Catering Sales Manager; Chicago

Catering Sales Manager (Greater Chicago)

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Nando’s Peri-Peri USA is a growing restaurant group currently seeking to add a full-time Catering Manager for the Greater Chicago market to our Restaurant Support team. Known best for our marinated and flame grilled chicken basted to your liking with our famous PERi-PERi sauce, our casual and culturally diverse company has deep roots as a global brand originating in South Africa.

At Nando’s, we want to be the most loved restaurant brand in North America, sharing the spirit of Nando’s PERi- PERi with everyone who chooses to access it. We will redesign and build a business that thrives as it fully answers it is consumers’ needs
-and endures overtime through genuinely putting people at the heart of what we do. We will lead with our values and act with care, compassion, and kindness. By doing this, we will Change Lives Together, every day and everywhere.

The Catering Sales Manager (CSM) is a key revenue-driving leader responsible for accelerating catering growth through proactive sales strategies, strong relationship development, and seamless event execution. This role is specifically designed to support the Greater Chicago region, ensuring focused growth and relationship management within this key market. This blends outside sales, account management, strategic planning, and operational coordination to expand Nando’s catering portfolio and deliver exceptional guest experiences.

Working cross-functionally with Marketing, Operations, Training, and Finance, this role helps shape catering strategy, optimizes sales processes, and ensures restaurants are equipped to execute at the highest level. As a hands‑on growth leader, the Catering Sales Manager drives new business development, builds long‑term client partnerships, and strengthens Nando’s presence in key markets—ultimately ensuring sustainable revenue growth and a world‑class catering experience for every guest.

Success in this role is measured by year‑over‑year sales growth, new account acquisition, revenue retention, and the profitability of catering events. The position earns a base salary plus commission and year‑end kicker bonus.

• Develop and execute a quarterly catering sales plan targeting corporate clients, schools, nonprofit organizations, and local businesses.
• Achieve or exceed quarterly and annual catering revenue targets.
• Actively prospect, qualify, and close new catering accounts through cold outreach, tastings, networking, and in‑person visits.
• Secure recurring catering contracts with businesses, medical offices, property managers, event planners, and corporate clients.
• Grow incremental revenue from existing clients through upselling, repeat bookings, and loyalty‑building strategies.
• Deliver accurate sales forecasts, pipeline reports, and growth projections.
• Maintain and update client database using catering software.
• Collaborate on innovative ideas to boost catering sales and brand awareness.
• Create tailored proposals and event plans that reflect Nando’s brand standards.
• Attend local business events, networking functions, and trade shows to represent the brand and expand the catering footprint.

• Partner with Operations to identify the best restaurants to fulfill catering orders and ensure each location is fully equipped and trained.
• Coordinate event logistics, delivery timing, and execution details with restaurant leaders.
• Ensure all food, packaging, setup, and service elements reflect Nando’s high standards for quality, safety, and presentation.
• Support restaurants with onsite execution when needed for large or high‑profile events.
• Champion an exceptional guest experience from initial inquiry to post‑event follow‑up.

• Train, coach, and support restaurant teams on all aspects of catering—service standards, order execution, packaging and presentation, upselling techniques, and event readiness—to ensure flawless delivery and consistency across units.
• Partn…