Job Description

Senior Manager, Sales & Service

Location: Newark, NJ (hybrid on-site and remote hours) Reports to: Senior Director, Events and Experience Experience: 7+ years in destination sales, travel trade sales, hospitality business development, convention services or event attraction or planning; experience with economic development, destination marketing, and/or travel trade preferred
Role Summary

The Senior Manager, Events & Service is a critical team member in advancing Newark as a vibrant destination by catalyzing and supporting high impact, strategic events and attracting leisure, sports and MICE tourism--all of which contribute to increased visibility and revenue for the city and its stakeholders.

This role plays a key part in elevating Newark's profile, and generating quantifiable economic impact through event and meeting attraction and support. The ideal candidate will bring proven hospitality or travel trade sales experience, a service mindset and a passion for elevating Newark's position as a premier destination to live, work, visit and invest.

Core Responsibilities

Strategy and Business Development

Alongside Senior Director, Events and Experience and CMO, develop and implement a sales strategy that aligns with identified priorities, focusing on key market segments that demonstrate strong growth opportunities for Newark. Recommend and assist in planning face-to-face meetings, presentations, FAMs and trade show attendance to effectively promote Newark as a premier destination. Work closely with Newark's major attractions, hoteliers and other visitor economy stakeholders to share insights and align strategies, ensuring a cohesive approach.
Event Support

Serve as the primary Newark liaison for non-local event organizers for large-scale events, coordinating a wide variety of elements such as welcome amenities, environmental graphics and street dressings, local product/service procurement to ensure seamless event execution and maximization of local economic impact. Build partnerships with hotels, attractions, and service providers to create comprehensive Newark experience packages.
Large-Scale Event Acquisition

Work collaboratively with colleagues on the Marketing team on the development of sales-specific collateral. Identify, pursue, and secure events in various categories such as SMERF (social, military, educations, religious, fraternal), SLESO (sports, leisure, entertainment and special one-off events) and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences, and exhibitions) through relationship building with event planners and association executives and attendance at trade shows and other business development events. Coordinate RFP responses and prepare bid proposals. Cultivate and maintain strong relationships with key destination stakeholders such as major entertainment and sporting venues, hotel partners, major employers and industry stakeholders that position Newark as a premier destination.
Measurement & Optimization

Define and track KPIs such as attendance, engagement, satisfaction, and earned media. Conduct post-event evaluations and provide strategic recommendations for improvement. Maintain event data, reports, and learnings to inform future planning. Ensure meticulous account management, including documentation of activities, management of CRM and evaluation of metrics and KPIs and preparing reports on sales outcomes.
Preferred Qualifications

7+ years of experience destination sales, travel trade sales, hospitality business development, convention services or event attraction or planning; experience with economic development, destination marketing and/or travel trade preferred Experience managing sales pipelines from initial inquiry through event execution Strong organizational and project management skills with attention to detail Ability to collaborate cross-functionally and independently develop productive working relationships with a varied landscape of stakeholders Comfort with fast-paced environments operating with ambiguity and building out new areas of work Due to the nature of event work, must be comfortable with flexible scheduling (evenings/weekends) Knowledge of Newark's civic, cultural, and business landscape
Role Assessment Areas:

Demonstrable increase in visitor spending, hotel room nights and local business revenue attributed to secured events Ratio of qualified leads to confirmed bookings and sales cycle optimization Positive feedback from event organizers, local venues, hotels and city leadership regarding service delivery and collaboration.
Why Newark Alliance?

The Newark Alliance, through the combined strength and collaboration of its Members, drives inclusive economic growth for all of Newark, New Jersey. Our Members comprise Newark's premier businesses, anchor institutions, and community partners, including Fortune 100 & 500 companies and several of the country's top universities, hospitals, and arts institutions. United by a shared vision, the Alliance and its Members work collaboratively to cement Newark's status as one of America's most diverse, prosperous, exciting, and equitable cities.

At Newark Alliance, you will get to:

Help attract and support high-profile events that shape Newark's civic and cultural identity Partner with Newark's leading voices in destination development and economic growth Enjoy a mission-driven, collaborative, and dynamic team environment Benefit from a hybrid work model with in-person engagement at key events and activations
Newark Alliance is committed to diversity. We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity at our company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, creed, color, national origin, nationality, ancestry, age, sex/gender, pregnancy, marital status, civil status, domestic partnership status, familial status, religion, affectional or sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, atypical hereditary cellular or blood trait, genetic information, liability for service in the Armed Forces of the United States, and disability. We bring out the best in each other, honoring the core values of the organization: urgency, collaboration, and professionalism.

Visit us at newark-alliance.org, downtownnewark.com, and newarkhappening.com

Job Type: Full-time

Pay: $70,000.00 - $95,000.00 per year

Benefits:

401(k) Dental insurance Flexible spending account Health insurance Life insurance Paid time off Parental leave Vision insurance
Work Location: Hybrid remote in Newark, NJ 07102