Description
SALES & EVENT COORDINATOR – LA CROSSE CENTER: The City of La Crosse is seeking to hire a full-time Sales & Event Coordinator to become an essential team member at La Crosse’s premier convention site and entertainment destination for concerts, conventions, trade shows, entertainment and sporting events.
The purpose of this position is to develop and implement sales plans to attract conventions, trade shows and other events to the La Crosse Center. The Sales & Event Coordinator is responsible for actively seeking clients to lease the La Crosse Center for events and assisting in other various duties. This position plays a vital role in the success of the organization. The work is performed under the direction of the Sales & Marketing Manager of the La Crosse Center. Annual salary for this exempt position ranges between $63,793.60 – $73,070.40 depending on qualifications.
Requirements: Bachelor’s degree with emphasis in sales, business or related field, four years sales experience, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities. A valid motor vehicle operator’s license required. Candidates must have good communication and customer service skills, be self-motivated, proficient with Microsoft Office and willing to learn new things.
Benefits: The City of La Crosse offers a comprehensive benefit package including medical benefit plans, Wisconsin Retirement Plan, deferred compensation, Roth IRA, life insurance, accident insurance, income continuation insurance, voluntary dental and vision plans, paid holidays, vacations, and sick leave. Benefit perks: traditional or high deductible (with HSA) medical plan options available; participation in the Wisconsin Retirement System with 7.20% employer contribution; 10 paid holidays, ability to earn up to 12 sick days per year, and vacation time available as of date of hire.
Successful candidate will be subject to a background check, post-offer/pre-employment drug screen. The City of La Crosse supports attaining a representative workforce and workplace equity.
Applications are accepted until December 7, 2025. To be considered, submit an employment application by visiting the City of La Crosse website and clicking on City Services, then clicking Career Opportunities or by visiting https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/lacrossewi.
Purpose of Position
The purpose of this position is to develop and implement sales plans to attract conventions, trade shows and other events to the La Crosse Center. The Sales and Event Coordinator is responsible for actively seeking clients to lease the La Crosse Center for events and assisting in other various duties. This position plays a vital role in the organization. The work is performed under the direction of the Operations Manager of the La Crosse Center.
Essential Duties And Responsibilities
The following duties are normal for this classification. These are not to be construed as exclusive or all-inclusive. Other duties may be required and assigned.
Actively seek clients to lease the La Crosse Center, including conducting site tours, preparing proposals, contracts, providing information and coordinate with event/operations staff, etc.
Assists La Crosse Area Convention and Visitors Bureau with promotional campaigns, sales blitzes, cooperative advertising and other efforts to attract conventions, trade shows and meetings.
Guide clients in preparation of events, explaining contract provisions, policies and procedures.
Provide operations/events staff on equipment needs, food and beverage and other services for events.
Conduct all follow up, including receipt of signed contracts, insurance certificates, set up diagrams, event needs.
Provide sales and marketing reports as required
Forecast and manage revenue and expense items for the department
Functions as liaison in coordinating events with event organizers, business professionals, area hotel personnel, the Convention and Visitor's Bureau and suppliers
Updates and enforces external catering requirements
Solicits and sells sponsorships.
Is responsible for sales for many of the events that take place in the facility.
Drafts contracts for most events in the Center.
Provides follow-up to events.
Drafts proposals in conjunction with and under the guidance/supervision of the La Crosse Center Operations Manager.
Drafts set up notes for the many events at the La Crosse Center.
Meets with clients either in a pre-con or on the floor to ensure all of their needs are met.
Attends convention committee meetings at the convention & visitors bureau.
Negotiates rates with clients or conducts negotiations with clients.
Performs related duties as required.
Maintains regular and predictable on-site attendance.
Additional Tasks And Responsibilities
While the following tasks are necessary for the work of the unit, they are not an essential part of the purpose of this classification and may also be performed by other unit members.
Acts as Center liaison to schools.
Assists in various departments as needed.
Minimum Training and Experience Required to Perform Essential Job Functions
Bachelor's degree with emphasis in sales, business or in a related field, four years sales experience, or any combination of education and experience that provides equivalent knowledge, skills and abilities. A valid Wisconsin motor vehicle operator's license required.
