Catering Coordinator

Hy-Vee, Inc.•Independence, MO

About The Position

The Catering Coordinator owns the catering experience from initial customer conversations and detailed order writing through coordination across departments and event execution. The role serves customers planning weddings, holiday gatherings, corporate events, and other celebrations, while supporting the department’s service standards, operations, profitability, and quality control. The coordinator also promotes catering services, develops event business, oversees pricing and bookkeeping, helps organize store events, and provides direction to department employees.

Requirements

Must be at least 18 years old.
High school diploma or equivalent experience required.
1 to 3 years of similar or related work experience required.
Ability to solve practical problems and handle complex situations with professionalism and sound judgment.
Clear, confident communication with customers, team members, and outside vendors in person, by phone, and in writing.
Ability to compose original correspondence and follow technical manuals and guidelines.
Math skills, including fractions, decimals, and percentages, for pricing and invoicing.
Ability to lead and motivate a team while maintaining high standards and a positive, energetic work environment.
Frequently stand and walk throughout a shift in sales, food service, or delivery areas.
Perform repetitive standing, walking, reaching, and bending associated with order fulfillment, POS transactions, and cleaning and sanitation duties.
Where applicable, safely use sharp knives and blades for food preparation.
Where applicable, work around heat- and burn-related hazards from cooking, baking, or grilling equipment.
Where applicable, operate a delivery vehicle in accordance with applicable DOT standards.
Successful completion of a pre-employment drug screen is required.

Responsibilities

Provide prompt, friendly customer service and make each customer interaction positive.
Meet with customers to understand catering needs, write detailed orders, and coordinate with departments including kitchen, bakery, and deli.
Set and uphold standards for customer service, employee relations, cleanliness, sanitation, professional appearance, and profitability.
Contact businesses and prospective customers to promote catering services and develop contracts for exclusive catering events.
Determine pricing, prepare customer bills, extend and post invoices, and oversee department bookkeeping procedures.
Develop standard catering practices and conduct quality-control checks for multi-event catering.
Organize store shows and events, set up displays, and coordinate annual events with the events coordinator.
Consult with customers about rental companies and recommend equipment purchases, subject to Store Director approval.
Ensure proper product temperatures and storage procedures to maintain freshness and control shrink.
Develop department performance guidelines in the manager’s absence and instruct, assign, and coordinate department employees’ work.
Attend department manager meetings, obtain baseline pricing, and ensure prices are competitive in the market area.
Understand and troubleshoot equipment and ensure maintenance is performed as needed.
Follow personal hygiene and dress standards, Hy-Vee policies, and store guidelines.
Answer phone calls and return voicemails promptly and professionally.
Report to work as scheduled and work the expected number of hours.