Catering & Event Sales Coordinator

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 partne