Catering Sales Manager (Greater Chicago)

WHO WE ARE

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.

NANDO'S VISION

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.

ROLE SUMMARY

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.

Catering Revenue Generation & Sales Growth (Primary Focus)

  • 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.

Execution, Operations Partnership & Guest Experience

  • 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.

Training Support

  • 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.
  • Partner closely with Area Directors to reinforce accountability, identify opportunities, and ensure each restaurant is fully equipped to grow and retain catering business.

Community Engagement & Brand Representation

  • Actively represent Nando's brand and culture at tastings, presentations, and community events.
  • Build relationships with influencers and strategic partners to amplify catering visibility.
  • Support influencer programs with catering activations, gifting, and reporting.
  • Manage guest loyalty program to bring catering clients into the Nando's brand circle

Reporting & Analysis

  • Analyze customer sales patterns to inform marketing, menu evolution, and promotional strategies.
  • Share insights and recommendations to improve catering operations and guest experience.

Pay Range

$60,000.00 - $90,000.00

Benefits

  • Commission based incentive plan
  • 401k and matching*
  • Comprehensive Health Care Plan Options
  • Wellness Reimbursement
  • Technology Reimbursement

This range is based on a variety of factors, including but not limited to departmental budget, the qualifications necessary for the position, education, experience, training, and other considerations permitted by law. Factors that may be used when making an offer may include a candidate's skills, experience, and geographic location, the expected quality and quantity of work, and internal pay alignment, as needed. The upper end of the range will generally be reserved for candidates with extensive experience. An employee's pay history will not be a contributing factor where prohibited by law. In addition to monetary compensation, we offer benefits, including Medical/Dental/Vision insurance and Company-matching 401(k) in addition to other programs and perks. The above hiring range represents Nando's good faith and reasonable estimate of the range of possible compensation at the time of posting.

Nando's Restaurant Group, Inc participates in E-Verify. Please read the E-Verifyand Right to Work notices before applying.

NandosNorth America provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.

Back to blog

Other Jobs To Apply

No other job posts for this day.