Job Title: Event Sales Manager
Company: The Good Plate Hospitality Group – Chicago Locations
Location: Chicago, IL
Job Type: Full-Time, Exempt
Compensation: Base salary + commission
Schedule: Primarily weekdays, with some nights/weekends as needed for events
About Us
The Good Plate Hospitality Group is committed to delivering outstanding dining experiences across our portfolio of restaurant concepts—from neighborhood favorites to destination dining. We believe in authenticity, excellence in hospitality, and operational precision. Our growth into private dining, catering, and multi-concept operations demands leaders who can balance strategic vision with day-to-day execution.
Position Overview
We are seeking an ambitious and experienced Event Sales Manager to lead private dining and off-site catering efforts across our Chicago venues. This role is perfect for a motivated self-starter who thrives in an entrepreneurial environment and is eager to grow with an evolving restaurant group. The ideal candidate has experience selling and executing high-volume events and creating standout guest experiences; both in-house and off-site.
Key Responsibilities
Sales & Client Relations
- Proactively drive private event and catering sales to meet and exceed revenue goals
- Build and maintain strong relationships with corporate clients, event planners, and local businesses
- Respond to inquiries, conduct site visits, and close event contracts efficiently and professionally
- Maintain an active pipeline of leads through outbound outreach, networking, and community engagement
Event Planning & Execution
- Plan and execute all aspects of in-house private dining events and off-site catering
- Collaborate with culinary and operations teams to design custom menus, layouts, and logistics
- Ensure a high-touch client experience from inquiry to post-event follow-up
- Attend and oversee key events to ensure flawless service and execution
Strategy & Growth
- Help build scalable systems for private dining and catering programs across new restaurant openings
- Assist in pricing, packaging, and marketing materials for event services
- Identify new market opportunities and partnerships
- Provide post-event analysis and feedback to optimize future planning
Qualifications & Experience
- 3–5+ years of event sales experience in restaurants, catering, or hospitality (with a preferred background in hospitality sales for multi-unit or restaurant group operations)
- Familiarity with the Chicago dining and events market
- Experience with both on- and off-premise event logistics
- Proven success selling and executing high-volume events (100+ guests)
- Experience with new restaurant openings and developing event programs from scratch
- Strong organizational and communication skills with the ability to manage multiple events and deadlines simultaneously
- Entrepreneurial mindset with a “roll up your sleeves” attitude
- Proficiency with CRM tools (TripleSeat), POS systems (Toast preferred), and Microsoft Office 365
What We Offer
- Competitive base salary + commission or bonus opportunities
- Professional growth, mentoring, and opportunities across The Good Plate Hospitality Group.
- Collaborative leadership and a dynamic, creative work environment
- Health benefits (Medical, Dental, Vision), PTO package, and employee dining privileges per company policy
