Sales Manager | Full-Time | Owensboro Convention Center

Oak View Group

Oak View Group is the global leader in venue development, management, and premium hospitality services for the live event industry. Offering an unmatched, 360-degree solution set for a collection of world-class owned venues and a client roster that includes the most influential, highest attended arenas, convention centers, music festivals, performing arts centers, and cultural institutions on the planet.

Position Summary

The Sales Manager reports to the Director of Sales & Sponsorships and supports event sales for three venues: the Owensboro Convention Center, Owensboro Sportscenter, and new indoor youth sports complex. The role focuses on generating new business, managing short-term bookings, and supporting long-term sales goals. The Sales Manager also handles client servicing, contracting, and coordination with the Event Services team to ensure a smooth handoff from sales to planning.

This role pays an annual salary of $45,000-$55,000.

Benefits for Full-Time roles: Health, Dental and Vision Insurance, 401(k) Savings Plan, 401(k) matching, and Paid Time Off (vacation days, sick days, and 11 holidays)

This position will remain open until December 31, 2025.

About the Venue

Western Kentucky’s award-winning Owensboro Convention Center is a full-service facility overlooking the Ohio River in downtown Owensboro. The multi-purpose center offers just under 102,000 square feet of space, including a 44,000+ square foot exhibition hall, the 8,900+ square foot Kentucky Legend® Pier, and a variety of ballroom, meeting, and pre-function areas.

The Owensboro Sportscenter, one of the city’s most historic venues, opened in 1949. This 5,000-seat arena hosts concerts, sporting events, graduations, trade shows, meetings, and receptions.

A new indoor youth sporting complex, opening July 2026, will be the region’s newest indoor sports facility. Designed for basketball, volleyball, and other athletic events, the complex provides flexible court layouts, spectator seating, and space for practices, tournaments, and community activities.

Responsibilities

• Manage the sales pipeline and activities necessary to ensure consistent progress toward sales goals.
• Prospect and sell special events and sporting events for all three venues.
• Develop and maintain relationships with clients, partners, and community organizations to generate new and repeat business.
• Research and pursue new business opportunities in target markets.
• Achieve assigned sales and revenue goals.
• Prepare proposals, contracts, and space requests in line with company guidelines.
• Conduct venue tours for potential clients.
• Attend trade shows, sales missions, and local networking events.
• Coordinate with Visit Owensboro and other tourism partners to attract business.
• Support the creation and execution of sales strategies and marketing plans.
• Work closely with Event Services and Operations teams to ensure event success.
• Participate in weekly sales meetings and submit required reports.
• Maintain accurate CRM records and support database management.
• Work occasional evenings and weekends as needed.
• Perform other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree from an accredited college or university with major course work in sales, marketing or other related field
• minimum 3-5 years of increasingly responsible experience in business to business sales required, preferentially with a sports facility, convention center, performing arts facility, or other multi-purpose public assembly facility.
• Prefer experience in conventions, banquets, entertainment, tradeshow/meetings with responsibility for scheduling, arranging, promoting meetings, lectures, exhibits, conventions, concerts or other related events.
• High school diploma or equivalent GED required.
• Strong computer skills in Windows environment and MS Office applications. Training on industry software will be provided.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including nights, weekends and select holidays as required, in addition to normal business hours if needed.

Strengthened by our Differences. United to Make a Difference

At OVG, we understand that to continue positively disrupting the sports and live entertainment industry, we need a diverse team to help us do it. We also believe that inclusivity drives innovation, strengthens our people, improves our service, and raises our excellence. Our success is rooted in creating environments that reflect and celebrate the diverse communities in which we operate and serve, and this is the reason we are committed to amplifying voices from all different backgrounds.

Equal Opportunity Employer

Oak View Group is committed to equal employment opportunity. We will not discriminate against employees or applicants for employment on any legally recognized basis (“protected class”) including, but not limited to veteran status, uniform service member status, race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information or any other protected class under federal, state, or local law.