Catering & Event Sales Coordinator
San Francisco
Impact – Sales /
Full Time, Exempt, Office /
Hybrid
AT LA COCINA, everything we do is done with hospitality, for our community, and in the service of opportunity and inclusivity. Our work is to transform the economic conditions that have put up barriers for women, working-class people, immigrants, and people of color in the food industry by providing affordable kitchen spaces, training, resources, and community to talented entrepreneurs so they can build thriving businesses. We center entrepreneurs in everything that we do, including making working directly with entrepreneurs a requirement for all employees at the organization. We seek passionate, mission-driven individuals who share our passion for the transformative power of food to change lives and reshape current social and political structures. We’re able to achieve our goals because of the energy you bring and share with others. You can learn more about the organization at www.lacocinasf.org.
JOB SUMMARY | Your mission as the Catering and Event Sales Coordinator is to support La Cocina by generating revenue for and contributing to the general well being of the organization, and to support the entrepreneurs by brokering access to market opportunities, organizing La Cocina events, and by delivering hands-on coaching and technical assistance.
WHAT YOU CAN EXPECT IN THE CATERING & EVENT SALES COORDINATOR ROLE AT LA COCINA
DRIVE SALES
- Achieve or exceed quarterly sales goals for catering, events, venue rental, and bar services.
- Implement strategic and creative tactics to achieve revenue growth, customer cultivation and brand visibility, increasing the conversion of leads into sales by 5%.
- Increase profitability and customer satisfaction by tailoring, cross promoting, and upselling service and product offerings.
CATERING & EVENT COORDINATION
- Lead the planning and execution of revenue-generating, La Cocina-led events, fundraisers and external industry partner events.
- Collaborate with the Catering & Event Sales coordination team to manage custom catering and maintain a shared catering and events calendar, communicating with the organization on bookings and team involvement.
- Oversee all aspects of F&B logistics and event production, including timelines, day-of execution, contracts, and coordination with vendors for rentals, staffing, and permits.
- Respond to new leads within two business days and maintain ongoing communication throughout the proposal and booking process.
- Manage accurate and timely processing of contracts, invoices, and caterer payments.
- Monitor quarterly sales performance and industry trends to inform strategies.
- Provide technical assistance and event support to La Cocina entrepreneurs, including catering training, service operations guidance, menu development, and pricing recommendations.
CLIENT CULTIVATION
- Forge and sustain client relationships by implementing outreach and retention strategies.
- Maintain clear, professional communication with clients and caterers, ensuring exceptional service that meets the needs of both.
- Maintain the partner and customer database in Salesforce for targeted communication and engagement.
- Respond to client feedback to improve service and customer experience to support caterer performance.
BE A STRATEGIC PARTNER
- Collaborate with the sales and program teams to ensure entrepreneur readiness and smooth event execution.
- Work closely on program and partner initiatives that promote business growth and revenue-generating opportunities for La Cocina.
- Collaborate with the communications team to design, promote, and execute organization-wide events, and align the La Cocina brand and mission to increase customer engagement.
ECOSYSTEM BUILDING
- Build and sustain relationships with event service providers to enhance our market competitiveness and service offerings.
- Develop strategic partner and sponsor opportunities, fulfilling brand entitlements and activations.
CENTERING THE ENTREPRENEURS
- Dedicate 5% of your time (about 100 hours annually) to supporting La Cocina participants through technical assistance, engagement at business events, and assistance during key events. This differs for each staff member at La Cocina and is based on your role and skills.
Additional duties may be assigned, such as supporting the sales team and organization-wide initiatives.
WHAT YOU WILL BRING TO THE TABLE AT LA COCINA
- LEADERSHIP |Take initiative in annual planning, strategy, and execution. Contribute to promoting a culture of feedback that supports growth, success, and strength of the team.
- REVENUE GROWTH | Drive revenue through event and partner initiatives while managing P&L and business strategy.
- CUSTOMER SERVICE | Deliver exceptional service by understanding and meeting client needs through active listening and problem-solving.
- SMALL BUSINESS INSIGHT | Relate to and support entrepreneurs by understanding the challenges and rewards of small business ownership.
- CULINARY ENTHUSIASM | Stay informed about industry trends and explore diverse flavors, actively participating in menu development. Eager to explore diverse flavors and ingredients with an open mind. A willingness to taste and evaluate any dish to enhance menu development and overall product quality.
- TEACHING SKILLS | Communicate complex concepts clearly and adapt teaching methods to different learning styles to engage others and foster an inclusive learning environment.
- IMPACT REPORTING AND TECHNOLOGY | Use technology like Salesforce for reporting activities. Your attention to detail helps us tell our story, raise funds, and showcase our impact.
- COMMITMENT TO EQUITY | Advocate for racial and gender equity in business ownership, particularly in low-income communities.
- RELATIONSHIP BUILDING | Establish positive relationships with employees, entrepreneurs, food industry leaders, and the public.
- OUTCOME-DRIVEN LEADERSHIP | Implement strategy and adapt to changes in a dynamic environment.
- COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT | Participate thoughtfully in community events and initiatives.
- PHYSICALITY | Ability to frequently move about an event space, transport materials and equipment, and lift and carry up to 25 pounds for event-related tasks. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions of the job.
- BILINGUAL ADVANTAGE | Being fluent in Spanish and English enhances communication in this role.
$69,000 - $80,000 a year
Annual Salary determined based on candidate skills and qualifications
TIME OFF RESTRICTIONSAvoid substantial time off during high catering seasons (Spring Gala Season: May – June, Fall Catering Season: September – November, Holiday Season: December-January), any major fundraising campaigns, all La Cocina development special events and for any large donor or partner commitments. This may include nights and weekends.
EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITYLa Cocina is an Equal Opportunity Employer, committed to hiring a diverse workforce. All openings will be filled based on qualifications without regard to race, color, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, marital status, veteran status, disability, age, religion or any other classification protected by law. Pursuant to the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, we will consider for employment qualified applicants with arrest and conviction records.
