Group Sales Manager – Toronto

Dedicated to entertaining, inspiring, and transforming through courageous comedy, The Second City is the premier brand in improv-based sketch comedy, with sold-out shows playing on stages in Chicago, Toronto, and New York City, and our Touring and Theatrical companies entertaining an additional one million theatergoers a year around the globe. The Second City Training Centre is the largest school of improvisation-based arts on the planet, with locations in Chicago, Toronto, and New York. Second City Works, the B2B side of Second City, has brought award-winning improvisation and audience-driven techniques to over 600 Fortune 1000 companies, challenging businesses seeking a more collaborative culture to innovate through development programs, original digital and video content, campaign consultation, private events, and more.

The Group Sales Manager will develop, build, and execute a multi-faceted group sales program for The Second City. This position networks and partners with all segments of the business. You will be responsible for supporting the logistics and coordination of all internal and external sales missions.

As the Group Sales Manager, you are at the forefront of creating and executing memorable experiences for our guests and clients. You will be working in a closely knit team where a “Yes, And” attitude and ensemble-orientation is an absolute must.

Schedule: This is a full-time exempt position. The Second City understands that evening hours might be a requirement of this role and so acknowledges that a later start-time to in-office work hours may be required. The ideal candidate for this position is available to work a flexible schedule if needed and will also have some degree of flexibility to set their own schedule.

Work Environment: The Group Sales Manager operates in an engaging and creative professional office environment and requires a minimum of 3 in-office workdays a week.

Travel: Travel may be required for this position.

Essential Functions

• Develop and implement a comprehensive and full-service group sales program.
• Lead strategic growth for the group sales program by researching and developing relationships with corporate partners.
• Identify opportunities to enhance visibility for the Second City Toronto.
• Responsible for group and account sales within traditional marketing efforts; collaborate with marketing team to implement groups advertising.
• Identify and develop relationships in the travel and tourism sector, working with tour operators, conference and convention organizers, and hotel partners; expand hotel concierge engagement strategy.
• Work with Director of Marketing to facilitate sales strategies for the leadership team through networking events, social gatherings, and marketing collateral.
• Identify, prioritize, and target appropriate sales leads; utilize customer relationship management (CRM) and ticketing systems for optimal sales performance and departmental growth.
• Engage in significant out-of-office networking and sales activity designed to establish and maximize relationships with key targets (33% of time); represent The Second City at association luncheons, networking events, and sales meetings.
• Establish criteria for recognizing, rewarding, and incentivizing high-volume clientele; implement loyalty programs as appropriate.
• Project manage creation and coordination of necessary group sales materials including promotion codes, dedicated webpages, collateral, client gifts, etc.
• Work closely with the Assistant General Manager and Audience Services team to manage reservations, holds, seating, pricing, and order fulfillment.
• Identify underdeveloped sales opportunities and develop service mechanisms for maximizing potential.
• Work with other city partners and organizations to broaden and enhance product offerings and opportunities.
• Develop sales strategies that align with audience development efforts and marketing initiatives for local restaurants, nonprofit and retail partners, and events.
• Develop and manage group sales budget ensuring fiscal efficiency and responsibility.
• Create, manage, and staff group sales events at the theatre (i.e. pre-show receptions), with support from the marketing and operations team as necessary. Greet groups at the theatre as part of a holistic engagement strategy.
• Demonstrate an ongoing commitment to our equity, diversity, inclusion and access initiatives and an ongoing commitment to an anti-racist culture and environment at The Second City.
• Relationship Management with all departments within Second City; Works, Production and Training Center.
• Other duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• The Group Sales Manager must have a proven track record of at least 2-3 years of sales experience in an entertainment, attractions, or travel & tourism setting.
• Entrepreneurial, outgoing, and personable, with a natural ability to network and build meaningful relationships.
• Service Excellence – Highly developed customer service skills, genuinely warm presence, a sincere and outgoing nature, strive for service excellence.
• Experience working in the business-to-business sales environment.
• Functional knowledge of event ticketing and hands-on experience with ticketing systems.
• Experience project managing within a sales environment.
• Demonstrated history of exceeding sales goals and quotas.
• Professional and positive demeanor and comfort communicating effectively in person, on the phone, and by email.
• Experience in supporting strategic partnerships and audience development programs.
• Demonstrated experience maintaining relationships with diverse audiences.
• Ability to work and collaborate with folks from many backgrounds and cultural experiences.
• Prepare contracts, event details & invoices. Track deposits and final payments.
• Strong written and oral communications skills. You love interacting with people, you will be around them a lot to get this job done
• Adaptable to change and able to bring new ideas to the table that use our facility to the fullest.
• You have strong organizational skills and the ability to remain flexible to changing business needs.
• Mathematical Skills: Basic math functions such as addition, subtraction, multiplication, division, and analytical skills.
• Reasoning Ability: Must be able to work independently with minimal supervision and make sound decisions.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word and Excel. Knowledge of salesforce.com is helpful.
• Physical Demands: This position involves regular walking, standing, sitting for extended periods of time, hearing, and talking. May occasionally involve stooping, kneeling, or crouching.
• May involve close vision, color vision, depth perception, focus adjustment, and viewing computer monitor for extended periods of time.
• Involves manual dexterity for using keyboard, mouse, and other office equipment.
• May involve moving or lifting items no more than 50 pounds.

The Second City is an open, inclusive workplace and welcomes applicants who bring along with them diverse life experiences, including every permutation of economic and cultural backgrounds, orientation, ethnicity and points of view. We strive to continue our efforts to work with people who may otherwise be marginalized or underrepresented in our business and around our community.

All candidates for this role will be asked to authorize a background check and must be 21 and older.

The Second City follows CDC guidelines and recommendations regarding safety measures to navigate the Covid-19 pandemic. To work at The Second City, you must show proof of being fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2. Applicants with medical or religious exemptions will be considered.