Director of Catering Sales

Manages the overall onsite and offsite sales effort for the venue with primary responsibility for providing event coordination as well as offsite catering. Communicates policies, procedures, pricing, and contract specifications to clients and relays all information to appropriate interdepartmental personnel. Other responsibilities include employee recruitment, team training, scheduling, and evaluation of performance of all service and management staff within the catering department.

Essential Duties And Responsibilities

• Follows up on assigned inquiries concerning catered functions, consistently communicating policies, procedures, pricing, and contract specifications to clients for catered functions.
• Plans and coordinates event details such as space requirements, time schedule, food service, and event design with clients and with facility department heads.
• Serves as event coordinator and/or convention advisor during events to minimize confusion and resolve problems, such as space adjustments and additional equipment needed.
• Continuously provides clients with up-to-date estimates on contracted food, beverage, and services recommending best possible choices within their budget to ensure a first-class catering event and to encourage repeat business.
• Accurately reviews event information at interdepartmental meetings.
• Arranges and oversees client tastings to ensure culinary and operational information and discussed are accurately gathered and disseminated to the appropriate personnel.
• Directs and manages the daily work of onsite and offsite catering service and management staff.
• Oversees the servicing of booked business to ensure client satisfaction, informing departments on event status and following established guidelines and time frames for servicing.
• Manages the cleanliness, maintenance, and security of equipment, storerooms, and catering outlets.
• Ensures rooms are set to specification and all food & beverage items ordered are displayed to standard.
• Monitors payroll and controls labor costs through the management of staffing guides and making appropriate adjustments to maintain guest service levels.
• Conducts event meetings to verify equipment needed, timing and presentation standards are fulfilled, functions are set correctly, and guest requests are met.
• Oversees client tastings, ensuring accurate culinary and operational information is gathered and disseminated to the appropriate personnel.
• Oversees the linen order process and ensures adequate pars are maintained based on expected business volumes and distributed event orders.
• Directs and coordinates the rental and transportation of vans and trucks for off-site events.
• Recommends equipment and product orders based on expected business volumes and distributed event orders.
• Directs the documentation of event details at the completion of each event for use in planning and executing future events.
• Conducts regular pre-shift meetings to set the tone for the shift, establish excellent communication and share best practices within the department.
• Conducts regular inspections of the venue to ensure areas are set to specification and all food and beverage items ordered are displayed properly.
• Reviews and ensures appropriate staffing levels in line with payroll, budget, events and guest needs.
• Ensures implementation and adherence to cash handling and alcohol service policies through training and support and maintains liquor cost control through enforcement and accountability.
• Maintains point of sale database and accuracy of information, ensuring items and pricing are updated regularly and changes communicated with the staff.
• Reviews financial transactions and monitors budget to ensure efficient operations and maximum profits, including preparing daily, weekly, and monthly financial reports. Able to prepare departmental budget, understand P&L statements, prepare FF&E and capital orders, and other financial data as required.
• Conducts inventories on a weekly and/or monthly basis as needed for cost controls, accurate financial reports, and to ensure adequate supplies are available for business requirements.
• Completes administrative duties needed to perform job functions as required (e.g., staff schedule, daily and weekly payroll, supplies and equipment orders, work orders, memorandums, etc.
• Is knowledgeable in all contracts, agreements and leases with vendors and its business partners.
• Any other duties as assigned.