Catering Manager Soka University

Bon Appétit Management Company; Orange (CA); On-site; USD 70,000 - 78,000; 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

Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)

Paid Parental Leave

Personal Leave

Job summary

Bon Appetit Management Company in California seeks a Catering & Operations Manager to oversee campus catering events and support daily operations across dining locations.

You will lead event staff, build client relationships, drive sales opportunities, and manage scheduling, budgeting, and safety programs, while upholding outstanding hospitality.

Qualifications

• Experience in catering and events management within a campus/contract dining environment.
• Strong leadership, communication, and client-facing skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple tasks, payroll, budgeting, and safety programs.

Responsibilities

• Manage all campus catering events; serve as primary client contact from inquiry to completion.
• Coordinate events across campus dining locations; ensure exceptional guest service.
• Build and maintain relationships with clients, partners, and stakeholders.

Skills

Catering & event management

Operations & finance

Team leadership

Communication

Multitasking under pressure

Organization & problem solving

Staff coaching

Scheduling & labor management

Safety & compliance

Financial reporting & budgeting

Job description

Bon Appetit

Position Title: Catering Manager Soka University

Salary: 70,304-78,000

Other Forms of Compensation:

Our Passion is Food!

At Bon Appetit Management Company we are committed to two things, great food and outstanding service! At Bon Appetit you won't find our managers referring to a corporate recipe book or our chefs microwaving the lunch special. We do not have standardized recipes or central commissaries, instead, our chefs and managers are expected to stay abreast of current culinary trends and bring cutting edge food into their cafes. We are a restaurant company that operates in contract food service. That means you will have the freedom to be creative, take risks, and truly shine. We are committed to our staff growing, trying new things, and learning all that they can. Our rapid growth and breadth of accounts translates into exciting opportunities for our people!

Job Summary

Catering & Operations Manager

The Catering & Operations Manager will play a critical leadership role in overseeing all catering events and supporting daily operational excellence across campus dining locations.

Catering Responsibilities

• The Catering & Operations Manager will be responsible for managing all catering and special events held on campus. This individual will serve as the primary point of contact for clients, ensuring clear communication and exceptional customer service throughout the planning and execution process.
• Coordinating and managing all campus catering events from inquiry to completion.
• Building and maintaining strong relationships with clients, campus partners, and key stakeholders.
• Assisting with the setup, execution, and breakdown of events to ensure all client expectations are exceeded.
• Leading event staff and ensuring service standards are consistently maintained.
• Addressing client requests, concerns, and last-minute changes in a professional and timely manner.
• Identifying opportunities to grow catering sales and enhance the overall guest experience.

Operations Responsibilities

• In addition to catering management, this position will serve as the Operations Manager for the Bistro and coffee shop. The successful candidate will support the General Manager in driving operational success and maintaining high standards across all service areas.
• Catering and event management experience
• Strong operational and financial acumen
• Team leadership, coaching, and staff development
• Excellent communication and client-facing skills
• Ability to multitask and perform well under pressure
• Strong organizational and problem-solving abilities
• A proactive, "roll up your sleeves" attitude with a focus on getting the job done
• Assisting with employee scheduling, labor management, and staffing plans.
• Supporting safety, sanitation, and compliance programs to ensure a safe working environment.
• Assisting the General Manager with financial reporting, budgeting, inventory management, and cost-control initiatives.
• Monitoring daily operations to ensure quality, efficiency, and exceptional guest service.
• Supporting staff development, coaching, and training initiatives.

Qualifications & Leadership Expectations

The ideal candidate will be highly organized, customer-focused, and able to thrive in a fast-paced environment. This role requires a strong leader who can effectively balance event management and daily operations while fostering a positive team culture.

Key qualifications include:

• Strong organizational and time-management skills.
• Excellent verbal and written communication abilities.
• Proven ability to build relationships and work collaboratively with clients, guests, and team members.
• Strong attention to detail and ability to manage multiple priorities simultaneously.
• A hands-on leadership style with the willingness to assist staff before, during, and after service periods.
• Ability to problem-solve, adapt quickly, and maintain professionalism under pressure.
• Commitment to providing outstanding hospitality and creating exceptional guest experiences.

Bon Appetit is a member of Compass Group USA.

Associates at Bon Appetit 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

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_BAMCO.pdf

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/

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Bon Appetit maintains a drug‑free workplace.

Req ID: 1567391

Bon Appetit

BRYAN GONI