SkyBridge Luxury & Associates is conducting a confidential search for an accomplished Director of Sales for a catering and events organization in the Washington, DC area.
This is a hands‑on leadership opportunity for a proven sales professional who understands the unique demands of off-premise catering and complex special events. The Director of Sales will oversee a large team while remaining actively involved in generating new business, expanding key client relationships and growing the company’s presence.
The ideal candidate is both a strong team leader and a highly motivated business developer. This individual should bring a hunter mentality, an established network and the ability to introduce new corporate, association, social, institutional and venue-based business that the company is not currently capturing.
Key Responsibilities
- Provide leadership, coaching and accountability for a team of account sales managers and meeting planners
- Establish sales goals, performance standards and strategies that support revenue growth
- Develop new business across corporate events, galas, weddings, social events, nonprofit organizations, associations and other large-scale catered events
- Build and strengthen relationships with venues, planners, corporate clients and industry partners
- Maintain an active presence in the market and represent the organization at networking and industry events
- Identify new revenue channels, strategic partnerships and preferred or exclusive venue opportunities
- Support account managers with major proposals, pricing strategies, negotiations and client presentations
- Partner closely with culinary, operations, production and event-planning teams to ensure business is both profitable and operationally executable
- Monitor sales activity, forecasting, pipeline development, conversion and account performance
- Personally cultivate and close significant new accounts while developing a high‑performing sales culture
Ideal Background
- Significant sales experience within off-premise catering, full-service event catering or a closely related special-events organization
- Prior responsibility for managing and developing a team of at least 15 sales and event-planning professionals
- Demonstrated success generating new business and building a meaningful book of business
- Strong knowledge of the catering, venue and events landscape
- Established relationships with local venues, planners, corporations, associations or institutional clients
- Experience selling complex, high-touch events involving food, beverage, labor, rentals and production
- Commercially driven, entrepreneurial and comfortable remaining personally involved in business development
- Strong understanding of event operations and the ability to collaborate effectively across departments
- Excellent communication, relationship-management and negotiation skills
Direct experience in off-premise catering is required.
Candidates from adjacent sectors may be considered if they have substantial experience selling complex catered events, leading a sales team and developing venue relationships.
The position offers a competitive compensation package, excellent benefits and a highly competitive performance-based incentive structure with significant total compensation potential.
This position is fully onsite in the Washington, DC market.
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