Catering Director

Restaurant Associates; New York (NY); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Job summary

Restaurant Associates in New York City is seeking a Catering Director to lead the planning and execution of premier corporate catering and events. You will oversee a high-performing team, develop menus with culinary leadership, and build strong client partnerships to deliver elevated hospitality experiences.

This role covers the full event lifecycle from planning and menu costing to delivery, post-event follow-up, and ongoing cost control in a luxury dining environment.

Qualifications

• Five years hospitality or catering experience, including 2+ years in a management or leadership role.
• Experience with corporate dining, luxury hospitality, or high-end catering environments.
• Experience with event booking, menu costing, contracts, staffing, and vendor management.
• Strong knowledge of catering operations, cost control, and service standards.
• Excellent communication, organizational, client relations and problem-solving skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning, coordination, and execution of internal and external catering events.
• Serve as primary client contact, developing trusted relationships and exceeding expectations.
• Create and maintain a catering strategy, including menu development, pricing, and promotions.
• Partner with culinary leadership to develop menus reflecting premium standards and client needs.
• Manage booking, forecasting, contracts, costing, staffing, and logistics.
• Recruit, train, and develop catering team members for excellence in service.

Skills

Hospitality leadership

Catering operations

Event planning

Client relations

Budgeting & cost control

Team management

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality/Business

Tools

Microsoft Office

Event management systems

Job description

Salary: $100,000-$110,000

Restaurant Associates

Position Title: Catering Director

Salary: $100,000-$110,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Comprehensive Benefits Package

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! Voted Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards- Best Places to Work, This is R/A !

Job Summary

As the Catering Director, you will lead the planning and execution of catering and events for a premier corporate dining account in NYC. 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—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.

What We're Looking For

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

Restaurant Associates is a member of Compass Group USA

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/

Associates At Restaurant Associates Are Offered Many Fantastic 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, click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_RA.pdf