A Sherwood Associates Position Profile

COMPANY: Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad—Elbe, WA

POSITION:  Sales Manager

REPORTS TO:  General Manager

 

GENERAL SCOPE:
This independent, hands-on Sales Manager is responsible for creating and executing a sales and marketing plan for a tourist railroad in the Pacific Northwest.  The primary emphasis is on building group business / ticket sales, as well as promoting special events to support the railroad’s growth goal.  As a key member of the management team, the Sales Manager will work with the General Manager to provide strategic leadership and sustain the railroad’s values and vision for growth.

 

DUTIES/RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Create and implement a sales growth strategy to increase the railroad’s ridership in targeted markets. 
• Develop and maintain relationships with travel agents, visitor’s bureaus, business owners, etc. to attract tours, group bookings, special events and charters which will support and maintain the railroad.
• Assess existing programs to enhance the value of the railroad’s services to its riders and encourage repeat business.
• Make sales contacts by telephone, email/mail correspondence and direct cold calls to create awareness of the railroad and drive group bookings.
• Promote the Mount Rainier Scenic Railroad as a tourist destination of choice through effective advertising and public relations.  Negotiate pricing with publishers, oversee design of ads, develop relationships with local publications and submit press releases as needed.
• Manage the sales budget to track plan versus actual results.  Provide consistent feedback to management team regarding performance and initiate timely corrective action when goals are not being achieved.
• Prepare marketing materials, proposals, contracts, letters and sales reports.  Develop a customer database system.

 

EXPERIENCE:

• 3-5 years of proven business development/sales experience.  Tourism/hospitality background preferred but not required.
• Proven performance in an independent sales role.
• Ability to network and relate to the public.  Comfortable with direct-selling (phone and in-person) and public relations.
• Event planning, advertising and marketing skills including brochure and ad designs.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills.
• Computer literate.  Prefer experience working with a customer database system. 

 

PERSONAL CHARACTERISTICS:

• Self-reliant, incentive driven
• Confident
• Strong work ethic—high level of energy
• Creative and entrepreneurial but grounded with common sense
• Strong communication skills
• Exceptional listener
• Articulate
• Clear, concise writing skills
• Goes above and beyond with follow-up
• Excellent interpersonal skills with proven ability to build effective working relationships
• Well organized, with ability to prioritize/set goals, maintain focus and follow-through under a variety of conditions
• Up-beat/can-do attitude
• Consistent in communicating goals, standards and expectations, and reasons behind them
• Excellent presentation skills
• Enjoys the life style and benefits of a rural work environment

 

 

** Please contact Allison Sherwood, A. Sherwood Associates, for more information or to submit a resume.  509-747-6828 or asherwoodgroup@qwest.net **