Catering Director

ARAMARK; Tampa (FL); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeWorks Restaurant Group, part of Aramark, seeks a management professional to develop and execute catering solutions for events in Tampa. You will lead the catering team, coordinate with clients, and ensure high-quality service from planning through delivery.

Ideal candidates hold a catering qualification with 2–5 years in a leadership role, plus strong food safety knowledge and budgeting sense. Growth within a hospitality-focused organization awaits.

Qualifications

• An approved catering qualification at diploma/degree level and 2–5 years industry experience.
• 2 years in management or department head role in high-volume hospitality/banqueting.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong hotel or restaurant background is important for this role.
• Demonstrates excellent people management skills.

Responsibilities

• Lead catering team to ensure quality in final presentation of food.
• Develop and maintain effective client and customer rapport for mutually beneficial relationships.
• Ensure compliance with food safety, occupational and environmental policies.

Skills

Team leadership

Client relationships

Food safety HACCP

Budget management

Communication

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Diploma or degree in catering/culinary

Job description

LifeWorks Restaurant Group crafts thoughtful, chef-led dining and hospitality experiences designed around the people and places we serve. From the first conversation, our teams work as true partners with our clients, shaping everything from the design of a space to the way the experience comes to life. We craft thoughtful, elevated experiences that leave people more inspired, more connected, and genuinely cared for. LifeWorks Restaurant Group is part of Aramark's Workplace Experience Group. Learn more at lifeworksrestaurantgroup.com. Imagination Well Served. #LifeWorksRestaurantGroup Home - LifeWorks Restaurant Group

Management position, responsible for developing and executing catering solutions to meet customer needs. Facilitate the delivery of prepared food created from an event-specific work order or in a room service environment.

Job Responsibilities

Leadership:

• Ensure catering operations connect to the Executional Framework.
• Deliver consistent quality in planning and execution of events.
• Demonstrate established company solutions to ensure consistency, quality and efficiency within consumer driven offerings.
• Lead catering team to ensure quality in final presentation of food.
• Train and lead employees to ensure knowledge of food menus and promotional calendars.
• Model and reinforce Aramark's mentor process.
• Reward and recognize employees.
• Monitor team performance and provide regular feedback. Plan and execute team meetings and daily huddles.
• Complete and maintain all staff records including training records, schedules and performance data.

Client Relationship:

• Develop and maintain effective client and customer rapport for mutually effective business relationships.
• Demonstrate excellent customer service using Aramark's standard model.
• Implement communication strategy as provided by marketing team in order to build catering revenue.
• Responsible for delivering food and labor targets. Develop and execute strategies to achieve catering revenue forecasts.
• Responsible for executing catering events of wide-ranging size and scope, including staffing and management.
• Ensure accurate reporting of all catering related revenue, expenses, and receivables. Coordinate activities with other departments as appropriate.

Compliance:

• Ensure compliance with Aramark food, occupational and environmental safety policies in all culinary and kitchen operations.
• Follow all applicable policies, rules and regulations, including but not limited to those relating to safety, health, wage and hour.

Qualifications

• An approved catering qualification at diploma/degree level and /or 2-5 years industry experience, 2 of which were at management or department head level with a strong background in a high-volume hospitality, conference and banqueting operation.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong hotel or restaurant background would be very important for this role as well as a background in industrial catering.
• Demonstrates excellent people management skills with experience of managing large teams of staff.
• A passion for food and service and the ability to innovate in this area.
• A high degree of knowledge of Food Hygiene including HACCP.
• The ability to manage in a diverse and pressurized environment with a focus on client and customer services.
• Commercially focused, experience with budgets and a proven ability to achieve stretching commercial targets.
• Actively seeks change, a self-motivator and is ready to challenge in the interest of continuous improvement

About Aramark

Our Mission

Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet.

At Aramark, we believe that every employee should enjoy equal employment opportunity and be free to participate in all aspects of the company. We do not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, age, sex, gender, pregnancy, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, genetic information, military status, protected veteran status or other characteristics protected by applicable law.

About Aramark

The people of Aramark proudly serve millions of guests every day through food and facilities in 15 countries around the world. Rooted in service and united by our purpose, we strive to do great things for each other, our partners, our communities, and our planet. We believe a career should develop your talents, fuel your passions, and empower your professional growth. So, no matter what you're pursuing -a new challenge, a sense of belonging, or just a great place to work -our focus is helping you reach your full potential. Learn more about working here at http://www.aramarkcareers.com or connect with us on Facebook , Instagram and Twitter .