Catering and Community Engagement Manager

Compass Group USA; Mercersburg (Franklin County); On-site; USD 70,000 - 75,000; Full time

Job summary

Compass Group USA’s Flik Independent School Dining seeks a Catering and Community Engagement Manager to coordinate campus events, enhance guest experiences, and support marketing efforts across school communities. This hands-on role emphasizes hospitality, teamwork, and proactive problem solving in a fast-paced setting.

The ideal candidate brings 3+ years in hospitality or catering, with strong planning, leadership, and communication skills, and a background in event planning or campus dining.

Qualifications

• Minimum 3 years of experience in hospitality, food and beverage management, or catering operations.
• Associate’s degree or higher in Hospitality Management, Event Planning, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Experience in event planning, conference services, and campus catering strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of food preparation and presentation standards; culinary background a plus.
• Leadership and experience managing or training service staff.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities under tight timelines.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; public speaking experience a plus.
• High comfort level in a fast-paced, customer-facing environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite; experience with catering software systems preferred.
• Creative problem solver with a passion for hospitality trends, guest engagement, and community-building.

Responsibilities

• Plan, coordinate, and implement catering events and campus programs, ensuring excellence in service and presentation.
• Collaborate with campus partners to craft and deliver engaging food-focused events that reflect the school culture.
• Support marketing initiatives including social media content, promotional campaigns, and visual merchandising.
• Lead and participate in staff training focused on hospitality, service excellence, and guest engagement.
• Gather and analyze guest feedback through surveys, focus groups, and direct interaction to continuously improve the dining experience.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with students, faculty, parents, and school administrators to promote positive community engagement.
• Provide on-site support and problem-solving during events to ensure smooth execution.
• Assist with the development and implementation of creative programming that enhances the dining experience throughout the school year.
• Use catering software platforms (e.g., Catertrax, Spoonfed) to handle event details and communications.
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and results for campus events and community initiatives.

Skills

Hospitality management

Event planning

Project management

Staff training

Communication

Education

Associate’s degree or higher in Hospitality Management

Event Planning

Marketing

Tools

Microsoft Office

Catering software

Job description

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Catering and Community Engagement Manager

Salary:$70000 - $75000 / year

Other Forms of Compensation: N/A

Flik Independent School Dining has been leading the way in transforming private and independent school foodservice across 300 communities for over four decades. Our passionate team of associates is fully committed to delivering exceptional foodservice experiences every single time. Our meals are crafted from fresh, locally sourced ingredients, supporting sustainable agricultural practices that benefit our communities. But we don't stop at just foodservice – we take it to the next level by offering cutting-edge nutrition education programs that empower students to make smart, healthy choices daily. By combining nutritious meals with comprehensive education, we equip students with the essential tools they need to lead a healthy and thriving life. We believe in nourishing the whole person, creating community through great food and programming, and doing what’s right, every time.

We are Nourishing a Brighter Future.

The Catering and Community Engagement Manager serves as a campus ambassador and key liaison between the dining services team and the school community. This role is responsible for improving the guest experience by coordinating events, supporting marketing efforts, engaging the campus community, and leading catering operations. The perfect candidate will have experience in hospitality, strong communication skills, and a proactive approach. This position requires strong project management, a hands‑on approach to execution, and a passion for delivering high‑quality, significant dining experiences.

Key Responsibilities:

• Plan, coordinate, and implement catering events and campus programs, ensuring excellence in service and presentation.
• Collaborate with campus partners to craft and deliver engaging food‑focused events that reflect the school culture.
• Support marketing initiatives including social media content, promotional campaigns, and visual merchandising.
• Lead and participate in staff training focused on hospitality, service excellence, and guest engagement.
• Gather and analyze guest feedback through surveys, focus groups, and direct interaction to continuously improve the dining experience.
• Build and maintain strong relationships with students, faculty, parents, and school administrators to promote positive community engagement.
• Provide on‑site support and problem‑solving during events to ensure smooth execution.
• Assist with the development and implementation of creative programming that enhances the dining experience throughout the school year.
• Use catering software platforms (e.g., Catertrax, Spoonfed) to handle event details and communications.
• Monitor project timelines, budgets, and results for campus events and community initiatives.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Minimum 3 years of experience in hospitality, food and beverage management, or catering operations.
• Associate’s degree or higher in Hospitality Management, Event Planning, Marketing, or related field preferred.
• Experience in event planning, conference services, and campus catering strongly preferred.
• Knowledge of food preparation and presentation standards; culinary background a plus.
• Confirmed leadership and experience managing or training service staff.
• Strong project management skills with the ability to handle multiple priorities under tight timelines.
• Excellent verbal, written, and interpersonal communication skills; public speaking experience a plus.
• High comfort level in a fast‑paced, customer‑facing environment.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook, PowerPoint); experience with catering software systems preferred.
• Creative problem solver with a passion for hospitality trends, guest engagement, and community‑building.

Flik Independent School Dining is a member of Compass Group USA

Associates at Flik Independent School Dining are offered many fantastic benefits.

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Flik Independent School Dining maintains a drug‑free workplace.

FISD

STEPHANIE FREER

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Nearest Major Market: Harrisburg
Job Segment: Food Service, Event Planning, Merchandising, Catering, Culinary, Hospitality, Retail