Director of Banquets

Cliff House Maine; Cape Neddick (ME); On-site; USD 80,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

The Director of Banquets at Cliff House Maine leads the Front of House banquet and event experiences, shaping luxury service and strategic vision. This role owns the banquet division's performance, partnering with Sales, Event Planning, and Culinary leadership to deliver seamless, memorable events that reflect the property's brand promise.

With responsibility for service culture, budgets, and staff development, you will build a high-performing team, drive guest satisfaction, and ensure

Qualifications

• Five+ years of progressive banquet or event management experience.
• Experience owning departmental budgets, labor management, and financial reporting.
• Strong track record of building and leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders.
• Polished, professional presence and demeanor, with the poise and discretion expected in a luxury hospitality setting.
• Familiarity with Forbes service standards strongly preferred.

Responsibilities

• Own the overall guest experience and service quality across all banquet and event functions, from intimate gatherings to large-scale, high-profile events.
• Set and uphold service standards that meet or exceed luxury/Forbes-level expectations, continuously evaluating and evolving standards to stay ahead of guest expectations and industry trends.
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Event Planning, and Culinary leadership to ensure flawless execution and alignment on client vision, from initial planning through event delivery.
• Represent the banquet department in property-wide leadership discussions, budgeting, and forecasting.
• Oversees the banquet department's P&L, driving labor efficiency, cost control, and revenue optimization within budgetary and forecasted guidelines.
• Analyze operational and financial performance data to identify opportunities for margin improvement and service enhancement.
• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing banquet team, overseeing recruitment, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Cultivate a strong service culture rooted in the brand's hospitality standards, acting as a role model and mentor for team leaders and staff at all levels.
• Drive alignment across the team on service philosophy, guest engagement, and brand expectations.
• Serve as the point of contact for guest concerns related to banquet and event services, ensuring timely and thoughtful resolution.
• Anticipate guest needs and proactively elevate the experience beyond expectations, reinforcing Cliff House Maine's reputation for premium service.
• Champion consistency in brand voice and service delivery across every banquet touchpoint.

Job description

Director of Banquets

Job Overview: The Director of Banquets is service-driven leader who embodies Cliff House Maine's luxury standards while leading the strategic vision and operational excellence of all Front of House banquet and event experiences. This role holds full accountability for the banquet division's financial performance, service standards, and team leadership, partnering closely with Sales, Event Planning, and Culinary leadership to deliver seamless, memorable events that reflect the property's luxury brand promise.

The Director sets the tone for service culture across the department and serves as a key leader within the broader Food & Beverage organization.

Compensation: $80,000 - $100,000 inclusive of incentive

Essential Functions:

Strategic Leadership & Operations

• Own the overall guest experience and service quality across all banquet and event functions, from intimate gatherings to large-scale, high-profile events.
• Set and uphold service standards that meet or exceed luxury/Forbes-level expectations, continuously evaluating and evolving standards to stay ahead of guest expectations and industry trends.
• Partner cross-functionally with Sales, Event Planning, and Culinary leadership to ensure flawless execution and alignment on client vision, from initial planning through event delivery.
• Represent the banquet department in property-wide leadership discussions, budgeting, and forecasting.

Financial & Business Management

• Oversees the banquet department's P&L, driving labor efficiency, cost control, and revenue optimization within budgetary and forecasted guidelines.
• Analyze operational and financial performance data to identify opportunities for margin improvement and service enhancement.

Talent Development & Team Leadership

• Build, develop, and lead a high-performing banquet team, overseeing recruitment, training, coaching, and performance management.
• Cultivate a strong service culture rooted in the brand's hospitality standards, acting as a role model and mentor for team leaders and staff at all levels.
• Drive alignment across the team on service philosophy, guest engagement, and brand expectations.

Guest Experience & Brand Stewardship

• Serve as the point of contact for guest concerns related to banquet and event services, ensuring timely and thoughtful resolution.
• Anticipate guest needs and proactively elevate the experience beyond expectations, reinforcing Cliff House Maine's reputation for premium service.
• Champion consistency in brand voice and service delivery across every banquet touchpoint.

Qualifications:

• Five or more years of progressive banquet or event management experience, ideally within a luxury resort or high-volume hospitality environment.
• Demonstrated experience owning departmental budgets, labor management, and financial reporting.
• Strong track record of building and leading high-performing teams in a fast-paced, guest-focused environment.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills, with the ability to influence and align cross-functional stakeholders.
• Polished, professional presence and demeanor, with the poise and discretion expected in a luxury hospitality setting.
• Familiarity with Forbes service standards strongly preferred.

Needed Attributes:

Employees must fulfill their performance standards for this position and comply with policies, rules and procedures of the Hotel, including those set out in the Employee Handbook or otherwise communicated (verbally or in writing) to employees. The job description is intended to describe the general nature and work responsibilities of the position. This job description and duties of this position are subject to change, modification and addition as deemed necessary by the Hotel. Employees are required to comply with supervisory instructions and perform other job duties, responsibilities and assignments requested by supervisors, managers or other Hotel Officials.

We are an equal opportunity employer and prohibit discrimination/harassment without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.