Catering & Special Events Manager | Central Park Boathouse

Legends Global; New York (NY); On-site; USD 75,000 - 80,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Medical insurance

Dental insurance

Vision insurance

Life insurance

Disability insurance

Paid vacation

401(k)

Job summary

Legends Global in New York, NY seeks a Catering & Special Events Manager for the Central Park Boathouse to lead planning and on-site execution of intimate to large-scale events.

You will partner with Sales, Culinary, Operations, and other teams to deliver exceptional guest experiences, manage menus, staff, and budgets, and ensure safety and compliance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree in Hospitality Management or equivalent preferred.
• 3–6 years of management experience in catering, banquets, events, or hospitality.
• Excellent communication, leadership, delegation and organizational skills.
• Meticulous organization with strong attention to detail.
• Proficient with MS Office; experience with event platforms is a plus.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the primary client contact through planning and execution.
• Collaborate with Event Sales to ensure successful events.
• Manage timelines, floorplans, menus, staffing, rentals, and vendor coordination.
• Lead food and beverage planning including tastings and service style.
• Attend weekly event and hospitality leadership meetings.
• Coordinate with Culinary, Operations, Engineering, IT, Security and others.
• Oversee load-in/out and pre-event meetings.
• Manage event equipment, disposables, and inventory.
• Coordinate vendors and ensure required insurance/compliance docs.
• Deliver exceptional guest experiences and uphold high service standards.
• Support event P&Ls, projected sales, and post-event recaps.
• Assist with interviewing, onboarding, training, and retention of catering staff.
• Develop SOPs to improve operational efficiency and service consistency.
• Stay current on hospitality trends to support innovative experiences.
• Ensure health, safety, and cleanliness standards.

Skills

Communication

Leadership

Organizational skills

Team player

Multitasking

Guest service

Education

Bachelor’s Degree, Hospitality Management

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Adobe Photoshop

Tripleseat

Social Tables

Prismm

Canva

Figma

Job description

THE ROLE:

Catering & Special Events Manager | Central Park Boathouse

LOCATION:

New York, NY

About Legends Global

Legends Global is the premier partner to the world's greatest live events, venues, and brands. We deliver a fully integrated suite of premium services through a white-label model that keeps our partners front and center - from feasibility and project development to sales, partnerships, hospitality, merchandise, venue management, and world-class content and booking.

With a global network of more than 450 venues, hosting 20,000 events and welcoming 165 million guests annually, Legends Global brings unmatched scale, expertise, and connectivity to help our partners grow. The Legends Global Way guides how we operate: Align, Scale, Connect, Team, Win - shared success, repeatable systems, connected solutions, unstoppable teams, and wins that are earned every day.

About the Role

The Catering & Special Events Manager for Aspire is an experienced hospitality professional with a passion for exceptional guest experiences, food & beverage, and event / banquet execution. This role is responsible for managing all aspects of special events from client planning through on-site execution while maintaining the highest standards of service, organization, and operational excellence.

The ideal candidate is a proactive problem-solver, strong communicator, and collaborative leader who thrives in fast-paced environments and understands that client satisfaction is the foundation of successful events. This individual has a proven record of successfully executed intimate gatherings to large-scale events.

About The Project/Venue

The Central Park Boathouse is a historic building started over 150 years ago as an area to explore and rent rowboats, and over the years it has evolved into a landmark restaurant. This iconic space will continue to hold catered events, restaurant services and rowboat rentals to its millions of visitors each year.

What You’ll Do (key Responsibilities & Outcomes)

• Serve as the primary point of contact for clients throughout the event planning and execution process
• Collaborate closely with the Event Sales team to ensure accurate and successful event execution
• Manage all event logistics including timelines, floorplans, menus, staffing, rentals, and vendor coordination
• Lead food & beverage planning with clients including menu development, tastings, and service style coordination
• Attend weekly event and hospitality leadership meetings
• Partner with internal departments including Culinary, Operations, Engineering, IT, Security, Cleaning, and Loading Dock teams to ensure seamless execution
• Oversee event load-in, event operations, and load-out, including leading pre-event meetings
• Manage ordering and inventory of event equipment, smallwares, disposables, food and beverages
• Coordinate preferred vendors and ensure all required insurance and compliance documentation is collected
• Deliver exceptional guest experiences by maintaining high service standards and anticipating client needs
• Support financial reporting including event P&Ls, projected sales, and post-event recaps
• Assist with interviewing, onboarding, training, and retention of catering team members
• Develop and implement SOPs to improve operational efficiency and service consistency
• Partner with Operations and Engineering teams to maintain event spaces and venue standards
• Stay current on hospitality and event trends to support innovative event experiences, service styles, and menu offerings
• Ensure adherence to health, safety, and cleanliness standards
• Perform additional duties as assigned by management

What You Bring (qualifications & Experience)

To perform this job successfully, an individual must be able to perform each essential duty with energy and enthusiasm. The requirements listed below are representative of the knowledge, skill, and/or abilityrequired. Reasonableaccommodationmay be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Able to demonstrate flexibility and quickly adapt to changes
• Ability to be self-motivated and work independently and work well as a team player.
• Ability to work in a fast-paced environment
• Bachelor’s Degree, Hospitality Management degree preferred
• 3-6 years of management experience in Catering, Banquets, Events or Hospitality
• Excellent communication, leadership, delegation and organizational skills
• Meticulous organizational skills with exceptional attention to detail
• Highly proficient in computer applications with preferred experience in platforms such as Microsoft Office Suite, Adobe Photoshop, Tripleseat, Social Tables or Prismm, Canva, Figma, and scheduling software/applications
• Proven ability to manage multiple events and priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Familiarity with P&L reporting and financial management practices
• Consistent commitment to exceeding guest expectations
• Extensive knowledge of upscale food and beverage preparation and ingredients, banquet service standards, client / guest relations, and professional etiquette
• Knowledge of fine dining table settings and service, synchronized services, service equipment and printed menu design
• Proven experience managing high-end catering, hospitality, or special events with corporate and social clientele
• General knowledge of competitive markets
• Willingness to work extended hours and flexible shifts including mornings, nights, weekends and holidays
• Practice safe work habits, follow all safety policies and procedures, and regulations, complete company-wide safety training and additional job specific safety training

KEY LEADERSHIP ATTRIBUTES

• Supervise and direct catering event staff to ensure successful execution of all events
• Conduct performance coaching, provide ongoing feedback, and support professional development initiatives for team members
• Create and manage staffing schedules and event assignments to ensure appropriate coverage and operational efficiency
• Enforce company policies, service standards, safety procedures, and performance expectations while addressing employee relations issues as needed
• Lead pre-event briefings and post-event reviews, providing direction, accountability, and continuous improvement opportunities for the event team
• Practicesafe work habits and complete company and venue safety and general compliance training
• Maintaina pleasant and collaborative attitude towards customers, co-workers, and management.
• Adheres to the Legends Global and venue company policies
• Complete other duties as assigned by management
• Available to work non-traditional hours (Nights, Weekends & Holidays)

WORK ENVIRONMENT & TRAVEL

Location: Onsite- Central Park Boathouse- New York, NY

At Legends Global, our people power every success. You'll work alongside exceptional talent, learn from world-leading experts, and contribute to projects that set the standard across sports, entertainment, hospitality, and live experiences. If you're driven to operate at the highest level, build with purpose, and help partners win on the biggest stages, you'll thrive here.

Compensation

Annual salary of $75k - $80k annually, and a generous benefits package that includes medical, dental, vision, life and disability insurance, paid vacation, and 401(k).