Catering Operations Manager

Position Title: Catering Operations Manager

Salary: $75,000 - $85,000

Other Forms of Compensation: Comprehensive Benefit Pacakge

Become part of Restaurant Associates, the industry’s leading provider of dining and event catering for some of the nation's most prestigious museums, performing arts centers and corporations! Voted Glassdoor's Employee Choice Awards - Best Places to Work,This is R/A !

Job Summary

Longwood Gardens is seeking a Catering Operations Manager to help deliver exceptional culinary and event experiences across one of the nation's premier public gardens. This role plays a key part in ensuring the successful planning, coordination, and execution of a wide variety of events, ranging from intimate gatherings to Weddings and large-scale celebrations, while supporting Longwood's commitment to hospitality, service excellence, and memorable guest experiences.

The Catering Operations Manager serves as a collaborative partner to clients, culinary teams, event professionals, and external vendors. This position blends operational leadership with relationship management, requiring strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a passion for creating seamless events that reflect Longwood Gardens' high standards.

Start Date Flexibility: We recognize that many hospitality leaders have existing events and seasonal commitments to see through during the busy holiday season. While we're actively interviewing now, we're happy to consider exceptional candidates who would be available to join our team in January 2027. We believe the right opportunity is worth waiting for.

Key Responsibilities

• Partner with clients to understand event goals, vision, budget, and service expectations.
• Collaborate with culinary leadership to develop customized menus and event experiences.
• Coordinate and manage relationships with vendors, suppliers, rental partners, and other event service providers.
• Oversee event execution, ensuring service quality, operational excellence, and guest satisfaction.
• Lead, coach, and support event managers, supervisors, and catering team members.
• Participate in recruiting, onboarding, scheduling, training, and ongoing development of team members.
• Create staffing plans and event schedules that support efficient operations and exceptional service.
• Maintain accurate event records, financial documentation, and operational reporting.
• Serve as a liaison between culinary, sales, operations, facilities, and event teams to ensure seamless communication.
• Monitor contractual commitments and service deliverables to ensure expectations are met.
• Conduct post-event reviews to identify successes, opportunities, and continuous improvement initiatives.
• Address guest and client concerns with professionalism and a solutions-focused approach.
• Support budgeting, forecasting, labor management, and financial performance objectives.

What We're Looking For

• Experience leading hospitality, catering, events, or foodservice operations.
• Demonstrated ability to organize multiple priorities while maintaining exceptional attention to detail.
• Strong communication and relationship-building skills with clients, team members, and business partners.
• Experience managing teams in a fast-paced guest service environment.
• Ability to work independently while fostering cross-functional collaboration.
• Knowledge of budgeting, forecasting, labor management, and financial reporting practices.
• Strong problem-solving and decision-making capabilities.
• Experience negotiating with vendors and managing external partnerships.
• Commitment to developing people and creating positive team experiences.
• Ability to adapt to changing priorities and event requirements.
• Experience within catering, special events, hospitality, cultural attractions, or luxury service environments is preferred.

• ServSafe certification or the ability to obtain certification is preferred.

Apply to Restaurant Associates today!

Restaurant Associates is a member of Compass Group USA

Click here to Learn More about the Compass Story

Compass Group is an equal opportunity employer. At Compass, we are committed to treating all Applicants and Associates fairly based on their abilities, achievements, and experience without regard to race, national origin, sex, age, disability, veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity, or any other classification protected by law.

Qualified candidates must be able to perform the essential functions of this position satisfactorily with or without a reasonable accommodation. Disclaimer: this job post is not necessarily an exhaustive list of all essential responsibilities, skills, tasks, or requirements associated with this position. While this is intended to be an accurate reflection of the position posted, the Company reserves the right to modify or change the essential functions of the job based on business necessity. We will consider for employment all qualified applicants, including those with a criminal history (including relevant driving history), in a manner consistent with all applicable federal, state, and local laws, including the City of Los Angeles’ Fair Chance Initiative for Hiring Ordinance, the San Francisco Fair Chance Ordinance, and the New York Fair Chance Act.

Certain positions may require Florida Level 2 background screening. Details: https://info.flclearinghouse.com/

Associates at Restaurant Associates are offered many fantastic benefits.

• Medical
• Dental
• Vision
• Life Insurance/ AD
• Disability Insurance
• Retirement Plan
• Paid Time Off
• Holiday Time Off (varies by site/state)
• Associate Shopping Program
• Health and Wellness Programs
• Discount Marketplace
• Identity Theft Protection
• Pet Insurance
• Commuter Benefits
• Employee Assistance Program
• Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs)
• Paid Parental Leave
• Personal Leave

Applications are accepted on an ongoing basis.

Restaurant Associates maintains a drug-free workplace.

Associates may also be eligible for paid and/or unpaid time off benefits in accordance with applicable federal, state, and local laws. For positions in Washington State, Maryland, or to be performed Remotely,click here or copy/paste the link below for paid time off benefits information.

https://www.compass-usa.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/08/2023_WageTransparency_RA.pdf

Req ID: 1589975

Restaurant Associates

Michael Abbey

[[req_classification]]