Maternity Cover - Events Sales Manager

Elior at work – Workdays Made Better with Great Food. A great workday starts with great food, and we know food at work should be more than just a sandwich at your desk. That’s why we bring exciting, fresh, and flexible catering to workplaces across the UK. Whether it’s a quick grab‑and‑go snack or a hearty lunch, with tech‑powered ordering and diverse menus, we keep teams happy, energised, and ready to take on the day.

As an Events Sales Manager, you will be responsible for leading and coordinating sales and marketing efforts to drive business growth, enhance brand visibility, and strengthen client relationships. You will work closely with internal teams to develop and implement strategies that meet commercial goals and deliver exceptional customer engagement.

The Events Sales Manager will form a key role for the event sales team. They will ensure growth of sales, margin and profitability within the department in order to achieve or exceed the departments' budgeted revenue and profitability, whilst maintaining quality standards and high levels of customer service. You will also be responsible for managing events right from initial enquiry stage, through to confirming and planning the event with the client.

• At least two years venue sales and event management experience, preferably within a heritage or unique venue environment.
• Experience of financial planning and setting realistic and ambitious targets.
• Experience of venue sales, negotiation and identification of upselling opportunities.
• Experience of planning and delivering a variety of events including receptions, dinners for corporate or private clients.
• Experience of managing venue bookings diary and client database.
• Ability to simultaneously manage multiple events and work well under pressure and to tight deadlines.
• Ability to think creatively, anticipate and problem solve.
• Ability to work with a wide range of clients, suppliers and contractors at all levels.
• Experience in developing event specific processes and procedures.
• Experience of leadership and line-management.
• Ability to demonstrate experience in providing excellent customer service.
• Ability to manage complex administrative processes.
• Excellent attention to detail.
• Proven strong organisation and problem‑solving skills.
• Ability to work to deadlines under pressure.
• Organising client’s events and working closely with other departments to ensure these are executed without flaw.
• To prepare and follow up with clients on proposals, quotations and contracts, maximising revenue opportunities.
• To conduct site visits of the event spaces.
• Maintain accurate client records and databases, and build strong relationships.
• To guide clients through the planning process, and ensure that all documentation is ready to handover to event operations and the facilities team in good time.
• To work closely with the Sales team to drive new business.
• A strong focus to achieve budgets and set targets.
• Managing multiple inboxes and communicating frequently with clients.
• Provides excellent customer service through every element of the event enquiry, utilising strong selling skills.
• Takes personal responsibility to adhere to sales and event brand standards for enquiry handling, event planning, pre & post‑event.

This job description is designed to help you in the understanding of your role and is not intended to be a definitive list of your duties, as flexibility in meeting Company, client and customer needs is required by all employees.

At Elior, we believe that when you love where you work, it shows. That’s why we make sure our team feels appreciated, supported, and set up for success! Here’s what’s waiting for you:

• Free, tasty meals - Enjoy tasty, nutritious food on us while you work!
• Flexible working - including part time roles, because life doesn’t run on a 9-5 schedule.
• Plenty of Time to Unwind - 28 days of holiday, and after two years, enjoy even more with 31 days.
• Leave for life’s important moments - whether family, personal or unexpected.
• Give back time - paid volunteering days for the causes you care about.
• Room to grow - career development and learning opportunities for all stages of your career.
• Financial security - pension schemes and life assurance.
• Exclusive discounts - save on entertainment, leisure, and even travel!

We’re a people‑first business with over 10,000 colleagues across the UK, serving everything from stadiums to hospitals, schools to workplaces. Our mission? To enrich lives everywhere, every day. And here’s the best part - 87% of our team say they’re proud to work here! Why? Because we create a place where you’re listened to, trusted, supported, and valued.

Not sure you match every single requirement? Apply anyway! Research shows that many people - especially women and those from underrepresented backgrounds - hold back unless they meet 100% of the criteria. But we hire for potential, not just experience. If you’re passionate and ready to grow, we want to hear from you!

At Elior, diversity and inclusion aren’t just policies, they’re who we are. We know that different perspectives make us stronger, and we’re dedicated to creating an environment where everyone feels seen, heard, and empowered to succeed.

Need any support or adjustments during the application process? Just let us know - we’re happy to help! Ready to join us? Hit ‘Apply Now’ and let’s chat!