Director of Sales

Job DescriptionJob DescriptionDescription:

Accountability: Director of Sales & Visitor Engagement reports to the Executive Director

Supervises: The Director of Sales & Visitor Engagement directly oversees the operations of Retail Services Private Events, Marketing, Exhibits & Public Events.

About: Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden inspires a love of nature and its beauty through unforgettable outdoor experiences. The nearly 400 acres of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden provides visitors with a chance to reconnect with nature in all seasons. The property welcomes guests to spectacular gardens, a conservatory dedicated to the display of tropical plants and orchids, sparkling fountains, a trailhead outdoor hub, nearly 6 miles of trails and a dog park.

The Director of Sales & Visitor Engagement leads the efforts of an integral team, responsible for shaping and leading events, experiences, and offerings, ensuring an optimal guest experience. Serving in this leadership role, The Director of Sales & Visitor Engagement will understand the importance of driving and delivering excellence, reflective in our revenue, sales, and attendance goals. An ideal candidate will have excellent interpersonal skills, superb attention to detail, excellent customer service skills, management and motivational skills, a champion of excellence, representing the Garden and its property in the highest form.

Responsibilities:

· Understands the importance of each guest to the Garden and drives excellence to ensure an optimal experience in every way.

· Leads and provides supervision and oversight to the retail, private events, public events, exhibits, and marketing teams, carrying out supervisory responsibilities such as recruitment, interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning, and directing work; appraising performance; rewarding and disciplining employees; addressing complaints and resolving problems.

· Develops and implements long and short-range goals for meeting the Garden and its grounds operational needs, including special exhibitions, public events & private events.

· Leads and collaborates with members of the sales and engagement team to establish new strategies and an internal rubric for the types of engagement, experience and product offerings, evaluating and adjusting as needed.

· Leads and directs efforts of data creation and analysis to support, collect and leverage data to deepen visitor engagement leading to increased revenues.

· Leads and directs the development of audience development strategies and coordination of market research that drives overall engagement.

· Provides oversight, leads, and assesses the visitor satisfaction experience, driving continuous process refinement and improvement.

· Develops, monitors, and implements comprehensive ways to increase revenue through retail experiences, public & private events, and exhibit offerings.

· Actively forecasts, monitors, and communicates revenue risks and profits, utilizing and establishing ongoing weekly sales goals, revenue & expense actuals and projections, attendance, and community impact.

· Researches, determines, and sets pricing schedules for promotions, products, events, and exhibits.

· Develops, manages, and oversees departmental budgets to include retail spaces, private events, public events, exhibits, and marketing and is accountable to said budgets.

· Collaborates with Marketing to effectively promote sales efforts and opportunities to the public.

· Serves as the gatekeeper of the internal master calendar, leading and managing the recording of events and offerings, overseeing inputs, edits, and updates.

· Leads and communicates information regarding upcoming programs, marketing campaigns, and messaging to all front-line staff in a timely manner.

· Provides oversight to the development of exhibitions and events, enhancing the visitor experience.

· Encourages and assists with the management of new interpretive and programmatic offerings that lead to enhanced revenue generation opportunities.

· Creates and executes contingency plans for building and grounds capacity for events and exhibits, securing additional internal and external resources as needed.

· Provides oversight of private events team, ensuring best experiences with site visits, bookings, event set-up, event communication, vendor relations and negotiations, and on-site day of event management.

· Collaborates with Private Events Manager to determine sales goals and strategies, ensuring private event goals and opportunities are met.

· Collaborates with the Horticulture and Facilities teams to ensure exhibits are in excellent condition, Garden buildings and grounds are visually appealing, well-maintained, and secure.

· Addresses and resolves guests’ needs, concerns, and complaints, assuring they are settled in a positive, timely and appropriate manner.

· Represents the Visitor Engagement team on various internal and external committees and work groups, serving as an advocate for the Garden and its property.

· Exemplifies the Garden Mission Statement and supports staff, departments and leadership in pursuing and achieving goals.

· Performs any other duties needed to help drive to our vision, fulfill our mission, and abide by our values.

Requirements:

· Exhibits a passion for the mission of Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden.

· Successfully pass a standard background review.

· Occasional nights and weekends required.

· Must be willing to serve all guests equally regardless of their race, color, religion, national origin, age, gender, marital status, disability, veteran status, genetic information, gender identity and/or sexual orientation.

Experience & Education:??

· Bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution.

· Minimum five years of progressive work experience managing guest relations, professional staff, public engagement, and operations within a hospitality site, cultural institution, retail establishment, or similar customer/guest-centric environment.

· Comfort with Blackbaud’s Altru or other customer relationship management software is desired.

· Demonstrated experience in developing/nurturing positive customer interactions.

· Excellent customer service, leadership, management, problem-solving, and decision-making skills.

· Strong written and verbal presentation skills; ability to communicate effectively with the public, staff, vendors, and contractors.

· Driven, energetic, highly collaborative and results oriented.

· High level of accountability and efficiency, especially while handling multiple tasks.

· Good research, planning, and organizational skills; strong work ethic and follow-through; excellent attention to detail.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden Core Values:We are an organization of integrity. We are a balanced & inclusive team.We will foster each other’s growth & wellbeing. We will use imagination to fuel innovation.We will act with intention & initiative.

Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type.

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