Director of Catering

Shannon Connex Recruiting; Orlando (FL); On-site; USD 90,000 - 130,000; Full time

Job summary

The Club in Orlando is seeking an experienced Director of Catering to lead the Catering Department, drive strategy, and ensure flawless execution of high-profile events for members, clients and guests. You will collaborate with Banquets, Food & Beverage, Culinary, and other teams to maintain service excellence.

The role requires a proven leadership track record in luxury hospitality, excellent client relation skills, and a focus on operational and financial performance.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Business Administration, or related field.
• 5+ years leadership in catering, event management, hospitality, private clubs, luxury resorts, hotels, or similar.
• Experience building and developing a team in a high-volume luxury setting.
• Strong knowledge of catering operations, events, BEOs, and food & beverage.
• Proven ability to manage multiple events, priorities and deadlines.
• Strong financial acumen with budgets, revenue, expenses and profitability.
• Excellent communication, organization, problem-solving and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule including evenings, weekends, holidays.

Responsibilities

• Provide leadership and oversight for the Catering Department.
• Set goals, standards, procedures, and best practices for service and operations.
• Develop strategies to maximize catering revenue and client satisfaction.
• Monitor performance, identify trends, and advise senior leadership.
• Oversee staffing, workload distribution, and calendars for events.
• Collaborate with executives on budgets, forecasts and strategy.
• Improve catering processes and service standards for efficiency.
• Oversee planning and execution of catered events from start to finish.
• Ensure events meet client expectations and brand standards.
• Resolve operational challenges between departments during execution.
• Build strong relationships with members, brides, clients, vendors, and partners.
• Serve as senior point of contact for high-profile events and clients.

Skills

Leadership

Budgeting

Team development

Client relations

Operational excellence

Communication

Event coordination

Flexibility

Education

Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management

Job description

Step into a world of timeless elegance with stunning Italian-inspired architecture and awe-inspiring views. Nestled amidst rolling hills and verdant landscapes, this luxury venue is a true sanctuary of romance and sophistication. With a world-class event planning team and exceptional culinary offerings, they leave no stone unturned in creating a truly unforgettable experience for their clients and guests. They take pride in the work they do, producing unparalleled events and have a "one team" mentality, all working together for a greater purpose of serving their members and clients.

JOB SUMMARY

This experienced luxury market Director of Catering provides strategic leadership and oversight for the Catering Department, ensuring the successful planning, coordination, and execution of catered events while delivering an exceptional experience for members, clients, guests, and event partners. This position oversees the Catering team and is responsible for maintaining the highest standards of service, event execution, client relations, and operational excellence. The Director of Catering serves as a senior point of contact for brides, clients, vendors, and internal leadership, while working closely with Catering, Banquets, Food & Beverage, Culinary, and other departments to ensure seamless communication and execution of all events. All team members are expected to act in accordance with their values of hospitality, excellence, integrity, teamwork, and accountability.

Key Responsibilities

Department Leadership and Strategy

• Provide overall leadership, direction, and oversight for the Catering Department
• Establish departmental goals, standards, procedures, and best practices that support The Club’s service and operational expectations.
• Develop and implement strategies to maximize catering revenue, profitability, client satisfaction, and event opportunities.
• Monitor department performance, identify trends and opportunities, and make recommendations to senior leadership.
• Oversee workload distribution, staffing needs, and departmental priorities to ensure the team is appropriately positioned to support the Club’s event calendar.
• Partner with leadership to develop annual goals, budgets, forecasts, and business strategies for the Catering Department.
• Continuously evaluate and improve catering processes, systems, and service standards to increase efficiency and enhance the client experience.

Event Planning & Execution

• Provide oversight of the planning and execution of catered events from initial coordination through completion, ensuring all events meet or exceed client expectations and The Club’s standards.
• Oversee complex, high-profile, and large-scale events and provide leadership and support for events requiring additional coordination or operational planning.
• Review event details, timelines, menus, floor plans, setup requirements, vendor needs, contracts, and other specifications to ensure accuracy and completeness.
• Attend and oversee assigned events to ensure flawless execution and address client or operational needs.
• Proactively identify potential challenges and develop effective solutions before and during events.
• Ensure events are executed within established timelines, budgets, contractual requirements, and client expectations.
• Ensure contracts, billing information, event charges, and other financial documentation are accurate and properly communicated.
• Oversee weekly BEO meetings to review upcoming events and ensure all departments have accurate, complete, and timely information.
• Ensure effective communication and coordination between Catering, Banquets, Food & Beverage and other departments involved in event execution.
• Review and approve BEOs and event documentation for accuracy, completeness, and consistency.
• Ensure changes to event details, timelines, menus, guest counts, setups, and other requirements are communicated promptly to all affected departments.
• Serve as a senior resource for resolving operational challenges and conflicts between departments related to event execution.
• Establish clear communication standards and accountability throughout the event planning and execution process.
• Build and maintain strong, long-term relationships with members, brides, clients, vendors, event partners, and other key stakeholders.
• Serve as a senior point of contact for significant clients, high-profile events, and escalated client concerns.
• Ensure clients receive timely, professional, and personalized communication throughout the planning and execution process.
• Handle escalated client concerns with professionalism, discretion, and a solutions-oriented approach.
• Identify opportunities to enhance the client experience, strengthen relationships, and generate repeat business and referrals.
• Develop and maintain strong relationships with preferred vendors and event partners while ensuring vendor performance aligns with The Club’s standards.

Qualifications

• Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management, Event Management, Business Administration, or a related field preferred.
• 5+ years of previous leadership experience in catering, event management, hospitality, private clubs, luxury resorts, hotels, or a similar environment.
• Demonstrated experience managing and developing a team, preferably within a high-volume or luxury hospitality environment.
• Strong knowledge of catering operations, event planning, banquet execution, BEOs, and food and beverage operations.
• Proven ability to manage multiple events, priorities, and deadlines simultaneously.
• Strong financial acumen with the ability to understand budgets, revenue, expenses, and profitability.
• Exceptional communication, organization, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills.
• Ability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, holidays, and extended hours based on the Club’s event calendar.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality, exercise sound judgment, and represent The Club in a professional manner.