Events and Catering Coordinator

Hbofm; Novato (CA); On-site; USD 45,000 - 65,000; Full time

Job summary

Homeward Bound of Marin is seeking an Events and Catering Coordinator to oversee operations for their event venues. The role involves scheduling events, customer interaction, and staff training, all within a mission-driven nonprofit focused on ending homelessness. Ideal candidates will have a passion for social justice and experience in hospitality management.

Benefits

100% employer-paid medical, dental and vision insurance

Match for 403B retirement savings contribution

Qualifications

• Minimum of 3 years managerial experience in the hospitality industry.
• Experience managing special events from initial call to execution.
• Detail-oriented and organized.

Responsibilities

• Schedule and coordinate all event venue rentals across multiple venues.
• Work closely with customers to plan menus and design event details.
• Train and supervise front-of-house staff on event procedures.

Skills

Event Management

Training

Customer Service

Communication

Organizational Skills

Tools

Microsoft Office Suite

Invoicing Software

CRM Systems

Job description

Are you eager to work at a business with a clear and proven social mission? Would you like to earn a competitive salary while feeling great about the meaningful work you do? Would you like to have a 3-day weekend every single month? We are changing lives for the better every single day and are looking for talented individual to help further our mission. We offer a welcoming work culture that prioritizes wellness, along with a competitive salary and a commitment to maintaining a healthy work-life balance.

Homeward Bound of Marin is a dynamic and evolving nonprofit agency dedicated to ending homelessness in Marin County through affordable housing development, supportive services, job training, and social enterprise. With a successful 50+ year history and strong interdisciplinary partnerships with both private and public organizations, Homeward Bound is poised for impactful growth over the next decade.

Homeward Bound offers culinary training to individuals facing barriers to regular employment through the operation of the Fresh Starts Culinary Academy (FSCA). FSCA is an American Culinary Federation-certified training program designed to provide culinary arts skills to those with barriers to employment, equipping them with the tools needed for jobs in the food service and hospitality industries. We place FSCA graduates into the culinary field and also hire them into our four related “social enterprise” businesses, including an events and catering center, monthly celebrity chef demonstration dinners, daily mass contract meal production, and a line of gourmet dog treats.

Homeward Bound is seeking an Events and Catering Coordinator to join our team of experienced professional chefs and educators to oversee all clients facing operations of the agency’s multiple event venues (See more at thekeyroom.com ). The role includes scheduling and coordinating all event venue rentals, marketing the spaces and ensuring customer satisfaction and smooth operation of all catered events. The Events and Catering Coordinator will also provide front-of-house training to students of our Fresh Starts Culinary Academy as well as lead front-of-house staff on event procedures. Additionally, this role will coordinate with the Finance Department to ensure the timely and accurate completion of transactions, invoices, and sales for the catering and events business.

So, if you have a heart and passion for our work, with culinary, events planning and training experience, we want to hear from you!

The Candidate:

We are looking for someone with demonstrated experience and enthusiasm to manage special events and be a part of a growing organization that helps people in Marin County transform their lives through training, employment, and housing. Our ideal candidate is eager to work collaboratively and creatively with a diverse population.

Special Qualities:

• Steps into the room with an open-minded, collaborative spirit
• Hospitable and welcoming individual
• Experience with training and staff education
• Equanimity and flexibility
• Sense of humor
• Passion for equity and social justice
• Bilingual speakers highly desirable

Key Responsibilities:

• Schedule all external and internal events and coordinate all event space rentals across the agency’s multiple venues
• Work closely with customers from initial call to event wrap to plan menus, design room schematics and attend to all event details
• Maintain a skillful working relationship with vendors
• Use invoicing software and CRM system (such as TPP, Prism) to coordinate customer transactions and process payments
• Level of proficiency with Microsoft Office Suite (Outlook, Word, Excel, Teams)
• Prepare and provide all invoices in a timely manner
• Update a shared events calendar on a weekly basis to share with the culinary team
• Work with the Development Department and Leadership Team to plan and coordinate internal events
• Market the agency’s multiple event venues, Community Teaching Titchen, and associated culinary events to repeat and new customers
• Coordinate seasonal menus and pricing with the Catering Chef, and relevant staff
• Coordinate all outreach and marketing targets, including social media posting for The Key Room venues and Community Teaching Kitchen

Hospitality:

• Meet, greet, and welcome interested parties to the The Key Room and the two Annexes
• Create a welcoming environment for all who visit
• Manage the logistics and operations of all events, ensuring a smooth and positive experience for guests
• Uphold our high standard of service and customer satisfaction while also striving for continuous improvement
• Represent Homeward Bound of Marin, and its mission, at outreach events, as needed
• Collect feedback from clients and evaluate successes and identify areas in need of support and improvement

Management:

• Collaborate with culinary team to conduct regular assessments and staff development plans
• Manage event set-up and tear-down; problem-solve issues with staff
• Train and supervise front-of-house staff on all event procedures
• Lead weekly BEO and FOH meetings with relevant staff
• Manage tabletop inventory for all event spaces
• In conjunction with the Maintenance Team and the Catering Chef, manage all event facilities and public common spaces, ensuring the sites are always customer-ready

Training:

• Teach a weekly front-of-house module for Fresh Starts Culinary Academy to establish standardized event procedures with our students
• Train, on an ongoing basis, our staff who work in front-of-house in all standardized event procedures
• Foster and environment of career growth and increasing responsibility amongst our staff

Requirements:

• Minimum of 3 years managerial experience in the hospitality industry
• Can lift up to 50 lbs.
• Carry 25 lbs. for short distances
• Stand for 8 hours a day
• Handle exposure to hot and cold environments

Desired Competency:

• Experience managing special events, from initial call to event execution.
• Excellent verbal, nonverbal, and written communication skills
• Detail-oriented and organized
• Computer expertise in Microsoft Word and Excel, Outlook, Mailchimp and Canva, a plus
• Ability and commitment to work in a team environment
• Experience with audiovisual equipment and systems, or ability to learn AV systems
• Ability to work with diverse staff and clientele
• 100% Employer-Paid Medical, Dental and Vision Insurance

Homeward Bound is an equal opportunity employer. We stand for justice and equity. We celebrate diversity and we are committed to creating an inclusive environment for all employees. We prohibit discrimination and harassment of any kind based on race, color, sex, religion, sexual orientation, national origin, disability, genetic information, pregnancy, or any other protected characteristic as outlined by federal, state, or local laws. This policy applies to all employment practices within our organization, including hiring, recruiting, promotion, termination, layoff, leave of absence, compensation, benefits, and training.

Our competitive benefits package includes:

100% employer-paid medical, dental and vision insurance

Match for 403B retirement savings contribution