Community Relations/Sales Manager (Contract)

Job No: ViVA988

Location: Ancaster

Employment Status: Full Time

No. of Vacancies: 1

Closing Date: 31 Aug 2021 EDT

About V!VA Retirement Communities

What do you get when a team of experienced industry professionals combine their passion and decide it’s time to raise the bar in the retirement living industry?  You get V!VA Retirement Communities.  At V!VA, we aren’t about grand statements or lofty ideals.  We are a team committed to bringing the right mix of people together to inspire each other and deliver the highest standards of customer service and performance in the retirement industry.

Our modern rental retirement communities are each uniquely designed to suit the needs, habits and lifestyles of the local market. This coupled with our Team Members who understand that sometimes a warm smile or a gentle hug can make a huge difference in someone’s day are the keys to our continued success.

It’s our shared values that make for a refreshing and caring approach to retirement living and help us achieve our purpose – Making Today Great!

For more information, please visit our website.

A New Opportunity Awaits

V!VA Retirement Communities has an exciting opportunity for a Community Relations / Sales Manager to join our Communities in Oakville & Ancaster, or Mississauga & Vaughan. 

Reporting to the Community Directors and working closely with each Community’s Management Team and V!VA’s Home Office, the Community Relations Manager will support both locations developing and executing strategic plans to maximize revenue and occupancy.  They will build relationships with prospects, conduct tours, and act as a V!VA brand ambassador throughout the greater community. 

V!VA leaders work collaboratively to provide consistent and exceptional service to our Community Members by creating places where they live, love and laugh.  They inspire innovation, creativity, passion and a love of service for our Team Members. 

Responsibilities will include, but are not limited to:

1) Marketing & Sales

• Engaging in a relationship-building sales process with each prospect and their family, including developing strategies, executing creative follow-up efforts, and conducting tours to meet and exceed occupancy goals.
• Utilizing V!VA’s prospect relationship management database, Sherpa, to record prospect and outreach information and interactions, and plan for next steps.
• Developing and managing a network of local referral sources through effective community outreach.
• Coordinating all marketing events including trade shows, community seminars, sponsorship and other special events.
• Developing quarterly department plans, including sponsorships, outreach initiatives, events and advertising.
• Performing competitive analysis including monitoring competitive pricing, services, strategies and advertising.
• Proposing local media and advertising opportunities.
• Playing a leading role in the establishment and maintenance of a sales-centric culture amongst Team Members in all departments.
• Operating as per V!VA’s high standard of customer service excellence and positive reputation.
• Other projects and responsibilities as assigned.

2) Leadership & Administration

• Maintains knowledgeable of the Retirement Homes Act and Retirement Homes Regulatory Authority.
• Reports concerns about issues or behaviours in our workplace that do not contribute to a healthy environment for our Team Members and Community Members
• Works closely with other departments/peers to develop, coordinate and maintain high levels of communication within the Community, excellence in the delivery of services and overall happiness and engagement of Team Members and Community Members.
• Actively participates in V!VA’s culture-related programs.
• Supports, encourages, and promotes our Purpose, Vision and Values.

3) Business Planning & Monitoring

• Attends and contributes at all operational meetings.
• Assists the Community Director with developing the annual business plan by providing input regarding the Community Relations department, outreach/business plan, operating budget, capital plan, talent and training plan and Health & Safety/Risk Management plan.
• Works closely with the Regional Community Relations Manager to develop strategies for leasing up and/or ongoing stabilized occupancy.
• Participates in regular calls/meetings with various stakeholders for the purpose of selling not only the community but V!VA as a whole.
• Implements, monitors, and achieves all approved budgets and plans.
• Implementing corrective strategies when there is a budget/plan variance to ensure the overall achievement of objectives.
• Participates as a member on committees within the Community, as time permits.
• Responsible for maintaining all required records such as invoices, reports, statistics, etc. in accordance with policies, procedures, and legislative requirements. Analyzes budget variances and develops action plans for improvement.

To qualify for this role, you will have: 

• Minimum of 5 years sales experience in a retirement living, hospitality, real estate or related environment is an asset.
• Graduate of a post-secondary institution in Hospitality, Business, Sales, Marketing or Communications is an asset.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills are essential; must be comfortable interacting in a leadership role with prospects, Community Members, their families and external contacts.
• Strong computer skills for job related functions including use of Excel, Word, Sherpa (or similar CRM database) and various job-related software programs.
• Effective time management skills with the ability to work in a busy environment with frequent interruptions, as well as the ability to work flexible hours including evenings and weekends.
• This role requires the ability to move around the community freely and frequently, including the ability to attend to emergency situations on foot.
• Satisfactory Criminal Reference Check, including the Vulnerable Sector Screening.
• A valid driver’s license and access to a car.

V!VA Retirement Communities welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

V!VA Retirement works and operates in the vulnerable sector and the well-being of our community members and team members is important.  For this reason, V!VA Retirement Communities requires all new team members are vaccinated for COVID-19. 

Accommodation, including for those who cannot be vaccinated for COVID-19 due to religious or medical reasons, will be provided in accordance with V!VA Retirement’s obligations under the Ontario Human Rights Code, as amended from time to time, and the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act, as amended from time to time.