Catering Director

Compass Group USA; Santa Clara (CA); On-site; USD 100,000 - 110,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Holiday Time Off

Job summary

Bon Appetit on the Santa Clara campus is seeking a Catering Director to lead all catering and event operations for a dynamic, high-volume corporate environment.

You will oversee catering execution, event logistics, team leadership, client relations, and ensure excellence across multiple venues serving thousands of guests. A strong background in catering operations, menu development, cost control, and leadership in fast-paced hospitality is essential.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in hospitality, culinary arts, business, or related field.
• Minimum 5 years of hospitality or catering experience with 2 years in leadership.
• Experience managing high-volume catering and events in corporate or upscale foodservice.

Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee internal and external catering events for a high-volume corporate campus.
• Lead operational execution across multiple locations and venues.
• Develop and maintain catering programs, menus, and client engagement strategies.
• Review and execute Banquet Event Orders (BEOs) to ensure seamless coordination.
• Manage labor, food, and costs while meeting profitability goals.

Skills

Catering leadership

Event logistics

Budget management

Menu development

Banquet Event Orders

Client relations

Staff management

Education

Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Business, or related field

Job description

Bon Appetit

Salary: 100,000-110,000

Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

Working as a Catering Director, you will lead all catering and event operations across a dynamic, high-volume corporate campus environment. This role is responsible for overseeing catering execution, event logistics, team leadership, client relations, and operational excellence for a diverse portfolio of events ranging from executive meetings and VIP functions to large-scale campus activations serving thousands of guests. The ideal candidate is an experienced hospitality professional with a strong background in catering operations, event execution, food service management, and leadership in fast-paced environments.

Key Responsibilities

• Direct and oversee all internal and external catering events, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and flawless event execution.
• Manage a high-volume catering operation, coordinating multiple events daily, including executive lunches, plated VIP dinners, receptions, happy hours, and large-scale events serving 3,000+ guests.
• Lead operational execution during peak periods with responsibility for 60+ events per week across multiple locations and venues.
• Support catering operations throughout the Santa Clara campus, including daily catering deliveries and service coordination for the Fremont location.
• Coordinate simultaneous events across conference rooms, lounges, executive spaces, meeting facilities, and campus event venues.
• Develop and maintain comprehensive catering programs, menu offerings, event planning services, and client engagement strategies.
• Partner with clients to understand event requirements, develop proposals, recommend menu selections, and ensure successful event outcomes.
• Review, communicate, and execute Banquet Event Orders (BEOs), ensuring accurate coordination between clients, culinary teams, service staff, and operational partners.
• Oversee all aspects of catering operations including staffing, transportation, setup, service execution, breakdown, and post-event follow-up.
• Manage labor, food, and operational costs while maintaining quality standards and profitability goals.
• Collaborate closely with culinary leadership to ensure consistency in food quality, presentation, service standards, and guest satisfaction.
• Maintain strong client relationships and provide exceptional service for executive-level meetings, VIP functions, and high-profile corporate events.
• Coordinate with vendors and external partners as needed to support successful event execution.
• Ensure compliance with all company, food safety, sanitation, and workplace safety standards.

Functions and Tasks

• Hire, train, develop, schedule, and mentor catering team members.
• Directly supervise a team of catering attendants, drivers, and hourly staff members.
• Lead training initiatives focused on service standards, event execution, hospitality excellence, menu presentation, and operational procedures.
• Foster a culture of accountability, teamwork, professionalism, and exceptional guest service.
• Effectively manage staffing priorities across multiple concurrent events and changing operational demands.
• Primarily morning-focused schedule with typical start times between 6:00 AM and 8:00 AM, depending on business needs and event schedules.
• Flexibility to support occasional evening functions and a limited number of weekend events throughout the year.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's Degree in Hospitality Management, Culinary Arts, Business, or a related field preferred.
• Minimum of 5 years of progressive hospitality or catering experience, including at least 2 years in a leadership role.
• Proven success managing high-volume catering and event operations in a corporate dining, conference center, hospitality, university, or upscale foodservice environment.
• Strong experience reviewing and executing Banquet Event Orders (BEOs).
• Demonstrated ability to manage multiple events simultaneously while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Experience with menu development, event proposal creation, menu costing, budget management, contract pricing, and resource planning.Knowledge of food and beverage operations, service standards, and catering best practices.
• Experience supporting executive-level clients, VIP events, and high-profile corporate functions.
• Strong leadership, organizational, communication, and problem-solving skills.
• Ability to supervise food preparation, service execution, and event cleanup while maintaining high quality standards.
• Proven track record of building strong client relationships and delivering outstanding hospitality experiences.

Associates at Bon Appetit 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

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, or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

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

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/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug-free workplace.

Bon Appetit