| Location | Reston, Virginia |
| Job Type | Full-time |
CATERING SALES MANAGER
Off-Premise Catering | Thompson Hospitality
About Thompson Catering
Thompson Catering by Thompson Restaurants is a new, unified catering business from Thompson Hospitality, bringing together offerings from our restaurant portfolio to serve corporate clients, office gatherings, weddings, social celebrations, and other
catered events. Our promise is simple: Great food for every way you Gather.
The Opportunity We are seeking an experienced, results-driven Catering Sales Manager to help grow Thompson Catering through new business development and strong client relationships. This is a hands-on sales role for someone who knows how to build a pipeline, open doors, close business, and turn first-time customers into repeat accounts. The ideal candidate brings a strong catering sales background, a record of measurable growth, and a professional network they can activate to generate new business. The position reports to the Director of Catering & Private Events and will focus on selling across two key areas: corporate and office catering, including drop-off and recurring orders, and higher-touch events such as weddings, social celebrations, and staffed functions.
Key Responsibilities
• Proactively prospect for and secure new corporate, office, and event catering business through outreach, networking, referrals, and industry relationships.
• Build and manage a qualified sales pipeline, moving opportunities from initial contact and consultation through proposal negotiation, booking, contracting, and follow-up.
• Develop new accounts and grow existing business through repeat orders, referrals, and expanded client relationships.
• Recommend menus and service options, prepare proposals, and negotiate within established pricing and profitability guidelines.
• Partner with culinary and operations teams to ensure client needs are clearly communicated and booked business is delivered as promised.
• Track sales activity, pipeline, bookings, and forecasts; meet assigned revenue and new-business goals.
• Share client feedback and market insights to help strengthen Thompson Catering’s offerings and sales approach.
Qualifications
• Five or more years of experience in catering sales, off-premise catering, corporate food service sales, or related business development.
• A proven record of meeting sales goals, winning new accounts, and growing catering revenue.
• An established professional network and demonstrated ability to generate business through prospecting, referrals, and relationships—not solely inbound leads.
• Experience selling corporate drop-off/delivery catering and, ideally, larger or full-service events.
• Strong consultative selling, presentation, negotiation, organization, and follow-through skills.
• Understanding of catering pricing and margins, with a focus on profitable growth.
• Comfort using CRM to manage leads, accounts, and forecasts.
What Success Looks Like
Success in this role means growing profitable catering revenue, bringing in new clients, building recurring accounts, maintaining a healthy sales pipeline, and delivering a reliable, professional client experience.
About Thompson Hospitality
Thompson Hospitality is one of the largest privately held food service companies in the United States, with a diverse portfolio of restaurant, catering, and hospitality concepts. We are committed to delivering memorable guest experiences and building strong relationships with our clients and communities.
We are an equal opportunity employer and value diversity. All employment decisions are made based on qualifications, merit, and business needs. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or any other protected status under applicable federal, state, or local laws.