Sales & Marketing Assistant - Lawry's

We are looking for an Event Sales and Marketing Assistant to join our team! We offer our Co-workers 401K, medical, dental, vision and life insurance, generous dining discount and daily co-worker meal and tuition reimbursement!The Event Sales and Marketing Assistant will be the second point of contact for group and private dining sales and events. He/She will be responsible in supporting the Event Sales and Marketing Manager by promoting and marketing the restaurant by building business relationships, booking group and private dining events, and manage a referral program following the marketing plan which maximizes revenues. In the absence of the Events Sales and Marketing Manager, He/She will follow the guidance and direction of the General Manager. This position is versatile as they will help in other departments such as but not limited to host and office operations when needed.ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONSThis position is up to 40 hours week.Help support Event Sales and Marketing Manager with all events and functions from organization to execution.Help support Event Sales and Marketing Manager by driving sales and increasing sales including generating new business and maintain contact with present accounts.Manage private dining events and ensure excellence in guest satisfaction.Identify qualifying business potential, closing business, overcoming objections, negotiating, upselling and understanding the client's needs.Manage business on the books successfully and work pipeline of inquiries, prospects, tentative and definite bookings.Build and develop strong client relationships.Knowing and understanding the local market and researching/targeting prospective clients.Handle contracts, negotiations, deposits and final payment of events including account reconciliations as needed.Assist the Events Sales and Marketing Manager in general office duties, coordinate and complete Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) and update BEOs as needed, create floorplans, custom menus, and general event outlines to present to clients, update OpenTable with event details including guest count, valet parking, timing, ect.Supports the Event Sales and Marketing and Reservation phone lines for both bookings and reservations.Communicate BEOs on a regular basis with FOH and HOH management teams.Work with the Events Sales and Marketing Manager and management team to ensure proper scheduling of co-workers for events.Communicate effectively with team to ensure, equipment (such as Audio Visual, power cords, etc.), dinnerware, stemware and glassware, are available for the event and that the setup of rooms (BEOs) are disseminated and executed accordingly.Support Lawry's objectives in sales, service, quality, appearance of facility and sanitation and cleanliness through training of co-workers and creating a positive, productive working environment.Completely understand the Lawry's Brand including procedures, best practices, standards, specifications, and guidelines.Adhere to Lawry's appearance guidelines and dress code.Attend all mandatory co-worker meetings, training, informational and education sessions.Follow Lawry's Restaurants operational policy and procedures, including those for safety/security, to ensure the safety of all co-workers and guests.Consistently and sufficiently meet Lawry's standards as an ambassador of the restaurant with our guests, including inspiring the "WOW Factor" level of service, providing and exuding quality, professionalism, positive guest relations, and first class entertainment and performance.Ensure that all guests feel welcome and are given responsive, friendly, and engaging attention at all times.Be part of the operations team to ensure all departments of the restaurant are functioning properly under the guidance of the General Manager.POSITION QUALIFICATIONS Strong interpersonal skills, excellent verbal and written communication skills. Ability to communicate effectively within all levels of the organization. Excellent time management skills and ability to handle multiple projects. Exceptional people skills must be able to interact with a diverse array of clients and guests. Ability to be an Ambassador of the Lawry's brand. Passion for hospitality and guest service excellence. Ability to work independently and in team settings. Shows confidence, energy, and enthusiasm with a professional, clean appearance, and a friendly, helpful, approachable demeanor. Able to perform the essential functions of the assigned position with or without reasonable accommodation, and within company policy. High degree of flexibility and the ability to manage multiple projects with a strong attention to detail. Ability to effectively present information and respond to questions from groups of managers, clients and guests. Knowledge of the sales process. Basic knowledge of wines, vintages and wine pairings, as well as proper handling and storage of wines, and use of bottle opener (i.e. cork-screw and foil-cutter). Capable of multi-tasking, leading and communicating with others, able to express and exchange ideas in spoken and written English in an above average manner. Working knowledge of basic computer operations and associated software applications required to accomplish job responsibilities. Demonstrate outstanding organizational and time management skills. Must work weekends and holidays. Workdays varies to reflect the business need of the restaurant. There are no set days off. Scheduled hours are subject to change according to event and restaurant operations. Possession of food certifications as required by local, state and federal law. Experience:2+ years of current Restaurant Event Sales experience in an Upscale or Fine Dining environment preferred.High volume experience; Event Sales experience preferred.Computer Skills: Basic familiarity with computers, POS systems (Micros) software and any department specific systems in use. Education: High school diploma or GED preferred. Some college or culinary education beneficial.Compensation: $20-$24/hour. Commission varies based on experience. Commission could range from .5% - 1% of subtotal food and beverage sales.