Banquet Server

The Regents of the University of California on behalf of their Los Angeles Campus; Los Angeles (CA); On-site; USD 25,000 - 34,000; Full time

Job summary

The Banquet Server at UCLA Catering provides courteous service to guests and clients during events across campus venues. The role involves loading and delivering items for catered events, setting up according to BEOs, and assisting with food and beverage service.

Candidates should communicate in English, work well in a team, handle high-volume environments, and maintain clean, safe workspaces. Flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and overtime, is required.

Qualifications

• Must communicate effectively in written and verbal English.
• Ability to interact with guests and colleagues in a high-volume setting with a professional demeanor.
• Ability to work cooperatively as part of a team.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment with fluctuating workload.
• Ability to read, write, and perform basic calculations for recipes and portions.
• Commitment to safety and sanitation standards for food storage, production, and service.
• Ability to engage with diverse populations respectfully and tactfully.
• Ability to stay calm in challenging situations and handle customer dissatisfaction.
• Experience with beverages preparation and basic food prep tasks is preferred.
• Punctuality and reliable attendance are required.
• Knowledge of basic culinary techniques and alcohol service is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Provide courteous, gracious service to guests and clients.
• Load, deliver, and set up all items for catered events (china, silverware, linen, decorations, food and drinks).
• Set up sites according to Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) and return items to the catering production area.
• Assist with food prep and maintain a clean, safe workstation.
• Support beverage and service needs across multiple locations on and off campus.

Skills

Communication skills

Guest service

Teamwork

Adaptability

Basic math

Safety standards

Cultural awareness

Composure

Beverage prep

Punctuality

Culinary basics

Alcohol service knowledge

Job description

Department Summary

UCLA Catering provides catering services at the Luskin Conference Center, Housing & Hospitality meeting and event spaces, and locations around the greater UCLA campus. The department produces over 15,000 events a year. Available services range in size and scope from the UCLA Coffee Service to large-scale, VIP gala events. UCLA Catering is a no-tipping environment.

Position Summary

The Banquet Server provides courteous and gracious service to guests and clients while acting as a banquet server or as an attendant for a buffet setup. The incumbent provides quality food delivery service to clients in multiple locations both on and off campus. The Banquet Server gathers, loads, and delivers all the indispensable items for a catered event, such as china, silverware, linen, decoration, props, food, and drinks. Sites are set up according to Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) and then broken down and all items returned from the site to the catering production area. The Banquet Server performs food prep, provides customer service, and maintains a clean and safe workstation.

Salary & Compensation

*UCLA provides a full pay range. Actual salary offers consider factors, including budget, prior experience, skills, knowledge, abilities, education, licensure and certifications, and other business considerations. Salary offers at the top of the range are not common. Visit UC Benefit package to discover benefits that start on day one, and UC Total Compensation Estimator to calculate the total compensation value with benefits.

Qualifications

• Ability to sufficiently communicate in written and verbal English to receive work assignments and share information with supervisors and colleagues (Required)
• Skill in interacting effectively with guests, team members, and managers in a high-volume, public setting using positive body language, direct eye contact, active listening, and friendly and professional demeanor (Required)
• Ability to work cooperatively as a part of a team (Required)
• Ability to work efficiently in a fast-paced environment with a fluctuating workload (Required)
• Ability to read, write, and perform basic calculations necessary to understand recipes, measurements, and portion sizes (Required)
• Ability to comply with safety and sanitation standards and procedures for food storage, production, and service (Required)
• Ability to engage with diverse populations in a respectful and culturally responsive manner (Required)
• Ability to remain calm in the face of adversity, such as customer dissatisfaction (Required)
• Demonstrated ability to prepare beverages and complete single-step food preparation tasks such as slicing bread and arranging food items on a buffet table (Required)
• Ability to maintain regular, punctual attendance (Required)
• Working knowledge of basic culinary techniques, terminology, and practices (Preferred)
• Working knowledge of alcoholic beverages, including beer, wine, and spirits (Preferred)

Special Conditions for Employment

• Background Check: Continued employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory background investigation.
• Live Scan Background Check: A Live Scan background check must be completed prior to the start of employment.
• Age Requirement: Candidate(s) must be 18 years or older to be eligible to be hired.
• Pre-Placement Physical: Employment is contingent upon the completion of a satisfactory physical examination.
• Must be available to work varying schedules, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and overtime based on departmental needs (Required)

Schedule

Variable

Union/Policy Covered

SX-Service