Catering & Event Director

Restaurant Associates; Purchase (NY); 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

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Restaurant Associates is seeking a Catering & Events Director to oversee a premier financial services client in Westchester. Lead catering operations, event strategy, client partnerships, financial performance, and team development in a dynamic corporate setting.

You will collaborate with culinary, conference services, workplace experience, and client stakeholders to deliver events from executive meetings to large receptions, balancing exceptional service with financial stewardship.

Qualifications

• Experience leading catering, events, hospitality, or workplace experience operations.
• Experience managing high-profile client relationships in corporate/hospitality settings.
• Proven track record balancing operational, financial, and client priorities.
• Strong knowledge of event planning, catering logistics, and service execution.
• Experience leading high-performing teams.

Responsibilities

• Lead all catering and event operations across the account, ensuring exceptional execution and client satisfaction.
• Serve as a trusted partner to client stakeholders, providing strategic hospitality solutions.
• Develop and oversee catering and event programs that enhance the workplace experience.
• Partner with culinary, conference services, and operations teams to create memorable events.
• Manage planning and execution of events from executive meetings to large receptions.
• Oversee event logistics including staffing, setup, service, transport, and post-event follow-up.
• Monitor financial performance, budgeting, forecasting, labor, revenue opportunities, and costs.
• Lead, coach, and develop catering and event team members with a culture of learning.
• Support talent acquisition, onboarding, scheduling, training, and succession planning.
• Review metrics to improve service delivery, efficiency, and profitability.

Skills

Catering leadership

Event operations

Client relationship mgmt

Budgeting & forecasting

Team development

Hospitality standards

Communication skills

Education

Bachelor's degree in Hospitality or related field

Job description

Restaurant Associates

Position Title: Catering & Events Director

Salary: $80,000 - $90,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Comprehensive Benefit 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 & Events Director, you will lead a sophisticated hospitality and events program for a premier financial services client in Westchester. This highly visible role oversees catering operations, event strategy, client partnerships, financial performance, and team development across a dynamic corporate environment.

You will collaborate closely with culinary, conference services, workplace experience, and client stakeholders to create seamless experiences ranging from executive meetings and day-to-day hospitality programs to large-scale special events and receptions. Success in this role comes from balancing operational excellence, relationship building, financial stewardship, and a commitment to exceptional service.

This is an opportunity to shape the hospitality experience for one of the organization's most prestigious client partnerships while leading a talented team and driving continued growth.

Key Responsibilities

• Lead all catering and event operations across the account, ensuring exceptional execution and client satisfaction.
• Serve as a trusted partner to client stakeholders, providing strategic guidance and hospitality solutions that support business objectives.
• Develop and oversee catering and event programs that enhance the workplace experience and support evolving client needs.
• Partner with culinary, conference services, and operations teams to create innovative menus and memorable event experiences.
• Manage the planning and execution of events ranging from executive meetings and client functions to large-scale receptions and special programs.
• Oversee event logistics including staffing, setup, service delivery, transportation, breakdown, and post-event follow-up.
• Monitor financial performance, including budgeting, forecasting, labor management, revenue opportunities, and cost controls.
• Lead, coach, and develop catering and event team members while fostering a culture of collaboration, inclusion, and continuous learning.
• Support talent acquisition, onboarding, scheduling, training, and succession planning efforts.
• Review business performance metrics and identify opportunities to improve service delivery, operational efficiency, and profitability.
• Ensure compliance with company standards, safety practices, and operational procedures.
• Collaborate with regional leadership on strategic initiatives, client retention efforts, and business growth opportunities.

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading catering, events, hospitality, conference services, or workplace experience operations.
• Experience managing high-profile client relationships within a corporate, hospitality, hotel, conference center, or premium dining environment.
• Demonstrated success overseeing multiple events while balancing operational, financial, and client priorities.
• Strong knowledge of event planning, catering logistics, hospitality standards, and service execution.
• Experience developing and leading high-performing teams.
• Financial acumen, including budgeting, forecasting, labor management, and cost control.
• Ability to build collaborative relationships across culinary, operations, workplace experience, and client teams.
• Strong organizational skills with the ability to manage competing priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Excellent communication, presentation, and relationship-building skills.
• Bachelor's degree in Hospitality, Business, Culinary Management, or a related field, or equivalent professional experience.

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