Café & Events Director — Elevate Guest Experience

Naples Botanical Garden; Naples (FL); On-site; USD 70,000 - 86,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan with matching

Short-Long -Term Disability

PTO

Paid Holidays

Garden Perks

Job summary

Naples Botanical Garden is seeking a Director of Café to lead café operations, events, and catering, ensuring guest satisfaction and revenue performance across Fogg Café and related services.

The role requires a hospitality management background with 5–7 years in food and beverage leadership, budgeting, staff development, and compliance with health and safety standards. The successful candidate will build SOPs, train teams, and partner with vendors.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, or related field preferred; equivalent combination of education and experience may be considered.
• 5–7 years of progressive food and beverage or hospitality management experience, including at least 2–3 years in a supervisory or management role.
• Demonstrated experience managing the financial and operational performance of a food and beverage operation, including revenue generation, budgeting, labor and food-cost management, menu planning, purchasing, staffing, and achievement of financial and service goals.
• Experience with catering, events, or high-volume food service operations preferred.
• Proven ability to recruit, hire, train, schedule, coach, and develop seasonal, part-time, and full-time employees.
• Knowledge of food safety, sanitation, health regulations, and applicable federal, state, and local requirements.
• Experience with point-of-sale (POS) systems, cash handling, credit card processing, inventory management systems, and basic financial reporting.
• Strong customer service and guest-experience skills, with the ability to resolve customer concerns professionally and effectively.
• Ability to develop and maintain positive working relationships with vendors, suppliers, event partners, and internal departments.
• Strong organizational and problem-solving skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced, seasonal environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills.
• Demonstrated ability to lead with professionalism, accountability, teamwork, and a hospitality-focused approach.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including weekends, holidays, evenings, and special events, as operational needs require.
• Ability to stand and maintain a well-paced level of mobility for extended periods.
• Ability to lift and carry up to 40 pounds.
• Ability to perform tasks requiring manual hand and finger dexterity, including the safe and effective use of kitchen and food-service equipment.
• A pre-employment background check required.

Responsibilities

• Create a positive atmosphere for guests and team members.
• Manage day-to-day operations of all aspects of food and beverage including Fogg Café, catering, and events.
• Establish specific knowledge of food and beverage products and services and perform all positions in operations to supervise, direct, and train all personnel.
• Create, implement, and manage standard operating procedures designed to enhance service, create efficiencies, improve team dynamic, and ensure guest satisfaction.
• Monitor daily performance of staff and ensure compliance of established policies and procedures.
• Manage the recruitment, training, coaching and accountability of all food and beverage team members.
• Set example by extending the best and most friendly service to all guests and team members.
• Effectively communicate with garden team members.
• Understand and train on POS systems.
• Perform additional projects and duties as assigned.

Skills

Leadership

Guest service

Operations management

Staff training

Budgeting

Food safety

POS systems

Event planning

Communication

Vendor management

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Food Service Management, or related field

Job description

Naples Botanical Garden is seeking a Director of Café to lead café operations, events, and catering, ensuring guest satisfaction and revenue performance across Fogg Café and related services.

The role requires a hospitality management background with 5–7 years in food and beverage leadership, budgeting, staff development, and compliance with health and safety standards. The successful candidate will build SOPs, train teams, and partner with vendors.