Catering Lead

Panera LLC; Punta Gorda (FL); On-site; USD 42,000 - 54,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Team tips

Free meals

Flexible scheduling

Paid vacation

Insurance

401(k) match

Tuition discounts

Job summary

Panera LLC is seeking a Catering Lead to manage catering orders and deliver exceptional guest experiences in Punta Gorda. The role involves coordinating events, ensuring food safety, and promoting Panera Catering to local businesses and schools.

You will support managers and team members while upholding our warm, collaborative culture. The position requires a driver’s vehicle, flexible hours including nights/weekends, and the ability to lift 25–50 pounds.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years or older.
• Food safety training completed (Food Handler’s Card as required by law).
• Excellent people skills and communication.
• Self-starter with limited supervision.
• Strong organization and time-management abilities.
• Own vehicle with valid driving record for deliveries.
• Able to work nights and weekends in a fast-paced environment.
• Capable of lifting 25-50 pounds.
• Ability to stand/walk up to 3 hours.

Responsibilities

• Manage and produce catering orders for our guests.
• Create memorable experiences with warm, friendly service, effective communication, and proactive follow-ups to ensure every guest leaves satisfied.
• Assist with delivering orders to guests’ events.
• Strictly adhere to health and food safety standards.
• Maintain Panera’s exceptional standards for craveable food quality.
• Build excitement and interest in Panera’s products and services.
• Marketing Panera Catering to local area businesses, schools and events.
• Assist and support your Managers and Team Members as needed.
• Help build our Culture of warmth, belonging, growth, and trust.

Skills

People skills

Communication

Driving own vehicle

Time management

Customer service

Job description

Catering Lead At Panera

Catering Lead At Panera, our people come first. If you're looking for a place where you can grow, feel supported, be yourself, enjoy great perks, and have a little fun along the way—you're in the right spot. We're here to help you succeed every day, in every way. Get ready to rise and come join the fun where you will be a part of making the familiar fantastic! Because at Panera, the best thing of bread is sharing it!

What’s In It for You?

• Competitive pay & eligible for team tips
• Free on-shift meals & unlimited fountain beverages
• Flexible & reliable scheduling
• Paid vacation, sick time, and holidays for full-time team members
• Medical, dental, vision, life insurance, pet insurance & 401(k) with match available
• Career advancement & leadership development opportunities
• Tuition discounts
• Perks & rewards for team members
• Team member assistance program
• And much, much more!

As a Catering Lead at Panera, you play a crucial role in our catering operations. You help guests plan and choose delicious, familiar and fantastic Panera dishes for their events, respond to their inquiries and requirements, and guarantee hassle-free hosting with craveable food delivered promptly and accurately.

Your Role Includes:

• Manage and produce catering orders for our guests
• Create memorable experiences with warm, friendly service, effective communication, and proactive follow-ups to ensure every guest leaves satisfied
• Assist with delivering orders to guests’ events
• Strictly adhere to health and food safety standards
• Maintain Panera’s exceptional standards for craveable food quality
• Build excitement and interest in Panera’s products and services
• Marketing Panera Catering to local area businesses, schools and events
• Assist and support your Managers and Team Members as needed
• Help build our Culture of warmth, belonging, growth, and trust

This Opportunity Is for You If:

• Minimum age: 18 years of age
• Complete basic food safety understanding and practice training. (Food Handler’s Card, as required by law)
• Enjoy people and have effective communication skills
• A self‑starter who can meet goals with limited supervision
• Excellent organizational and time‑management skills
• Must have your own vehicle that you can use for delivering orders and an acceptable driving record
• This role requires an individual that can safely operate a passenger motor vehicle and has an acceptable driving record
• This role requires flexible hours, including nights and weekends in a fast‑paced environment with shifting priorities
• Ability to lift, carry, push, or pull objects 25-50 pounds
• Capability to stand and walk for up to 3 hours
• Must be able to clearly communicate and quickly understand guests and associates’ directions in a loud environment
• Be an ambassador of our Guiding Values and Behaviors by making people smile, learning and growing together, finding solutions and taking initiative, working (and winning) as a team, having fun and celebrating success, and seeing the best in others

Equal Opportunity Employer: Disabled/Veterans

The actual pay offered will be determined by multiple factors, including but not limited to the candidate’s relevant experience, job‑related knowledge, skills, and geographical location. Individual compensation decisions are dependent on the facts and circumstances of each position and candidate.

606444 Punta Gorda, FL - Jones Loop Road

With more than 2,000 Panera LLC and independent franchise bakery‑cafes in the Panera Bread® family, and more locations opening all the time, it’s no wonder our company has been an excellent source of career and personal growth opportunities for more than 25 years. In neighborhoods across the U.S. and Canada, customers enjoy flavorful, handcrafted meals centered around freshly baked artisan bread. To us, that means serving food like we serve our own families – free of any of the items on our ‘No No’ List. Along the way, we also like to give back to our community. We enjoy working together, shoulder to shoulder with our customers, to confront a serious problem plaguing communities across this country – Hunger. Through Panera Cares community cafes, we offer a dignified dining experience in an uplifting environment. In addition, we support our communities through day-end donations at our bakery‑cafe locations and partner with local non‑profit organizations. It’s this warmth that you’ll find when you join Panera Bread. From our competitive compensation and benefits packages to our unique cultural values, we’re confident you’ll find us a rewarding and fun place to work.