Director of Catering & Events

Ocean House Collection; Westerly (RI); On-site; USD 120,000 - 180,000; Full time

Job summary

The Ocean House Collection in Rhode Island seeks a Director of Catering & Events to lead a luxury team, drive strategy, manage client contracts, and ensure exceptional service for weddings, conferences, and meetings. In partnership with Sales, you will maximize revenue through upselling and space optimization while upholding company standards and contract commitments.

The role reports to the Group Director of Sales & Marketing and requires strong leadership and English fluency in luxury

Qualifications

• Proven leadership and team development experience in luxury hospitality.
• Ability to manage multiple priorities, deadlines, and client needs.
• Excellent written and verbal English communication skills for guests, clients, and staff.
• Strong attention to detail, problem-solving, and service standards in luxury events.
• Knowledge of catering, conference services, banquet operations, and menu planning.
• Ability to negotiate, prepare proposals, review contracts, and support revenue goals.
• Maintain confidentiality of guest, employee, client, and company information.
• Experience with event management tools and hotel sales/catering systems preferred.

Responsibilities

• Lead, coach, schedule, and develop the Catering and Events team, including hiring, training, performance management, and corrective action when needed.
• Oversee assigned groups, weddings, meetings, and events from pre-planning through departure, including event detailing, resumes, day-of execution, and post-event follow-up.
• Develop and implement departmental goals, operating procedures, and service standards that support company objectives.
• Communicate sales and event information clearly to hotel departments and promote teamwork through regular meetings and daily coordination.
• Represent the Company professionally with internal and external stakeholders and support a positive, service-focused culture.
• Address guest and client concerns related to in-house events, and communicate resolutions to the Group Director of Sales & Marketing as necessary.
• Assist with developing policies and procedures related to in-house event planning and execution.
• Negotiate meeting room rental, function space, hotel services, and event terms within approved booking guidelines.
• Prepare, review, and manage sales contracts, rate agreements, banquet/catering event orders, and event resumes accurately and on time.
• Respond to inquiries and prepare client proposals in accordance with departmental standards.
• Prepare monthly sales-related reports and forecasts for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Lead BEO meetings for in-house events and ensure event details are communicated to all relevant departments.
• Support resort programming, special cultural events, entertainment bookings, and activity calendars as assigned.
• Coordinate with Marketing and the Group Director of Sales & Marketing to promote special events.
• Practice, model, and promote the Company's Statement of Purpose, Service Excellence Pillars, and Declarations in daily operations.
• Follow company policies, procedures, sustainability guidelines, and service standards.
• Perform other duties consistent with the scope and purpose of this role.

Skills

Leadership

Coaching

Organizational

Team development

Multi-tasking

Communication

Negotiation

Confidentiality

Education

College degree in Hospitality Management

Tools

Event management software

Hotel sales systems

Job description

The Ocean House Collection includes three luxury properties on the Rhode Island shoreline.

Ocean House is the Collection's Forbes Five-Star flagship, offering 49 guest rooms, 20 signature suites, and 13 private villa vacation homes. Amenities include a 12,000-square-foot Ocean & Harvest Spa, over 10,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor meeting space, and up to 8 unique dining venues in peak season.

Weekapaug Inn delivers a relaxed but luxurious New England experience. With 29 guest rooms and 4 signature suites, the inn's dining celebrates seasonal, locally sourced ingredients, enhanced by bespoke resort activities and naturalist-led excursions.

Watch Hill Inn, founded in 1845, combines historical charm with cutting-edge technology across 21 suite-style accommodations. Guests enjoy access to the full range of amenities, dining, and experiences at both Ocean House and Weekapaug Inn.

Scope of Position

The Director of Catering & Events oversees all Catering and Events operations, including team leadership, business strategy, client contracts, and exceptional event service. In partnership with the Sales team, this role ensures profitable, high-quality operations; coordinates conferences, meetings, and weddings to meet client expectations; maximizes hotel revenue through upselling, function space, and room block management; and ensures both the Company and clients fulfill group contract commitments.

Key Relationships

Internal: This position reports directly to the Group Director of Sales & Marketing and leads the Catering and Events Managers.

External: This position works regularly with suppliers, vendors, social and group clients, prospective clients, guests, members, and residence owners. The role also maintains strong relationships with other partners to support the company's image and goals.

Key Responsibilities

Leadership & Team Management:

• Lead, coach, schedule, and develop the Catering and Events team, including hiring, training, performance management, and corrective action when needed.
• Oversee assigned groups, weddings, meetings, and events from pre-planning through departure, including event detailing, BEO's, resumes, day-of execution, and post-event follow-up.
• Develop and implement departmental goals, operating procedures, and service standards that support company objectives.
• Communicate sales and event information clearly to hotel departments and promote teamwork through regular meetings and daily coordination.
• Represent the Company professionally with internal and external stakeholders and support a positive, service-focused culture.
• Address guest and client concerns related to in-house events, and communicate resolutions to the Group Director of Sales & Marketing as necessary.
• Assist with developing policies and procedures related to in-house event planning and execution.
• Negotiate meeting room rental, function space, hotel services, and event terms within approved booking guidelines.
• Prepare, review, and manage sales contracts, rate agreements, banquet/catering event orders, and event resumes accurately and on time.
• Respond to inquiries and prepare client proposals in accordance with departmental standards.
• Prepare monthly sales-related reports and forecasts for assigned areas of responsibility.
• Lead BEO meetings for in-house events and ensure event details are communicated to all relevant departments.
• Support resort programming, special cultural events, entertainment bookings, and activity calendars as assigned.
• Coordinate with Marketing and the Group Director of Sales & Marketing to promote special events.
• Practice, model, and promote the Company's Statement of Purpose, Service Excellence Pillars, and Declarations in daily operations.
• Follow company policies, procedures, sustainability guidelines, and service standards.
• Perform other duties consistent with the scope and purpose of this role.

Required Job Knowledge, Skills, Experience, and Education

• Strong leadership, coaching, organizational, and team-development skills.
• Proven ability to manage multiple priorities, complex events, deadlines, and client needs in a fast-paced luxury hospitality environment.
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills in English, with the ability to work effectively with guests, clients, vendors, team members, and leadership.
• Strong attention to detail, accuracy, follow-through, and problem-solving skills.
• Knowledge of catering, conference services, banquet operations, event planning, menu planning, room setup, and luxury service standards.
• Ability to negotiate, prepare proposals, review contracts, and support revenue goals through upselling and relationship management.
• Ability to remain calm, professional, and solutions-focused under pressure, including during guest or client concerns.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality of guest, employee, client, and company information.
• Proficiency with office systems and event management tools; experience with hotel sales or catering systems preferred.
• College degree in Hospitality Management, Business, Marketing, or a related field preferred; equivalent work experience may be considered.
• Prior catering, conference services, event management, or luxury hotel operations experience required; leadership experience preferred.