Catering Director

Restaurant Associates; Chicago (IL); On-site; USD 80,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Restaurant Associates is seeking a Catering Director in Chicago, IL to lead planning and execution of premium corporate catering events for a premier dining account.

You will manage a high-performing team, partner with executives and clients, and ensure flawless service from concept through post-event follow-up in a luxury environment.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or related field is preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of internal and external catering events.
• Serve as primary client contact, building trusted relationships and ensuring service excellence.
• Develop comprehensive catering strategy including event planning, menu development, pricing, and promotions.
• Collaborate with culinary leadership to create menus reflecting premium standards and client preferences.
• Manage booking, forecasting, contracts, menus costing, equipment, staffing, and logistics.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and develop catering team members for exceptional service.
• Oversee event setup, service, transport, breakdown, and post-event cleanup.
• Monitor labor, food, and operating costs to meet financial and service goals.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, sanitation, and client expectations.
• Conduct post-event reviews and implement improvements to guest experiences.

Skills

Leadership

Client relations

Event planning

Budgeting

Communication

Team coaching

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or related field

Tools

Microsoft Office

Event management systems

Job description

Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation's most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations!

Position Title: Catering Director

Salary: $80,000-$90,000

As the Catering Director, you will lead the planning and execution of catering and events for a premier corporate dining account in Chicago, IL. This position is responsible for delivering elevated hospitality experiences, managing a high-performing catering team, and building strong partnerships with clients, executives, and key stakeholders. The Catering Director will oversee all aspects of event operations for the account —from initial planning and menu development through execution and post-event follow-up— while ensuring exceptional service, presentation, quality, and attention to detail consistent with a luxury corporate dining environment.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead the planning, coordination, and execution of internal and external catering events, including executive meetings, conferences, receptions, and special functions.
• Serve as a primary client contact, developing trusted relationships and ensuring service expectations are consistently exceeded.
• Create and maintain a comprehensive catering strategy, including event planning services, menu development, pricing, and promotional initiatives.
• Partner with culinary leadership to develop menus that reflect the account’s premium standards, dietary needs, seasonal offerings, and client preferences.
• Manage the booking process, event forecasting, contracts, menu costing, equipment requirements, staffing, and logistics.
• Recruit, train, schedule, and develop catering team members, promoting excellence in service techniques, menu presentation, professionalism, and hospitality.
• Oversee event setup, service, transportation, breakdown, and cleanup to ensure seamless execution and exceptional presentation.
• Monitor labor, food, and operating costs while maintaining financial and service objectives.
• Ensure compliance with company policies, food safety standards, sanitation requirements, and client expectations.
• Conduct post-event reviews and implement continuous improvements to enhance the guest and client experience.

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of five years of hospitality or catering experience, including at least two years in a management or leadership role.
• Experience supporting corporate dining, executive dining, luxury hospitality, conference services, or high-end catering environments preferred.
• Demonstrated experience with event booking, menu selection and costing, contract pricing, staffing, equipment coordination, and vendor management.
• Strong knowledge of catering operations, food preparation, service standards, event logistics, and cost control.
• Excellent communication, organizational, client relations, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to lead a team in a fast-paced, high-touch environment while maintaining composure and attention to detail.
• Proficiency with Microsoft Office and catering or event management systems preferred.

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.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Benefits

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Restaurant Associates maintains a drug-free workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely, information. https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_RA.pdf