Director of Special Events

La Grange Country Club; La Grange (IL); On-site; USD 85,000 - 95,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

401(k)

Employee Holiday Fund

Paid Vacation & PTO

Cellphone Reimbursement

Professional Organization Dues

Job summary

La Grange Country Club is seeking a Director of Special Events to lead private banquets, weddings, meetings, and member events. You will shape the events calendar, build member relationships, and partner with the Culinary team to create memorable experiences.

The ideal candidate brings 3–5+ years in catering or hospitality leadership, strong budgeting and P&L experience, and exceptional communication skills, with the ability to manage multiple events while maintaining guest-focused service.

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree in hospitality management, event management, or related field.
• 3–5+ years in catering, special events, banquet operations, hospitality management, or related discipline.
• Experience with budgets, pricing, labor, event profitability, and P&Ls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills; attention to detail.

Responsibilities

• Lead planning and execution of private banquets, weddings, business meetings, luncheons, dinners, celebrations, and member events.
• Develop an engaging calendar of Club-sponsored social events for members.
• Develop strong relationships with members as their trusted event-planning resource.
• Present Club's event capabilities and amenities during facility tours.
• Collaborate with the Executive Chef to develop menus, presentations, pricing, and customized culinary experiences.
• Create contracts, banquet event orders, budgets, and related event documentation.
• Manage event P&Ls, revenue opportunities, pricing and expenses.
• Partner with Marketing to promote the Club's events and facilities and increase member participation.
• Lead event briefings and ensure seamless communication across Culinary, F&B and other departments.
• Oversee important events and maintain a visible presence with members and guests.
• Inspect rooms, buffets, setups, and event details to ensure high standards.
• Coach and direct event and service personnel, fostering teamwork, accountability, and hospitality.
• Resolve member concerns with professionalism and discretion.
• Assist with broader Food & Beverage operations when needed.

Skills

Catering

Event planning

Banquet ops

Hospitality mgmt

Budgeting / P&L

Communication

Leadership

Relationship building

Education

Bachelor's in Hospitality Management

Job description

THE OPPORTUNITY

We are looking for someone who can combine the instincts of a hospitality professional, the creativity of an event producer, the discipline of an operator, and the relationship‑building skills of a private club professional.

The Director will be responsible for:

• Leading the planning and execution of private banquets, weddings, business meetings, luncheons, dinners, celebrations, and other member events.
• Assisting in the creation of an engaging calendar of Club-sponsored social events for the membership.
• Developing strong relationships with members and serving as their trusted event-planning resource.
• Conducting facility tours and confidently presenting the Club's event capabilities and amenities.
• Collaborating with the Executive Chef to develop creative menus, food presentations, pricing, and customized culinary experiences.
• Creating accurate and professional contracts, banquet event orders, budgets, and related event documentation.
• Managing event P&Ls, revenue opportunities, pricing and expenses.
• Partnering with Marketing to promote the Club's events and facilities while increasing member participation.
• Leading event briefings and ensuring seamless communication among Culinary, Food & Beverage and other operating departments.
• Personally oversee important events and maintain a highly visible presence with members and guests.
• Inspecting rooms, buffets, setups, and event details to ensure the highest standards before guests arrive.
• Coaching and directing event and service personnel while fostering a culture of teamwork, accountability, and genuine hospitality.
• Resolving member concerns with professionalism, discretion, and sound judgment.
• Assisting with broader Food & Beverage operations when needed.

THE IDEAL CANDIDATE

We are seeking a polished, energetic, and highly organized hospitality leader who thrives in a relationship-driven environment.

The ideal candidate will bring:

• 3–5+ years of progressive experience in catering, special events, banquet operations, hospitality management, or a related discipline.
• Management experience in an upscale restaurant, hotel, resort, private club or comparable hospitality environment.
• A demonstrated history of successfully managing events from concept through execution.
• Experience with budgets, pricing, labor, event profitability, and P&Ls.
• Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
• Exceptional attention to detail and organizational ability.
• A sophisticated understanding of food, beverage, service, presentation, and event design.
• The ability to manage multiple events and priorities simultaneously without losing sight of the member experience.
• A natural ability to build relationships with members and earn their confidence.
• Strong leadership skills and the willingness to lead from the front.
• Creativity and an entrepreneurial mindset—the desire to develop new ideas rather than simply execute existing programs.
• Professional presence, sound judgment, discretion, and composure under pressure.

A bachelor’s degree in hospitality management, event management, or a related field is preferred; an equivalent combination of extensive hospitality and/or private club experience will be considered.

WHY LA GRANGE COUNTRY CLUB?

This position offers the opportunity to play a meaningful role in the continued evolution of a respected private club and its member experience.

The Director of Special Events will have the opportunity to work directly with Club leadership and collaborate across the organization to create memorable experiences that bring members together.

For the right individual, this is not simply a banquet-management position. It is an opportunity to own an important component of the member experience, influence the Club's social identity and make your mark on the future of the Club.

We are looking for someone who wants to be more than an event coordinator.

We are looking for an event leader.

COMPENSATION & BENEFITS

Base Salary: $85,000–$95,000, commensurate with experience and qualifications, plus 10% bonus potential tied to established performance objectives.

• 401(k)
• Employee Holiday Fund
• Paid Vacation & PTO
• Cellphone Reimbursement
• Professional Organization Dues

The position requires flexibility to work evenings, weekends, holidays, and other times dictated by the Club's event calendar.

La Grange Country Club is an equal opportunity employer.