Catering Lead

Buddy's Pizza; Farmington Hills (MI); On-site; USD 60,000 - 85,000; Full time

Job summary

Buddy’s Pizza is seeking a Catering Lead to strategically plan and coordinate catering operations, delivering high-quality food and beverage services for events. This role focuses on growing corporate and private events with a strong emphasis on customer satisfaction and brand reputation through excellent event execution.

The ideal candidate will have 3+ years in event management or catering, a bachelor’s degree in a related field, and proven leadership, budgeting, and vendor-management skills.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in event management, Sales, or catering management.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and sports event compliance standards.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively manage teams and client relationships.

Responsibilities

• Develop and manage budgets, negotiate contracts with suppliers and vendors, and monitor expenses to optimize profitability.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to promote events and catering packages, enhancing client engagement and business growth.
• Ensure all events comply with local, state, and federal regulations related to food safety, health, and sports facility operations.
• Handle client communications, resolve issues promptly, and gather feedback to continuously improve service delivery.

Skills

Leadership

Communication

Organizational skills

Budgeting

Vendor management

Food safety

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field

Tools

Event management platforms

Budgeting software

Job description

About Company:

Buddy’s Story 80 years ago a new style of pizza was born in the Motor City, and it was different. What makes a pizza Detroit-Style?The same things that made Detroit, MI- a little bit of ingenuity, some stubborn spirit and a whole lot of heart. It’s what sparked an original idea back in 1946 to take a steel auto pan, create something new and make Buddy’s the birthplace of Detroit-Style Pizza. Detroit-Style Pizza is recognizable by its iconic square shape and crunchy, cheesy corner slices.Founded on the corner of Six Mile and Conant Buddy’s has now grown to 20 locations and is expanding throughout the mid-west to introduce Detroit-Style Pizza beyond the Detroit area.

About the Role:

This role requires strategic planning and coordination to ensure that all catering operations run efficiently, meet quality standards, and adheres to budgetary constraints. The key outcome of this position is to enhance customer satisfaction by delivering well-organized events that combine catering activities with high-quality food and beverage services. Ultimately, this position plays a pivotal role in driving revenue growth and brand reputation through superior event execution and hospitality management. The Catering Lead is responsible for growth with Corporate Events and Individual Parties. This is not a 9-5, Office, position. This position will require availability to work a variety of hours, including nights and weekends when needed.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Business Administration, or a related field.
• Minimum of 3 years of experience in event management, Sales, or catering management.
• Proven ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously with strong organizational and leadership skills.
• Knowledge of food safety regulations and sports event compliance standards.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills to effectively manage teams and client relationships.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Certification in Food Safety (e.g., ServSafe) or Event Management.
• Experience working in a sports complex, stadium, or large-scale event venue.
• Familiarity with budgeting software and event management platforms.
• Advanced skills in negotiation and vendor management.
• Additional language proficiency to support diverse client and staff populations.

Responsibilities:

• Develop and manage budgets, negotiate contracts with suppliers and vendors, and monitor expenses to optimize profitability.
• Collaborate with marketing and sales teams to promote events and catering packages, enhancing client engagement and business growth.
• Ensure all events comply with local, state, and federal regulations related to food safety, health, and sports facility operations.
• Handle client communications, resolve issues promptly, and gather feedback to continuously improve service delivery.

Skills:

The Catering Lead utilizes strong organizational skills daily to coordinate complex event logistics and catering operations, ensuring all elements align seamlessly. Leadership and team management skills are essential for motivating staff and fostering a collaborative work environment across departments. Communication skills are critical for liaising with clients, vendors, and internal teams to clarify expectations and resolve challenges efficiently. Financial acumen is applied to budget management, cost control, and contract negotiations to maximize profitability without compromising quality. Additionally, knowledge of regulatory standards ensures compliance with health, safety, and sports facility requirements, maintaining a safe and reputable operation.

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