Senior Stadium Sales & Events Manager

ROLE AND PURPOSE OF POSITION:

A key strategic appointment, the Senior Stadium Sales & Events Manager will have responsibility for leading the Stadium Commercial Team - part of the wider Commercial and Marketing Division at Connacht Rugby. This is a dynamic and challenging role, where you’ll be responsible for maximising the revenue potential of both the Stadium and High Performance Centre, derived from the meetings, conferences, events, and hospitality sectors, and developing relationships with key stakeholders including staff, suppliers, partners, clients, key account bookers and DMC’s. To ensure smooth delivery and world class execution of initiatives secured, you will have the ability to craft innovative event concepts, a passion for executing memorable experiences, and be excited about building a new venture from the ground up.

RESPONSIBILITIES:

Hospitality Event Business Planning and Development

• Research industry trends, competitor offerings, and client preferences to inform the development and execution of unique event packages and services, together with potential barriers to growth and possible solutions.
• Develop a stadium go-to-market strategy including marketing and sales plans by target audience.
• Develop relationships with vendors and establish price and service agreements to enhance the event experience.
• Work cross-functionally with internal and external stakeholders (e.g. catering provider), to design and integrate operating processes, including event booking, event set-up (e.g. catering coordination, IT/AV set-up), and event clean-up, with responsibility for ensuring that every event is executed to world class standards.

Sales and Marketing

• Build relationships with tourism organisations (e.g. Failte Ireland, Tourism Ireland), convention and conference hosting organisations (e.g. Meet in Ireland, Galway Convention Bureau), and destination management companies to create a sustainable pipeline of leads.
• Carry out robust prospecting to identify leads and secure targets.
• Conduct site inspections and Familiarisation Trips of the stadium with prospective clients.
• Attend trade shows, conventions, and events (including, where necessary, those held overseas), to promote Dexcom Stadium event solutions.
• Identification and management of all MICE RFP’s through conducting reviews, writing tenders, and adhering to procurement processes.
• Maintain and update a networking and events calendar, effectively communicating any updates to all relevant members of staff and suppliers.
• Matchday duties (as required on the day), to include building relationships with hospitality clients and exploring further sales opportunities through effective networking and account management.

Events

• Work with clients, vendors, the wider stadium commercial team and other internal stakeholders to plan events and coordinate logistics, with overall responsibility for managing through to final, flawless, world-class execution, every time.
• Work with prospective clients to understand their objectives and requirements for events, ideate and present executable solutions, and schedule events.
• Oversee all aspects from initial concept to event execution (in conjunction with the Stadium Sales & Event Executive), to deliver memorable client experiences.
• Matchday duties, as required on the day, to include building relationships with hospitality clients and exploring further sales opportunities through effective networking and account management.

Business Oversight

• Provide exceptional standards of account management to new and existing clients.
• Oversee budget planning and financial performance for the hospitality events business area, to achieve profitability goals.
• Develop, update, and maintain a Meetings, Conferences, Events & Hospitality database.
• Train, evaluate, motivate, delegate, and monitor the activities of direct reports.
• Other duties as assigned by the Head of Commercial & Marketing from time-to-time.

EXPERIENCE:

• 5-7 years’ experience in sales, business development-based and marketing roles.
• Previous sales experience within the meetings, conferencing, events, and hospitality sectors.
• Proven ability managing and developing relationships.
• Familiarity with DMC’s and the MICE market and its sales cycle is essential.
• Experience of working within and managing teams.
• Clear experience in managing multiple projects simultaneously in a fast-paced environment.
• Clear experience in successful operational delivery of events.
• A degree level qualification in Business, Marketing and Sales is desirable.

REPORTING RELATIONSHIPS:

Operational & Functional: The Senior Stadium Sales & Events Manager will report directly to the Head of Commercial & Marketing.

The Senior Stadium Sales & Events Manager will be responsible for a Sales & Events Executive an operational dotted-line responsibility for a Marketing Executive. They will also have a very close working relationship with the Head of Stadium Operations and the Catering and Bar Services supplier as well as the rest of the Commercial Team.

WORKING PATTERN:

We operate a hybrid working model, with a requirement to be in the office approx. three days/week (note that due to stadium redevelopment works, the role will be home based on a full-time basis until approx. April 2025.).

The successful candidate will be expected to work appropriate hours to fully carry out their responsibilities. The nature of the work is such that these hours may be irregular or outside the norm i.e., during evenings and at weekends (including Sundays).

How to Apply

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