Director of Event Management

White Lodging; Austin (TX); On-site; USD 120,000 - 150,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k) match

PTO with rollover

Discounts on hotel rooms

Growth opportunities

Medical, dental, and vision insurance

Life and disability insurance

Paid parental leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

White Lodging is seeking an experienced Director of Banquets for the JW Marriott Austin to lead banquet and catering operations. You will supervise a management team, schedule staff, and ensure flawless event execution across large-scale meetings and social events in downtown Austin.

Bring proven leadership in high-volume hotel banquet operations, strong financial acumen, and expertise in menu planning and catering service standards to deliver world-class events while ensuring compliance with

Qualifications

• Hotel banquet and catering leadership experience.
• Experience with JW Marriott or Marriott-brand environments is a plus.
• Strong financial budgeting and cost-control skills.

Responsibilities

• Administer and oversee all banquet and social catering operations.
• Supervise and develop banquet management staff.
• Schedule, evaluate, and direct banquet personnel with regular performance reviews.
• Coordinate banquet efforts with group commitments and sales teams.
• Manage the banquet department budget and forecasts.
• Develop and implement new menus for Catering and Sales.
• Ensure compliance with food and liquor regulations.
• Handle guest complaints and maintain high guest satisfaction.
• Participate in Leadership Team meetings and company initiatives.

Skills

Banquet leadership

Staff supervision

Event coordination

Financial acumen

Menu planning

Food presentation

Communication

Problem solving

Tools

Delphi

PMS

Marsha

Job description

Who We Are

White Lodging develops and operates a portfolio of award-winning premium hotels, rooftop bars, and restaurants in some of the country's most dynamic cities. We know that the hospitality business, like life, is about how you make people feel. That's where you come in. You'll help bring the virtue of hospitality to life while we create an environment that allows you to be your best self and grow.

Description

Who We Are

White Lodging develops and operates a portfolio of award-winning premium hotels, rooftop bars, and restaurants in some of the country's most dynamic cities. We know that the hospitality business, like life, is about how you make people feel. That's where you come in. You'll help bring the virtue of hospitality to life while we create an environment that allows you to be your best self and grow.

JW Marriott Austin is one of the most celebrated meeting and event hotels in the world - and the numbers prove it. Named Cvent's #1 Top Meeting Hotel in North America for 2026, the JW Marriott Austin has also earned the Smart Meetings Platinum Choice Award, recognition as a Top 50 Hotel in the World by Condé Nast Readers' Choice, and consecutive top-five rankings on Cvent's Top Meeting Hotels in North America list. Most recently, the JW Marriott Austin earned a top spot for event satisfaction in the Marriott Convention & Resort Network collection of hotels - a distinction that reflects the extraordinary standard of banquet and event execution this team delivers every day. With more than 120,000 square feet of event space and 42 individual meeting rooms in the heart of downtown Austin, Texas, the JW Marriott Austin is a flagship property in the White Lodging portfolio and one of the most high-profile event management leadership opportunities in the Austin hospitality market.

What You'll Do

• Administer, manage, and control all Banquet and Social Catering operations at the JW Marriott Austin — maintaining the world-class event execution standards that have earned this property recognition as Cvent's #1 Top Meeting Hotel in North America for 2026
• Supervise, guide, train, and develop all management-level associates in the Banquet discipline — ensuring all hours of every shift are covered and every department receives consistent, high-quality leadership oversight
• Schedule, evaluate, and direct all Banquet personnel — conducting performance evaluations on a 90-day and annual basis and providing disciplinary action when necessary in accordance with White Lodging standards
• Coordinate Banquet department efforts across group commitments, full occupancy periods, and peak business volumes — aligning with the Catering and Sales team and Rooms Division to ensure seamless event delivery at every scale
• Produce and manage the approved Banquet department budget — preparing weekly sales and payroll forecasts, analyzing P&L statements, and implementing controls to ensure financial performance meets established cost, expense, sales, and profitability targets
• Develop and implement new food menus for the Catering and Sales departments — leveraging expertise in menu planning, food presentation, and banquet service standards to continuously elevate the JW Marriott Austin event experience
• Establish, direct, and review liquor procedures — ensuring adequate security, accountability, presentation, and service performance while maintaining full compliance with all federal, state, and local food and liquor laws and regulations
• Monitor, direct, and coordinate sanitation, cleanliness, and organization across all food and beverage operating areas — maintaining control of glassware, china, silver, and linen use and supplies to the standards of a world-class JW Marriott event operation
• Handle and resolve guest complaints related to banquet and catering events — coordinating timely follow-up and ensuring every guest concern is addressed to full satisfaction
• Serve as an active member of the JW Marriott Austin Leadership Team — participating in monthly department meetings, weekly staff and sales meetings, weekly Leadership Team meetings, and the property MOD program
• Interview, hire, and develop Banquet team members — reviewing and approving all department hires, job transfers, warning notices, counseling sessions, and terminations in accordance with White Lodging SOPs
• Perform other duties as assigned to meet business needs

What You'll Bring

• Prior hotel banquet and catering leadership experience — required; Director of Event Management, Director of Banquets, Banquet Manager, or comparable senior event management experience at a large-scale full-service or JW Marriott-brand hotel strongly preferred
• Expertise in menu planning, food presentation, and banquet service standards — with a demonstrated ability to develop and execute outstanding events that meet the world-class expectations of a top-ranked Austin meeting hotel
• Technical proficiency in Delphi, PMS, and Marsha — or comparable hotel catering and sales management systems; experience with these platforms in a JW Marriott or comparable Marriott-brand environment is a significant advantage
• Strong financial acumen — including demonstrated experience managing customer budgets, producing weekly sales and payroll forecasts, analyzing P&L statements, and controlling costs across a high-volume hotel banquet operation
• Solid understanding of A/V products and services and the ability to integrate and execute against current trends in event management — delivering technically sophisticated, memorable events at scale
• Broad knowledge of facility management and familiarity with all hotel departments — with the ability to manage and balance group business based on the JW Marriott Austin's revenue strategy and operational priorities
• Strong interpersonal, communication, and presentation skills — with the ability to manage conflict effectively, present ideas clearly and concisely, and influence department managers on procedural requirements across a large, complex hotel event operation
• Core leadership competencies: Change Leadership, Talent Development, Revenue Generation, Goal Setting, Inspiring Followership, Motivation, Results Orientation, Talent Recruitment, and strong Written Communication skills

What You Can Look Forward To

• Unlimited employee referral bonuses
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off (PTO) with rollover
• Complimentary wellness tools
• Leadership development & tuition reimbursement
• Discounts on hotel rooms, dining, and travel
• Growth opportunities across multiple hotel properties in your market
• Full-time associates also receive:
  • Medical, dental, and vision insurance — starting day 1
  • Life and disability insurance
  • Paid parental leave
  • Employee Assistance Program (EAP)

White Lodging is an equal opportunity employer committed to diversity and inclusion. All qualified applicants will be considered regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or veteran status.