Sales & Event Planner in Stretford

Location: Imperial War Museum North

Salary: Up to £30,000 per annum

Contract: Full Time, 40 hours, Permanent, 5 days over 7

Working at the award‑winning IWM North, you will showcase the museum's unique event spaces, helping to create memorable experiences for a diverse range of clients. As a Sales & Event Planner, you will be at the heart of the venue's commercial operation, driving enquiries, securing bookings and delivering exceptional customer service from initial enquiry through to event delivery.

We are looking for an enthusiastic and organised individual who shares our passion for creating outstanding events and growing revenue opportunities. Working as part of a dedicated team, you will build strong client relationships, coordinate event requirements, conduct venue showrounds and ensure every event exceeds expectations. This is an exciting opportunity to combine sales and event planning in a role where no two days are the same, while contributing to the success of one of Manchester's most distinctive venues.

Benefits:

• Competitive salary with bonus
• Comprehensive company benefits package
• 20 days annual leave, plus bank and public holidays and your birthday off
• Free parking
• Free meals whilst on duty
• Holiday purchase scheme
• Contributory pension scheme
• Aviva Digicare healthcare and wellbeing support
• 24/7 Employee Assistance Programme providing confidential mental health and wellbeing support
• Enhanced maternity, paternity and adoption leave
• 2 additional days' leave following your return from maternity leave
• A day off to celebrate your baby's first birthday
• Enhanced family‑friendly policies and support
• Shopping, entertainment and travel discounts
• Ongoing training, mentoring and development opportunities
• Structured career pathways to support your long‑term progression
• Collaborative and inclusive culture where your ideas are valued and creativity is encouraged

Responsibilities:

• Undertake reactive sales activities including handling voice and email enquiries.
• Produce professional and accurate proposals, providing best options first time to customers, within agreed response times.
• Follow up on all enquiries within agreed timescales with the aim to convert to confirmed bookings and ensuring conversion rates of incoming sales enquiries and bookings are optimised.
• Manage venue diaries and coordinate internal client bookings.
• Conduct customer showrounds and showcase the venue for current and future event opportunities.
• Issue contracts and invoices in line with agreed sales processes and timelines.
• Plan and coordinate all event details from confirmation through to delivery.
• Maintain accurate, up‑to‑date customer booking information and event records.
• Produce detailed event orders and support event documentation.
• Ensure invoices are issued accurately and on time, with payments received in line with company terms and conditions.
• Liaise closely with operational teams to ensure successful event delivery and lead weekly BEO meetings.
• Achieve agreed sales, conversion and upselling targets.
• Build and maintain strong client relationships to maximise repeat business opportunities.
• Conduct post‑event follow‑up calls to secure future bookings and gather customer feedback.
• Support proactive sales activity targeting past bookers, lapsed accounts and lost opportunities.
• Participate in venue showcase events, FAM trips, sales campaigns and marketing initiatives.
• Monitor competitor activity, promotions and market trends to support venue sales performance and market share.
• Maintain Delphi compliance benchmarks and achieve mystery shopper standards.
• Attend and contribute to sales meetings, forecasting calls and business reviews.
• Perform ad hoc tasks as required.

Qualifications:

• Minimum 2 years' experience in a sales and/or event planning role, preferably within a conference, events, hospitality or venue environment.
• Proven track record of achieving sales, conversion and customer service targets.
• Experience working to KPIs including sales targets, conversion rates, response times and customer satisfaction measures.
• Experience managing events from enquiry through to delivery.
• Demonstrate a positive, flexible and customer‑focused "can do" approach.
• Strong commercial awareness with an understanding of sales, revenue and profitability.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Strong organisational and time management abilities, with excellent attention to detail.
• Experience preparing proposals, contracts and event documentation.
• Confident conducting venue showrounds and building client relationships.
• Ability to manage multiple projects and deadlines simultaneously.
• Enthusiastic, proactive and customer focused.
• Ability to communicate effectively with a wide range of stakeholders.
• Experience using CRM and event management systems, ideally Salesforce and Delphi, is advantageous.

Restaurant Associates is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from candidates of all backgrounds.