Director of Catering & Conference Services

Kona Kai San Diego, a Noble House Resort; San Diego (CA); On-site; USD 112,000 - 119,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Health, dental, vision, and life

401k matching

Meals provided

Travel discounts

Paid holidays

On Demand Pay

Career advancement

Discount program

Job summary

Kona Kai San Diego Resort is seeking an experienced Associate Director of Catering to lead catering and conference services from conversion through execution. You’ll oversee sales, servicing, forecasting, and a high-performing team, ensuring exceptional guest experiences and revenue achievement.

The role requires 5+ years in hospitality, strong relationships, and proficiency with hotel systems. This on-site position offers a comprehensive benefits package and opportunities for advancement.

Qualifications

• Minimum 5 years of progressive hospitality experience in catering sales or conference services leadership.
• Experience managing catering sales, meetings, weddings, and other events.
• Strong knowledge of space management, forecasting, reporting, and contracts.
• Ability to review bookings, prevent conflicts, and ensure accuracy.
• Understanding of catering revenue management, budgeting, and financial performance.
• Experience coaching a sales and conference services team to high performance.
• Familiarity with hotel operations and cross-department collaboration.
• Proficient in Microsoft Office and common hotel systems.

Responsibilities

• Lead catering and conference services operations from conversion to execution.
• Oversee catering sales, event servicing, forecasting, and team performance.
• Develop catering revenue strategies and maintain client relationships.
• Ensure accurate booking, space management, and collaboration with operations.
• Drive revenue, service standards, and client satisfaction across meetings and events.

Skills

Catering sales

Event management

Forecasting

Budgeting

Client relationships

Team leadership

Contract review

Microsoft Office

Tools

Delphi/FDC

Booking systems

MS Office

Job description

WE ARE

Kona Kai San Diego Resort is a boutique urban resort located on Shelter Island. With 170 guestrooms, Kona Kai Resort is home to Vessel Restaurant + Bar, SpaTerre, a marina and a private club, all located just minutes from downtown San Diego. We are excited to welcome a new Director of Catering & Conference Services to our island-inspired resort.

OUR CULTURE | Individual Distinction, Collective Soul

The Kona Kai San Diego is part of Noble House Hotels & Resorts: a curated collection of 20 unique hotels around the USA, distinctly unique in location and soul. Our best performers are independent thinkers, creative, and make decisions without too many corporate SOPs. They tend to be goal-oriented, financially sound, with a fair amount of grit. We look for people with high integrity and a positive, flexible mindset. Our properties are not a "one-size-fits-all." And neither are our team members. What makes us The Kona Kai Resort & Spa lies within our team. We are a group of individuals that share a passion for hospitality. We let our personalities shine and we like to have fun.

THE JOB:

This role will report to Director of Sales and Marketing

YOU:

The Director of Catering & Conference Services, is responsible for leading the resort’s catering and conference services operations, from the conversion of events through execution and client follow-up. This role oversees catering sales, event servicing, forecasting, and team performance while ensuring exceptional guest experiences and achievement of revenue goals. Key responsibilities include developing catering revenue strategies, managing and coaching the catering and conference services teams, maintaining strong client relationships, ensuring accurate booking and space management, collaborating with Operations and Sales, and overseeing the successful execution of meetings, weddings, social events, and other catered programs. The Director serves as a key leader in driving revenue, operational efficiency, service standards, and overall client satisfaction.

Requirements

• Minimum 5 years of progressive hospitality experience, including experience as a Catering Sales Manager, Conference Services Manager, or comparable leadership role.
• Demonstrated experience managing catering sales and conference services, including meetings, corporate events, weddings, social events, and other catered programs.
• Strong working knowledge of Delphi/FDC or comparable hotel sales and catering systems, including space management, booking, forecasting, reporting, and contract review.
• Proven ability to review and manage event bookings and contracted space to ensure accuracy and prevent double bookings or operational conflicts.
• Demonstrated understanding of catering revenue management, forecasting, budgeting, and financial performance.
• Experience leading, coaching, developing, and holding sales and conference services team members accountable to performance and service standards.
• Strong knowledge of hotel operations and event execution, with the ability to effectively collaborate with Banquets, Front Office, Revenue Management, Sales, and other operational departments.
• Demonstrated ability to manage client relationships from initial sale through event execution and post-event follow-up.
• Excellent organizational, communication, problem-solving, and interpersonal skills, with the ability to manage multiple priorities in a fast-paced environment.
• Ability to identify operational challenges, make sound decisions, and provide solutions while maintaining a high level of client service.
• Strong attention to detail with the ability to interpret contracts, event specifications, room blocks, timelines, and operational requirements.
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite, including Outlook, Excel, Word, and PowerPoint.
• Availability to work a flexible schedule, including evenings, weekends, and holidays, as business demands.

When joining our team as the Associate Director of Catering, you will be offered:

• Pay Range of $112k - $119k annually
• Health, dental, vision, and life insurance
• Matching 401k after 1 year
• Meal provided every shift
• Travel discounts at partner Noble House Hotels around the country
• Paid holidays/ Vacation time
• On Demand Pay - your pay before payday
• Career advancement opportunities
• Nation wide discount program (inclusive of theme park, MLB, NFL and concert tickets )

Are you ready to join the excitement?

At Kona Kai San Diego, we take pride in supporting our initiatives towards Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility. We have established a hotel committee to bring together a variety of thoughts, perspectives, and expressions – and we would love for you to share yours with the team!

Noble House Hotels & Resorts are proud to encourage and support an environment where everyone can be a successful team member (come as they are) as their true authentic self. We are an equal opportunity workplace and employer that does not discriminate based on race, color, disability, gender/sex, sexual orientation, religion, national origin, age, veteran status, or any other protected status. We are committed to building a team (rooted in family) and a workplace where we are all able to be successful based solely on our individual qualifications, experience, abilities and job performance.