Sales & events manager

The Sales and Events Manager is a revenue-driving role responsible for owning the full sales cycle — from outbound prospecting and lead generation through to close and flawless execution — for all private functions and private dining sales at Hawksmoor Chicago. This role is first and foremost a sales role: success is measured by pipeline growth, conversion, and booked revenue, with events execution as the natural extension of a well-managed sales funnel. We're looking for a proactive hunter who thrives on building relationships from scratch, generating new business, and consistently filling the sales funnel — while also operating as a trusted, collaborative member of the broader restaurant leadership team.

Key Responsibilities

• Drive Sales & Own the Funnel
• Own and drive the full sales funnel — prospecting, lead generation, qualification, proposal, negotiation, close, and post-event follow-up — with a relentless focus on maximizing conversion at every stage.
• Proactively generate new business through outbound prospecting as a core, daily activity — targeted outreach and networking to build a consistent pipeline of new leads.
• Maintain and grow sales momentum needed to keep private dining rooms and the restaurant fully booked months and years into the future.
• Build and own a robust sales database for Chicago, ensuring no opportunity in the local market goes untapped.
• Set and hit personal sales targets and KPIs tied to outbound activity volume, pipeline value, and closed revenue.
• Track and report on funnel health — lead volume, conversion rates, average deal size, and velocity — to continuously improve sales performance.
• Identify and cultivate relationships across every type of booker — from executive assistants to corporate event planners to CEOs.
• Liaise with sales and marketing communities, membership organizations, associations, and listing guides to build referral pipelines and incentivize bookings.
• Sales Execution & Relationship Management
• Promote Hawksmoor Chicago to discerning diners across the city and beyond, positioning the brand as the go-to destination for private events.
• Run regular showcases, tastings, and client events designed specifically to generate and convert new sales leads.
• Keep all digital booking systems, CRM, and databases accurate and current to support disciplined pipeline management.
• Embed the Hawksmoor Chicago brand into the local dining scene, building it into a respected long-term cornerstone of Chicago culture.
• Be the host for onsite events, introduce and turn over clients to the operations team.
• Team Collaboration
• Act as a key, collaborative member of the Hawksmoor Chicago team — working closely with operations, culinary, and front-of-house leadership to ensure every sold event is flawlessly executed.
• Partner cross-functionally to align sales promises with operational capability, ensuring a seamless handoff from sale to execution.
• Support a team-first culture, pitching in wherever needed to support the broader goals of the restaurant.

Qualifications and Skills

• Proven sales experience with a track record of driving revenue through proactive outbound prospecting and full-funnel sales management — hospitality or events experience is a strong plus.
• Hunter mentality: demonstrated success generating new business from cold outreach, not just managing inbound leads.
• Excellent negotiation, closing, and customer service skills.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage a high-volume, multi-stage sales pipeline and multiple projects simultaneously.
• Proficiency in Tripleseat, Prospecting systems (LinkedIn, Crunchbase and beyond), and Microsoft Office Suite.
• A collaborative, team-oriented approach with the ability to work cross-functionally in a fast-paced restaurant environment.

This role requires working some evenings, weekends, and holidays to oversee events.