Now Hiring - Sales Specialist in Columbia, IL

Can you be a real, true friend? Is it your nature to be open, listen deeply, know your heart, respond genuinely, and care as only a real friend cares? If so, we want to meet you.

Cedarhurst, a regional healthcare provider and true friend of older adults, seeks a service-minded, career-oriented individual to join our team as a full-time Sales Specialist.

As a Sales Specialist, you will have to opportunity to connect with, and positively impact the lives of, our residents daily! This is a is a specialized role designed to assist and/or direct the marketing and sales efforts in assigned communities or regions within Cedarhurst Senior Living. This position is part of the corporate support team; however, will work remotely in communities and/or regions as assigned. This role includes the creation and execution of sound sales and marketing plans in communities assigned. They will be responsible for selling the community through external business development and advancing leads through the sales process to meet established goals. This role will also support the Regional Sales Directors or Area Sales Managers in on-boarding and training of other sales-oriented roles. You will be responsible for leading and coordinating moves and transfers of residents within the community as well as assisting the Director of Sales with database management, new lead response and tours. You will seek to increase awareness of Cedarhurst Senior Living and our mission to create communities where each person feels loved, valued, supported, and able to live life to the fullest.

As a Sales Specialist, you will impact the lives of our residents by –

• Function as primary contact for phone inquiries and walk-in visitors to drive occupancy.
• Responsible for outside marketing to increase professional referrals.
• Discover the needs of prospective residents and their families and attempt to find appropriate solutions to those needs (including, potentially, a move to Assisted Living, Memory Care or Independent Living).
• Conduct appropriate follow up activities in order to facilitate positive, trusting and valuable relationships.
• Create and cultivate productive relationships with other businesses and resources for senior adults, in order to offer resources to prospects and to receive referrals from those sources.
• Document all planned and completed marketing activities in a provided database, in accordance with standards established by the support team.
• Monitor the marketing budgets and spend lead generation dollars according to the needs of the campaign.
• Strategize with VP of Sales, Regional Director of Sales, Area Sales Directors and portfolio Executive Directors and other CRD’s in developing creative programs to identify and connect with key referral sources in the community and identify ways to maintain and nurture those relationships.
• Work with Executive Director to help staff members maximize opportunities for resident and family-member referrals and to receive inquiries appropriately and productively, ensuring timely follow-up and execution of next steps.
• Assist VP of Sales, Regional Director of Sales, Area Sales Directors and Executive Director with the development of a marketing plan and assist in updating monthly or as needed to address changing conditions or opportunities.
• Assist Executive Director in developing Cedarhurst associate’s skills in building relationships, discovery of needs, wants and interests, overcoming objections, closing, and follow-up and maintenance marketing.
• Assist community in exploring strategic sales approaches for all prospects during coaching sessions.
• Must be able to meet the travel requirements: Frequent local travel to communities with occasional evenings, weekends and overnight travel, as needed.
• Other duties as assigned.

To become a Sales Specialist, you will need –

• Bachelor's Degree in Marketing or related field and 2-5 years of past experience OR 4-6 years past equivalent experience
• Two (2) years sales and marketing experience with actual on-site experience in an Assisted Living, Memory Care or Independent Living community preferred.

• Demonstrated sales closing skills with a consistent record of high occupancy results.
• Must possess a general knowledge of laws and restrictions regarding Assisted Living care, as well as a solid understanding of opportunities and limits of other levels of care within senior living.
• Possess an appreciation of seniors and an understanding of the aging process.
• Must be able to collaborate across all functional areas of the business constructively and efficiently, within a fast paced, intensive, senior living company, while demonstrating objective integrity with great leadership.
• Must be a fast learner and able to quickly identify the key levels of performance across the platform in order to develop a credible rapport with team members.
• Conduct oneself in a professional manner at all times with the ability to effectively perform conflict intervention and resolution.
• Ability to work well with others and take direction from management, as well as take initiative – willing to go above and beyond to ensure the needs of the organization are met in accordance with the Company’s core values.
• Passion to achieve results through self-motivation, initiative and proactive orientation with a sense of professional curiosity, desire to learn new things and to find / recommend solutions to problems.
• Strong project management and organizational skills with strong attention to detail.
• Ability to work accurately under pressure, meet deadlines and communicate in a clear, accurate, efficient and professional manner in written and verbal communications, as well as possess strong presentation skills.
• Must exhibit and promote a high level of integrity, customer service, hospitality, curiosity and friendliness towards all residents, visitors, employees and the overall organization.

When considering a career with Cedarhurst, please understand that –

• Our core values describe our expectation that every team member will be Passionate, Trustworthy, Empathetic, Positive, Respectful and Approachable – and in every way a real, true friend of those we serve.
• To be a Cedarhurst team member means you’re devoted to doing The Friend’s Work: In your every effort, you reassure, energize, and inspire older adults in Cedarhurst.
• Cedarhurst believes that its team is its greatest asset. For this reason, we provide our team members with extensive training as well as personal and career development opportunities.
• Cedarhurst believes in promoting from within. We seek team members who wish to grow with us.
• Cedarhurst offers a competitive benefits package including medical insurance coverage, life insurance, long-term disability coverage and a 401(k) Plan with company match (after 1 year of service).
• Cedarhurst considers the health and safety of its residents, family members, and team members as its highest priorities. All offers of employment are conditioned on completing and passing a background and drug test, participating in mandatory COVID-19 vaccine program, participating in testing requirements (COVID-19 and TB) and using designated PPE when required.

We are an Equal Opportunity Employer. In compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act, we will provide reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities and encourages prospective employees and incumbents to discuss potential accommodations with the employer.