employee referral bonus.

How to Apply

Apply through Indeed with a resume. Every application is reviewed by the company.

Conscious Cup Coffee Roasters is an equal opportunity employer.

Pay: $18.00 - $20.00 per hour

Expected hours: 16.0 per week

Benefits:

• Employee discount
• Paid time off
• Professional development assistance
• Referral program

Application Question(s):

• Are you available to work 16 hours per week on Wednesdays and Thursdays?
• Are you able to lift 50 pounds?
• How many years of sales experience do you have, and in what field?
• Have you worked as a barista or in catering? Please describe briefly.
• Are you interested in also working catering events as a Catering Barista, including early morning and weekend events? Do you have commercial espresso experience?
• Do you have a valid driver's license and reliable transportation?

Work Location: In person

Salary : $18 - $20