Catering Manager

LifeWorks Restaurant Group; McLean (VA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 74,000; Full time

Job summary

LifeWorks Restaurant Group in McLean, VA, seeks a Catering Manager to lead planning, coordination, and execution of events from initial client brief to post-event review.

You will manage a catering team, drive service quality, grow client relationships, and achieve revenue and cost targets across diverse events within Aramark's Workplace Experience framework.

Qualifications

• An approved catering qualification at diploma/degree level and 2–5 years industry experience, with at least 2 years in management.
• Bachelor's degree or equivalent experience.
• Strong hotel or restaurant background in high-volume catering.
• Proven people management skills with large teams.
• Knowledge of food hygiene including HACCP.
• Ability to operate in a diverse, pressurized environment focused on client service.
• Commercial awareness with budgets and stretching targets.
• Self-motivated and open to change and continuous improvement.

Responsibilities

• Lead catering operations to connect with the Executional Framework and ensure consistent event planning and execution.
• Develop and maintain effective client and customer rapport to build revenue and partnerships.
• Deliver food and labor targets and implement strategies to meet catering revenue forecasts.
• Oversee staffing for events of varying size, ensuring quality and efficiency.
• Ensure compliance with food, safety and wage/hour policies and coordinate with other departments.

Skills

Catering qualification

Management experience

Hospitality background

Food safety knowledge

Budget awareness

Education

Bachelor's degree or equivalent

Job description

Job Description

The Catering Manager brings events to life through exceptional planning, coordination, and execution. Working closely with clients and internal teams, this role ensures every detail is thoughtfully managed, creating seamless experiences from setup through completion. Success in this position comes from a passion for hospitality, operational excellence, and a commitment to delivering memorable events.

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. Home - LifeWorks Restaurant Group

Compensation Data

The salaried rate for this position is $70,000.00 to $74,000.00.

Aramark offers comprehensive benefit programs and services for eligible employees including medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources. Additional benefits may include retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage.

• medical, dental, vision, and work/life resources.
• retirement savings plans like 401(k) and paid days off such as parental leave and disability coverage.

Benefits vary by location and are subject to any legal requirements or limitations, employee eligibility status, and where the employee lives and/or works.

There is no predetermined application window for this position, the position will close once a qualified candidate is selected. Qualified applicants with arrest or conviction records will be considered for employment in accordance with all applicable laws, including, but not limited to all applicable Fair Chance Ordinances and Acts. For jobs in San Francisco, this includes the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance.

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.

Financial Performance

• Responsible for delivering food and labor targets. Develop and execute strategies to achieve catering revenue forecasts.

Efficiency

• 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

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.

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.

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.

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.