Physical and Mental Abilities Required to Perform Essential Job Functions
Language Ability and Interpersonal Communication
Ability to decide the time, place and sequence of operations within an organizational framework, and to oversee their execution. Ability to analyze and categorize data and information using established criteria, to determine consequences and identify and select alternatives.
Ability to persuade, convince, and/or train others, including the ability to act in a lead worker capacity. Ability to advise and interpret how to apply policies, procedures and standards to specific situations.
Ability to communicate orally and in writing with meeting planners, CVB members, business representatives, promoters, tour managers, vendor representatives, customers and students.
Ability to speak with confidence and communicate effectively on the knowledge of the La Crosse Center and what it has to offer with clients, staff, and public.
Ability to organize projects and prioritize work flow and to complete multiple tasks simultaneously and accurately.
Ability to prioritize tasks & to manage workload using own initiative.
Thoroughness in task approach, follow up and completion.
Strong computer skills especially in Microsoft Outlook, Word, Excel, Power Point, CAD.
Convention Center And /or Hotel Experience Preferred.
Ability to work days, nights and holidays as needed.
Knowledge of sales and revenue as it pertains to the hospitality industry specifically in a convention center
.
Mathematical Ability
Ability to calculate percentages, fractions, decimals and ratios. Ability to interpret basic descriptive statistical reports.
Judgment and Situational Reasoning Ability
Ability to use functional reasoning and apply rational judgment in performing diversified work activities.
Ability to exercise the judgment, decisiveness and creativity required in situations involving the direction, control and planning of an entire program or multiple programs.
Physical Requirements
Ability to operate a variety of office equipment including computer terminal, telephone, calculator/adding machine and photocopier.
Ability to coordinate eyes, hands, feet and limbs in performing moderately coordinated movements such as typing. Ability to grasp and place objects.
Ability to exert light physical effort in sedentary to light work. Ability to sustain prolonged visual concentration.
Ability to recognize and identify degrees of similarities or differences between characteristics of color, shapes and sounds associated with job-related objects, materials and tasks.
Environmental Adaptability
Ability to work under safe and comfortable conditions where exposure to adverse environmental factors minimal and poses a very limited risk of injury.
The City of La Crosse is an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, the City will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages both prospective and current employees to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.
To follow is a brief summary of the benefits the City of La Crosse offers to its employees. Benefits and benefit eligibility will vary by position. Detailed benefits information can be found on the City's website under Department>Human Resources>Employee Benefits.
- Medical Benefit Plan – Offered to all full-time, non-represented or unionized employees. Coverage for eligible medical expenses and prescriptions. Note: Employees hired full-time on or after 1/1/14 are not eligible for retiree medical benefit plan coverage.
- Pension (Wisconsin Retirement System-WRS) – Automatic enrollment for full-time positions. Eligibility for part-time positions varies by position and is determined by the number of hours and duration of the position. For eligible positions, contributions begin date of hire. Employer contributions are paid by the employer. Employees are required to pay 50% of the total WRS contribution rate for "general" employees. 2025 rate is 6.95% of pre-tax earnings.
- Life Insurance – (follows WRS eligibility) Up to five times the employee's annual salary is available. Spouse/dependent coverage options also available.
- Income Continuation Insurance – (follows WRS enrollment) A short or long term disability insurance. Various options available for waiting periods.
- Section #125 Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a flexible spending account to defer money from your paycheck pre-tax in a dependent care or medical account.
- Vision Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee.
- Dental Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. This is a voluntary plan, completely funded by the employee. Employees can choose between two different dental plans.
- 457 Deferred Compensation Plan - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for pre-tax payroll deductions to be placed in a retirement investment account.
- ICMA Roth IRA - Offered to non-represented or unionized employees working 20 hours/week or more. May enroll at any time. Employees may elect for payroll deductions to be placed in a Roth IRA.
- Paid Leave Time: Vacation, sick leave, personal business leave, family care leave, and holidays. Actual leave accrual determined by employee handbook or union contracts.