CRA Mission:  The Colorado Restaurant Association is dedicated to the enhancement and success of Colorado’s Foodservice Industry.

Position Summary: The Colorado Restaurant Association (CRA) and its Foundation (CRF) seeks an experienced Events & Sponsorship Director. This is a highly visible position with responsibility for supporting all of the events of the CRA and CRF.   Responsibilities include, but are not limited to:

• Overseeing and developing a plan for the growth of the Association and Foundation events.
• Developing, planning and running events for the Association and Foundation including the Colorado Restaurant Show, the Restaurant Advocacy Fund Golf Tournament, the Annual Blue Ribbon Legislative Reception, the Industry Spotlight Awards, Denver Food + Wine Festival, Drink Red Wear Red, the CO ProStart Student Invitational, scholarship awards celebration, fundraising events, and other events as necessary.
• Working with the Foundation Development Manager to plan and run additional fundraising events and adding additional fundraising opportunities at existing events.
• Cultivating relationships with event partners and sponsors, and working with the CRF Development Director and the CRA VP of Strategic Partnerships to grow event sponsorships for all events.
• Selling sponsorships for all events and managing the overall event sponsorship program. Overseeing all sponsorship fulfillment.
• Creating and managing event budgets to support the overall operating budget and revenue goals of the Foundation.
• With the Communication Manager, developing and executing marketing plans for industry and public-facing events and fundraisers, including plans to sell tickets.
• Coordinating staff responsibilities before and at events.
• Planning and coordinating meetings, programs, and events for all boards and committees of the CRA & CRF.
• Developing and managing proposals and contracts for outside services.
• Assuming full responsibility for meeting space selection, contracts, and set-up.
• Working with the Communication Director to prepare all forms of written communication surrounding events/program and presentations for a diverse audience including restaurants, CRA members, CRF program participants, sponsors, providers, partners, media, and staff.
• Cultivating and maintaining strong working relationships.
• Other duties as needed.

The ideal candidate is an energetic, polished professional who thrives on multi-tasking, problem solving, and providing incomparable external and internal customer service, while using discretion and maintaining strict confidentiality in dealing with a diverse assortment of individuals and issues. Ability to be strategic, flexible, proactive, resourceful and efficient is crucial to this position.

TO APPLY:

Submit a cover letter along with your resume and salary requirements to      jobs@corestaurant.org. All submissions received will be kept confidential. Only complete submissions will be considered for the position.  DO NOT APPLY THROUGH THE AUTO-RESPONSE ON THIS WEBSITE PLEASE.

Requirements:

• Bachelor’s degree (or equivalent) plus a minimum of 5 years’ experience in a similar position, preferably in a nonprofit association or fundraising capacity.
• Track record of growing event revenue and managing multiple revenue streams.
• Experience with managing and growing sponsor programs.
• Experience with planning and running festivals and trade shows.
• Experience with consumer event marketing and activation.
• Experience managing multiple events and programs simultaneously.
• Excellent project management skills.
• Exceptional verbal & written communication, organization, negotiation, and presentation skills; expertise in diffusing pressure situations.
• Self-directed, results-oriented work style with strong decision-making skills and the ability to work independently or in close harmony with a small team.
• Discriminating attention to detail, setting priorities, and meeting deadlines.
• Demonstrated success in addressing the needs of a diverse group of individuals.
• Strong aptitude with desktop and network-based software applications including expert level proficiency in Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, and Outlook. Basic HTML and website experience preferred.
• Experience in graphics programs a bonus, including Adobe InDesign and Photoshop.
• Experience with event-based software, such as Cvent, preferred.

Travel: 

• Some travel required for events – mostly in Colorado.  May be some need to travel out of state on rare occasions.