Project Manager, Hospitality
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Project Manager at beverage-marketing agency IMI Agency supporting hospitality client accounts (concessionaire, lodging, cruise, dining) from Chicago. Day to day: managing supplier relationships, beverage promotions, events, RFPs, and purchase-data analytics, plus admin and presentation support. Requires advanced Microsoft Outlook/Office skills and prior on-premises hospitality operations experien
IMI Agency
Project Manager
Beer, Wine & Spirits
Chicagoland Area
Status: Full Time | Hybrid
Location: Chicago, IL (ONLY)
Reports to: Director of Accounts
IMI's Mission:
IMI Agency specializes in Building Better Beverage Business™ for our Hospitality Clients with innovative marketing programs and promotions, interactive food & beverage merchandising and operations tools, staff training, and recognition/reward programs for all channels in the global Hospitality, Retail, and eCommerce industries. IMI programs create brand value and opportunities, driving F&B revenues and guest engagement for our investors and clients.
Job Summary:
We are seeking a client-focused, driven, organized, and analytical Project Manager to join our team. This individual will work closely with IMI's Director of Accounts to support several hospitality client accounts across the concessionaire, lodging, cruise line, and dining segments. The ideal candidate will possess exceptional organizational and communication skills, demonstrate a polished and professional demeanor, and be comfortable presenting to both internal and external stakeholders. This role requires advanced proficiency in Microsoft Outlook and prior experience working as an on-premises operator within the hospitality industry. Experience in project management and bar operations is highly preferred. Candidates located in the Chicagoland area are strongly preferred. The Project Manager will perform a variety of responsibilities, including but not limited to high-level administrative support, coordination and planning of client programs, industry activities, and events, data research and analytics, and assisting in the development and execution of program strategies. This individual will support client beverage programs by managing supplier relationships, compiling and analyzing purchase data, assisting with the development and tracking of beverage promotions and limited-time offers, and supporting other marketing initiatives designed to drive customer satisfaction, quality service, and compliance with corporate and franchise standards. The Project Manager will also serve as a liaison for internal and external communications and assist in the execution of creative materials. Additional responsibilities include coordinating and facilitating RFP processes, training, on-site and virtual meetings, presentations, and other cross-functional projects as needed.
Critical Competencies:
Given the high visibility of IMI Agency within leading hospitality, retail, and eCommerce operators and beverage suppliers in B2B and B2C communities, along with the ethical, transparent, fiduciary, and legally compliant ethics of our company, all IMI team members must be intelligent, mature, well-polished, trustworthy, and have a high standard of ethics and leadership. You must have confidence and class in conducting IMIs and the Client's mission but also know how to get constructive feedback and implement the necessary changes in performance and work, based on that feedback. You must dress and carry yourself in a manner that is superior to the standard, along with speaking and writing clearly.
Adaptability I Communication I Job-Related Business Focus I Planning & Organizing I Problem Solving Teamwork I Technical Expertise / Work Habits
Key Responsibilities:
- Assist, manage, and organize client-supplier relations, marketing, and promotional programming, and distributor buying programs for the client’s United States locations under the beverage program.
- Assist with supplier invoicing and collection.
- Assist in planning small and large-scale meetings and conferences, including coordinating and selecting locations, agendas, workshops, food & beverage, etc., as assigned.
- Help gather information and trends on alcoholic beverages for the client’s beverage programs and core mandates for the Director of Accounts and other Account Team members as assigned.
- Become a trusted partner and liaise for Account Managers and Directors; working with designers and developers to identify and define project scopes, objectives, and requirements, ensuring alignment with IMI and client(s) organizational goals.
- Coordination of internal and external resources, defining budgets and schedules.
- Assist in gathering property compliance data and support the client’s properties.
- Assist with ensuring beverage program regulatory compliance from federal, state, and local by working with the Director of Accounts.
- Assist with providing clients with analytics regarding program purchasing compliance.
- Assist in the ideation and execution of promotions and ideas to capture in-house guests.
- Assist with beverage menus by working with internal and external creative teams.
- Report project results and management risk – escalating issues as needed based on the project plans.
- Prioritize tasks and assignments, ensuring all responsibilities are completed in a timely and efficient manner.
- Accurately track and report beverage developments and implementations.
- Consistently follow up on assignments and projects to ensure timely delivery and execution.
- Perform any other assignments as directed.
- 10% Travel required.
Education & Qualifications:
- Strong organizational skills working with multiple clients, stakeholders, and team members; utilizing digital notes.
- Bachelor’s degree in marketing, business, or a related field, or equivalent working experience
- Experience in Hospitality, Supply Chain Beverage Program, or Event Planning, activations, and/or training in On-Premises Operations is a must
- Baseline knowledge of the alcoholic beverage categories and industry. related products, and/or the three-tiered system
- Successful track record of complete high-level Project Management duties
- Proficient level of experience collecting and analyzing data; experience creating or following program metrics to measure results is a plus
- Understanding of on-premises beverage performance
- Creative experience implementing beverage promotions
- Project management experience is a plus
- Experience in maintaining a database for budgets and records of expenditures; reported frequently
- Experience communicating effectively with all levels of management, including high-level stakeholders
- Speaks and writes clearly and concisely
- Able to work with different management styles as needed
- Takes initiative and is a part of the solution to issues and problems that arise
- The ability to multitask, handling several projects simultaneously and efficiently
- High-energy interpersonal skills and a professional demeanor
- High proficiency in all Microsoft Office Applications (i.e., Excel, Word, PowerPoint, etc.) is a must
- Excellent organizational, in-person/virtual presentation, and time management skills
- Ability to prioritize work assignments and work under minimal direction
- Hospitable, with a service-prone, client-first mentality
- Follow-up and follow-through must be your mantra
The following experiences are a plus:
- Alcohol beverage knowledge-related products, and the three-tiered system
- Event management, hosting, coordination, and planning, Food and Beverage marketing development, and data analysis
- Food and Beverage operations
- Beverage supplier or distributor sales analysis
Salary: Commensurate with experience and demonstrated successes
Benefits (Subject to change):
- 401(k) with match *eligibility required
- 18-21 Annual Company Holidays
- 3 Weeks PTO (10 Vacations Days/5 Sick Days) + monthly appointment days
- Multiple Medical Plan Options w/ a no-cost option for employee coverage
- Dental
- Vision
- Life and LTD/STD
- Supplemental Insurances (i.e., Illness, Cancer, Legal, etc.)
- Confidential Employee Assistance Program + Financial Assistance and Mapping
- Summer Fridays/ Refresh Fridays, and more!
IMI Agency is an equal-opportunity employer. We celebrate diversity and are committed to an inclusive environment for all employees.
If this describes you and you can work in a highly structured environment, completing tasks with precision, we want to hear from you!
Contact: hrdept@imiagency.com
IMI Agency (Incentive Marketing, Inc.) specializes in Building Better Beverage Business™ for Hospitality Clients through innovative marketing programs and promotions, interactive food & beverage merchandising and operations tools, staff training, and recognition/reward programs across the Chain Hospitality industry. IMI programs create brand value and opportunities with consumers while driving food and beverage sales and profits for our Hospitality Operator clients. For over 30 years, we have maintained a singular focus: to manage in the best interests of our clients. We exist as an extension of our clients, a partner—there to simplify the complex, to be transparent, to offer a unique perspective that goes beyond the bottom line...but is always completely aligned with their goals and objectives