Catering Coordinator

Hy-Vee•Des Moines, IA

About The Position

The Catering Coordinator manages the full catering experience, from understanding customer needs and preparing detailed orders to coordinating with departments such as the kitchen, bakery, and deli to ensure events run smoothly. The role serves customers planning weddings, holiday gatherings, corporate events, and other celebrations, while also promoting Hy-Vee catering to businesses and prospective customers. The coordinator supports department standards and operations, including customer service, employee relations, cleanliness, sanitation, professional appearance, profitability, pricing, invoicing, bookkeeping, quality control, product freshness, and equipment maintenance. The role also organizes store shows and events, consults customers about rental companies, recommends equipment purchases with Store Director approval, and coordinates employee work in the manager's absence. This is a fast-paced position in a retail and catering environment. Employment is contingent upon successfully completing a pre-employment drug screen.

Requirements

High school diploma or equivalent experience.
1 to 3 years of similar or related work experience.
Ability to solve practical problems and handle complex situations with professionalism and good 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 working with 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.
Ability to frequently stand and walk throughout a shift in sales, food service, or delivery areas.
Ability to perform repetitive standing, walking, reaching, and bending associated with order fulfillment, POS transactions, and cleaning and sanitation duties.

Responsibilities

Provide prompt, friendly customer service and make customer interactions positive.
Meet with customers to understand catering needs, write detailed orders, and coordinate with involved departments, including the kitchen, bakery, and deli.
Set and uphold standards for customer service, employee relations, cleanliness, sanitation, professional appearance, and department profitability.
Contact businesses and prospective customers to promote Hy-Vee catering services and develop contracts for exclusive catering events.
Determine pricing, prepare customer bills, extend and post invoices, and oversee department bookkeeping procedures.
Develop and maintain 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 temperatures and storage procedures are followed to maintain product freshness and control shrink.
Develop department performance guidelines for the manager's absence and instruct, assign, and coordinate department employees' work.
Attend department manager meetings, obtain baseline pricing, and ensure pricing is 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.