Sales Manager Conference and Events

Sales Manager Conference & Events Ready to sell unforgettable experiences in one of the UK's most iconic sports and events venues?

• Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club, American Express Stadium, Village Way, Brighton BN1 9BL
• £highly competitive + excellent bonus and benefits
• 40hrs pw 5/7 with flexibility to cover events
• Flexible Benefits fund of £1,300 to utilise across an array of benefits
• Free Lunches, free parking Job Introduction We’re looking for an ambitious and commercially driven Sales Manager to lead Conference & Events sales at the American Express Stadium, home of Brighton & Hove Albion FC. This is a sales leadership role with real commercial ownership. You will be accountable for driving the venue’s Conference & Events revenue, leading a high-performing sales team and building a strong, sustainable pipeline across both new and existing customers. We’re looking for someone who doesn’t simply respond to demand but creates it. You’ll understand your market, identify where the opportunities are, develop new client relationships and ensure every opportunity is maximised through a disciplined and effective sales process. Working closely with the wider Sodexo Live! Sales & Marketing team and venue leadership, you’ll help position the American Express Stadium as a leading year-round destination for conferences, meetings, corporate events, dinners, celebrations and large-scale experiences. What You'll Own:
• Take commercial ownership of the venue’s Conference & Events sales performance and annual revenue budget.
• Lead, coach and develop the venue sales team, setting clear expectations, targets and accountability for performance.
• Build and execute a proactive sales plan that identifies target sectors, accounts and new revenue opportunities.
• Drive new business activity through prospecting, networking, partnerships, agency relationships and direct client engagement.
• Develop and grow existing client relationships, identifying opportunities for repeat business and increased account value.
• Maintain a healthy, qualified sales pipeline with clear visibility of opportunities, conversion and future revenue.
• Own forecasting accuracy and understand performance against budget, identifying gaps early and implementing clear tactical actions to close them.
• Drive strong conversion across inbound enquiries while ensuring the team consistently follows an effective sales process.
• Use CRM, market insight and sales data to understand performance and turn insight into action.
• Develop strategic relationships with key clients and personally lead significant and high-value opportunities.
• Identify opportunities to grow non-matchday utilisation of the stadium, including the Terrace and wider event spaces.
• Work collaboratively with Marketing to create demand, target priority audiences and develop campaigns that support the commercial plan.
• Partner with Operations, Culinary, Finance and other venue teams to ensure we sell experiences that can be delivered brilliantly for our clients.
• Champion a culture of pace, ownership, collaboration and continuous improvement. What We're Looking For You’ll be a Sales Leader who enjoys both developing people and winning business. You’ll be comfortable with numbers and commercial performance, but equally comfortable getting into the market, meeting clients and creating opportunities. You’ll bring:
• A strong track record in Conference & Events, hospitality, venues, hotels, stadia or a related B2B sales environment.
• Evidence of delivering revenue growth and challenging sales targets.
• Strong proactive business development capability alongside experience of managing inbound sales conversion.
• Excellent pipeline management, forecasting and CRM discipline.
• Experience developing key and strategic accounts.
• The ability to identify commercial opportunities and translate them into clear sales actions.
• Strong coaching and people leadership skills, with the confidence to set expectations and hold people accountable.
• Excellent stakeholder management and the ability to work effectively across Sales, Marketing and Operations.
• Energy, curiosity and a genuine passion for winning business and creating exceptional client experiences. Above all, we’re looking for someone who wants to take ownership, someone who understands their numbers, understands their market and is excited by the opportunity to grow an exceptional venue.

What we offer

Working with Sodexo Live! is more than a job; it’s a chance to be part of something greater. You’ll belong in a company and team that values you for you; you’ll act with purpose and have an impact through your everyday actions; and you’ll be able to thrive in your own way. In addition, we also offer a range of resources, rewards and benefits for our colleagues and their families:

• Unlimited access to an online platform offering mental health and wellbeing support.
• Employee Assistance Programme to help with everyday issues or larger problems where you may need additional support, including legal and financial advice, support with work related issues or personal issues such as bereavement.
• Access to a free health and wellbeing app that provides rewards for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and includes access to a 24hr virtual GP and various other services.
• The Sodexo Discounts Scheme, offering great deals 24/7 (also open to friends and family) and/or the prepayment cashback card.
• Money Insights and financial benefits via the Salary Finance Platform.
• Save for your future by becoming a member of the Sodexo Retirement Plan
• A Death-in-Service benefit for colleagues who pass away whilst employed by Sodexo
• Opportunities to enable colleagues to grow and succeed throughout their career at Sodexo, including a variety of learning and development tools.
• Cycle to Work Scheme to help colleagues to do their bit for the environment whilst keeping fit.
• Volunteering Opportunities to enable all colleagues to help support worthwhile causes in our communities.
• Flexible and dynamic work environment Ready to be part of something greater? Apply today and join Sodexo Live! at the American Express Stadium. Sodexo reserves the right to close this advertisement early if we are in receipt of a high volume of applications. About Sodexo At Sodexo, our purpose is to create a better every day for everyone to build a better life for all. As the global leader in services that improve the Quality of Life, we operate in 55 countries, serving over 100 million consumers each day through our unique combination of On-Site Food and FM Services, Benefits & Rewards Services and Personal & Home Services. We are committed to being an inclusive employer. We are a forces friendly employer. We welcome and encourage applications from people with a diverse variety of experiences, backgrounds, and identities. We encourage our employees to get involved with our Employee Networks such as Pride, Sodexo Parents & Carers, Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins. Sodexo Disability, Ability network, So Together, Generations and Origins. We’re a Disability Confident Leader employer. We’re committed to changing attitudes towards disability, and making sure disabled people have the chance to fulfil their aspirations. Click here to read more about what we do to promote an inclusive culture. The rewards and Benefits guide is attached Keywords: Conference and Events Sales, Sales Leadership, Business Development, Venue Sales, Hospitality Management, Account Management, Revenue Growth, Event Sales, Team Leadership, Stakeholder Management