Event Sales Manager | Full-Time | University of Kansas Social Club

Oak View Group (OVG) is the global leader in premium live entertainment infrastructure and services, with a platform spanning venue development and end-to-end capabilities across venue management, hospitality, and sponsorship sales. Founded in 2015, the company serves a collection of world-class venues and a client roster of iconic arenas, stadiums, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions across four continents.

About the role

The Event Sales Manager for catering & private events is responsible for booking both corporate and social private event revenue at the University of Kansas Social Club. This role focuses on soliciting new business and establishing meaningful relationships to secure multi-year event contracts. The position manages the booking process from sale to service in cooperation with internal venue stakeholders to ensure successful implementation.

Annual salary: $55,000 - $65,000, plus commission eligibility.

Responsibilities

• Prospect new business via previous contacts, networking, trade publications, resource guides, database companies, and cold calls.
• Target the local hospitality industry, including event planners and corporate planners, to sell private events.
• Direct outreach to corporate-level decision makers to drive private event bookings.
• Develop and execute strategic sales plans to generate new corporate and social private event business and achieve revenue and booking goals.
• Prospect new business through networking, referrals, cold calls, email outreach, industry contacts, databases, trade publications, and other targeted sales initiatives.
• Identify and cultivate relationships with corporate event planners, meeting planners, wedding and social event professionals, hospitality partners, and key decision-makers.
• Build and maintain a strong pipeline of qualified sales opportunities, consistently following up with prospective clients throughout the sales cycle.
• Develop and deliver customized sales presentations, proposals, event packages, and pricing options aligned with client objectives and venue capabilities.
• Conduct venue tours and client meetings, effectively communicating the facility's amenities, services, event capabilities, and unique selling points.
• Manage the complete sales process from initial inquiry and prospecting through negotiation, contracting, and turnover to the event operations team.
• Negotiate event details, pricing, packages, and contractual terms while protecting venue revenue and ensuring alignment with business guidelines.
• Establish long-term relationships with clients, focusing on repeat business, referrals, and multi-year event contracts.
• Partner closely with internal departments—including event operations, catering, food and beverage, culinary, finance, marketing, and guest services—to ensure seamless execution of contracted events.

Requirements

• Bachelor’s degree in business, hospitality, or a related field.
• 3-5 years of experience in a corporate sales or marketing environment with demonstrated business acumen and sales opportunity management.
• Experience in a convention center, sports and entertainment venue, or hotel hospitality sales function is preferred.
• High level of integrity with a professional, business-oriented demeanor.
• Creativity and ingenuity in developing successful sales strategies, with a working knowledge of industry or community events.
• Proven ability to initiate high-level contacts with prospective customers, strong persuasion, and negotiation skills to close sales.
• Ability to establish and maintain effective business relationships.
• Demonstrated verbal and written communication skills for interacting with various business units, venues, and prospective customers.
• Detail-oriented with exceptional organizational skills to manage multiple, concurrent projects in a high-paced environment.
• Ability to analyze, formulate solutions, and resolve issues in a timely manner.
• Strong teamwork skills and ability to collaborate effectively across business units.
• Proven commitment to exceptional guest service.
• Self-motivated with excellent time management, business/sales acumen, and CRM skills.
• Prior experience with customer relationship management databases.
• Willingness to work irregular and extended hours, including nights, weekends, and holidays.

Benefits

• Health, Dental, and Vision Insurance
• 401(k) Savings Plan with company matching
• Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays)