Catering Operations Manager

Wolfgang Puck Catering

Los Angeles (CA)

On-site

USD 80,000 - 85,000

Full time

34 hours ago

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Benefits offered by this job

Medical

Dental

Vision

Life Insurance/ AD

Disability Insurance

Retirement Plan

Paid Time Off

Paid Parental Leave

Holiday Time Off

Personal Leave

Associate Shopping Program

Health and Wellness Programs

Discount Marketplace

Identity Theft Protection

Pet Insurance

Commuter Benefits

Employee Assistance Program

FSAs

Job summary

Wolfgang Puck Catering is seeking a Catering Operations Manager to lead teams and coordinate high‑quality execution for events ranging from 300 to 5,000 guests. You will partner with clients, collaborate with culinary leaders, and drive production plans from concept to completion, ensuring exceptional service and flawless delivery.

The role emphasizes leadership, meticulous planning, and strong communication across Sales, Culinary, Staffing, and Vendors to deliver memorable experiences in

Qualifications

3–5 years of leadership experience in catering, luxury hospitality, fine dining, event operations, or related environment.
Strong background in off-premise catering and large-scale events.
Demonstrated ability to lead teams and manage multiple events simultaneously.

Responsibilities

Partner with clients to understand event vision, budget, and priorities.
Collaborate with chefs and culinary leaders to meet client standards.
Create front-of-house and back-of-house rental orders and equipment planning.
Build kitchens and production spaces for off-premise events.
Coordinate with rental companies and vendors for logistics and execution.
Manage event timelines, staffing, and onsite logistics.
Develop labor plans and staff schedules aligned with event needs.
Serve as communication hub between Sales, Culinary, Staffing, Vendors, and Clients.
Oversee cost management, budgeting, and post-event reviews.

Skills

Leadership

Event operations

Staffing plans

Vendor coordination

Client communication

Job description

$80,000 - $85,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Quarterly Performance Bonus Opportunity: Up to $2,500 per quarter.

Where Passion Meets Purpose - and Careers Come Alive

At Wolfgang Puck Catering, great careers are crafted the same way great food is — with passion, intention, and the right people around you. We hire for curiosity, spirit, and heart, and we invest in everything you bring to the table. Through mentorship, real development, and a clear path to leadership, we're committed to your journey — not just your job title. Come be part of something that challenges and champions you in equal measure.

Where Passion Meets Purpose - and Careers Come Alive

“I can have the best food, but if we don’t have good people, it won’t get you very far.” — Wolfgang Puck

Success on our team starts with our culture:

We have Wolfgang’s PASSION for our business, our product, and our people / guests / clients.
A FLEXIBLE MINDSET is key; we are strategic business partners who wear multiple hats.
Our services require a CONCIERGE mentality, a bias to action with humble hospitality.
We are out-of-the-box PROBLEM SOLVERS, who look around corners so our clients and guests don’t have to.
We curate company and partner resources to bring our client’s vision to life. We seek to cultivate the next generation of talent, purveyors and partnerships.
We bring an entrepreneurial approach to deliver results for our clients (you might call this scrappy).
Collaboration and openness to innovative business tools, new ways of thinking and ability to partner across departments are essential to create optimal business solutions.

“I can have the best food, but if we don’t have good people, it won’t get you very far.”

Job Summary

At Wolfgang Puck Catering, every event tells a story. As our Catering Operations Manager, you’ll help bring those stories to life by guiding teams, supporting clients, and ensuring smooth, high‑quality execution for both on‑and off‑premise events. This role is a great fit for a hospitality professional who enjoys leading people, coordinating details, and creating memorable experiences in a fast‑moving environment. You’ll collaborate with talented culinary partners, creative sales leaders, and trusted vendors to deliver the exceptional service Wolfgang Puck is known for.

Key Responsibilities

Partner with clients to understand their event vision, priorities, and expectations and ensure the operational plan aligns with their goals and budget.
Collaborate closely with WPC chefs and culinary leaders to ensure client needs are met and food is presented according to WPC standards.
Build comprehensive front-of-house and back-of-house rental orders, including china, glassware, flatware, serving pieces, bars, kitchen equipment.
Build kitchens from scratch for off‑premise events, including planning equipment, workstations, utilities, refrigeration, cooking equipment, and scullery needs.
Build strong relationships with rental companies and other vendors, coordinating logistics, deliveries, pickups, and onsite execution.
Execute events ranging from 300 to 5,000 guests, maintaining WPC standards throughout planning, setup, service, and breakdown.
Develop event staffing plans and schedules that align team strengths and experience with the specific needs of each event.
Serve as the communication hub between Sales, Culinary, Staffing, Captains, Vendors, and Clients, ensuring all teams have the information needed to execute successfully.
Manage event timelines, production schedules, load‑ins, load‑outs, staffing, rentals, and onsite logistics.
Anticipate operational challenges and develop solutions before and during events.
Support financial processes, including budgeting, labor planning, contract tracking, cost management, and post-event reviews.

What We’re Looking For

3–5 years of leadership experience in catering, luxury hospitality, fine dining, event operations, or a related environment.
Strong background in off‑premise catering and large‑scale events.
Demonstrated ability to successfully execute events ranging from 300 to 5,000 guests.
Experience leading teams in high‑volume, high‑touch hospitality environments.
Strong understanding of event operations, including staffing, rentals, timelines, logistics, setup, service, and breakdown.
Experience building temporary kitchens and production spaces from scratch.
Strong knowledge of catering equipment, service equipment, and event production needs.
Ability to develop effective labor plans and staffing schedules.
Comfortable managing multiple events, timelines, vendors, and client expectations simultaneously.
Strong communication, organization, and relationship‑building skills.
Confidence collaborating with culinary leaders, sales teams, vendors, and clients.
Ability to work with budgets, labor planning, and basic financial reporting.
Strong attention to detail with the ability to see both the big picture and the small details that impact event execution.
A passion for creating meaningful client experiences and contributing to the growth and success of the organization.

Wolfgang Puck Catering 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 Wolfgang Puck Catering are offered many fantastic benefits.